Changing It Up After 50
Sometimes you need to change things up – especially after you hit the half-century mark.
When I turned 50, I was a bit unsure of what that meant for my life. That number didn’t represent anything exciting – just senior discounts, menopause, and colonoscopies.
Let’s face it, we women over 50 are often stereotyped as cranky and desperately focused on looking sexier and younger.
The media sometimes makes us feel like our time has passed. That we should just step aside for the younger, more beautiful millennial generation who are busy taking over the work force, shoving us baby boomers aside.
Well, I’m 56 now and saying phooey to all that! I’m proud – and appreciative – to be this age. True, we baby boomers are getting older which is inevitable and out of our control. But we can control how we age.
As Sophia Loren wisely said, “There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”
Well said!
Sure, our 50’s can throw us some curve balls that can knock us down for a bit. But isn’t it far better to get back up, keep moving forward, embrace change, and tackle challenges head-on without fear? To take control of our destinies and maybe even take a few risks while we’re at it. Instead of getting stuck in a rut, create a little excitement by trying something different and unknown.
With that in mind, I’m going to be tacking some new and exciting writing projects. Curious? Although I’m keeping it under wraps for now, readers of Baby Boomer Bliss will be the first to know as I get closer to completion.
As a result, I’ll be posting a bit less on my blog. You’ll still see new blogs, but 1-2 times a month instead of every week. This will give me much needed time to concentrate on my new endeavors.
So stay tuned!
How about you? As you get older, does your view of aging change? Is there something new you are planning to try out for the first time? Are you ready to take your life in a new and different direction? Let me know in the comments below!
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
I am taking my life in a new direction by working less, volunteering more and following othe rcreative pursuits. Easier said than done to walk away from the keyboard, but I will try! Good luck with your new endeavor, Julie. Glad you will still be writing your awesome blog posts.
I like your new direction, Cat. Sounds good to me! And thanks so much for your compliment on my blog posts. Means a lot!
I became less hard on myself after I crossed 50, Julie, and decided to do a lot of things on my bucket list including a change in career. For sure, I still love the world of finance but I started thinking about leaving a positive legacy and how I wanted to make an impact. Nowadays, I wake up each morning wondering about what new adventures the day will bring and love it.
I also cut myself slack when it comes to blogging. There are weeks when I haven’t found the inspiration or other activities have taken priority and it’s easy to let it be because the next week the Muse returns in full force.
Great food for thought, Vatsala. Aging does change our thinking and attitude toward life, doesn’t it? And I like your thought of taking pressure off of blogging by writing when the muse hits. I’m looking forward to that!
Sadly ageism is alive and well and it’s all too easy to find examples of it all around us. In fact, interesting example came up just yesterday when I heard from a friend. She is 85 years young and just had heart surgery where they implanted some sort of monitoring device. She was having a problem with labored breathing so went back in for a check up and long story short the doctor had set the device for what he assumed would be a typical sit in a rocking chair and snooze the day away senior citizen. But my friend lives a vital, active life working and volunteering so they had to do some experimenting to accommodate her energy level. I only hope I’m half as active when I reach her age!
Love your example! My father is 84 years young and still can walk faster than me! I too only hope to be as active and mentally alert as your friend and my Dad when I reach my 80s. Thanks for sharing your friend’s inspiring story!
Absolutely as I am in my 60’s I get to be enjoying my life more fully and have so much wisdom and experiences to share- Love the Sophia Loren quote xxxx
As you wisely pointed out Suzie, there are so many benefits to getting older including wisdom and experience. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
Aging is funny. I still feel like the young kid even in a room full of my peers (terminal teenager?). I am beginning to think this is universal — maybe it isn’t, maybe everyone else feels their chron age and nothing but? But for me I own the wisdom my many decades of life have brought me, and! I’m still that loony woman I’ve been at every age.
I feel the same way! I remember growing up and hearing old people that said in their minds they were still young – although their bodies reminded them sometimes that they were getting older. Now I know exactly what they meant! In my head, me and my husband are still in our 20’s It is shocking sometimes to realize we’re grandparents heading for our 60s already. But I think we’re blessed to stay young at heart. Stay loony forever, Sue!