I celebrated my 53rd birthday a couple of weeks ago. FIFTY THREE! When I was in my teens and even in my 20’s, the thought of being in my 50’s was horrifying… and of course seemed such a long way away. But time flies, and in the blink of an eye, here I am… and do you know what? I am absolutely loving it!
So, I’m writing this post for anyone dreading the big 5-0. Honestly, there is really no need … read on and let me convince you.
Firstly, I like to think we are all less ageist than we were a generation or two ago. Being in your 50’s no longer means you have to wear a twin set and maintain a blue rinse, unless you want to of course. My daughter who is 20, asked me to explain a twin set and a blue rinse. I did, to the best of my ability, but found myself being unintentionally ageist myself: I mentioned the stigma of ageing and the expectation that this would possibly involve cruise ships, grey hair and sensible shoes. She looked at me askance. “But surely all those are a choice,” she said, “whatever age you are.” Too right!
OK, so I may have a few little aches and pains that I didn’t have a few years ago. I’m an ongoing challenge for my chiropractor who gamely grapples with my various neck, back and arm ailments. But generally, (touch wood), I’m pretty healthy, and for that I am extremely grateful. And interestingly, I don’t feel old physically. It’s difficult to say how old I do feel, as it differs day to day, but I don’t feel old. And I still wear a bikini. Even if it is not the teeny weeny kind.
I also don’t feel that my mental acumen has declined. I’m at the top of the tree in my company/ job, which is great, and well deserved I feel, after working my butt off for so many years, and yes, it is very pressurised, but my brain is coping very nicely thank you. Whenever I do forget something, I tell people I have simply too much information to hold in my head, rather than blame it on the forgetfulness of ageing. Interestingly, I don’t feel the need to apologise for myself as much as I used to.
I am not feeling desperate and lost now that the children have flown the nest. My son has recently gone to Canada for 2 years, (though he is planning to come back next summer for a holiday), while my daughter is starting her final year at university this autumn, and has told me in no uncertain terms, that she plans to make her home in London on graduating.
Seeing my kids turn into very cool people in their own right, has made me feel pretty good about myself. Yes, it was a struggle at times, but they have turned out really well into kind, strong, decent human beings, so their dad and I must have been doing something right.
I miss them and although I loved those growing up years, I can’t help feeling secretly relieved that the days of Easter bonnet making, the pressure and stress that World Book Day (and it’s costume requirements) brought, and the angst that accompanied various sports days, harvest festivals, assorted assemblies and Christmas shows which one had to attend. I loved watching my children perform of course, but was always slightly uncomfortable around the competitive mums, and because I wasn’t on the PTA, did the assisted reading or went on any of the school trips, I allowed myself to believe I wasn’t as good a mum as others. I can’t believe I ever thought that now!
So suddenly, the kids are in their 20’s and I’m in my 50’s. I (we) have a bit more money to spend, the mortgage end date is in sight, the holidays are becoming more frequent, and I’m optimistic about growing my blog and whatever that may bring.
On that front, I am still learning and growing. I look back with pride at this last year which was my first as a blogger, and all I learnt. This time last year I didn’t know what a retweet was, let alone a WordPress plugin. (OK, I still don’t really understand the plugin thing.)
Even the bizarre world of menopause hasn’t phased me yet, though I am blaming it for every slightly unusual thing that happens. For example, I had a rash on my neck yesterday. Menopause. ‘I’m a bit hot’. Menopause. ‘I’m chilly today’. Menopause. ‘My arm hurts’. Menopause. ‘I’m starving’. Menopause. ‘I have no energy’. Menopause. You get the idea. Thankfully I have discovered healthandher.com Go check it out! I love it, they offer expert menopausal advice, an amazing symptom checker and a wonderful shop full of helpful products.
According to research completed last year, our 50’s through to our 80’s are the happiest time of our lives. Jonathan Rauch, whose book The Happiness Curve – Why life gets better after 50, explains that in our twenties and thirties we are desperately trying to acquire all we think we should. Even when we do, we are not necessarily fulfilled, so imagine something is lacking. It is apparently very common to be over optimistic about our futures at that age, and we become ever more occupied with what we have not achieved, rather than what we have.
By the time we get to 50 however, this is no longer the case. We start to view our lives differently. I certainly feel less regret now for past mistakes, and at the same time, I have become a lot more thankful for all I have achieved. I am more optimistic about the future and my confidence and self esteem is higher than its ever been.
I asked a couple of friends what they liked about being 50, and the general consensus seems to be around not feeling the need to compare oneself to anyone else any longer, and feeling comfortable in one’s own skin. One friend even said “It’s fabulous! 50 is the new 34!” Wow! Does that mean 80 is the new 50?
Whatever you think, age is just a number and having read somewhere that the person who will live til 150 years old has now been born, my advice is, forget the number and live the life!❤️
I’m 34 and don’t mind getting older at all. My hair has already dropped out, as a geeza. Your positivity is great, and you’re looking fabulous as well, madam. Enthusiasm is an incredible trait I look for in people. Wealth, “success” yadda yadda – personality is key.
Ha! Love it! You are a baby still! Absolutely spot on about enthusiasm and positivity I agree…. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
When I was 20 I thought 30 was positively ancient. But the nearer I got to 30, I realised I’m still a wee one. Really, I class “old” as like 100 haha. But it’s important to ramp up the healthy activities of course, in your 30s. You can’t chug the booze like you do at 21. But that’s a good thing anyway.
Happy birthday! Being a full 20 years ahead of you, I can confirm everything you say! Well done!!
Thank you Jane, always appreciate it when you read and comment!
I related to so much of this article. I am 58 and, in my mind, young as ever. I wouldn’t trade the wisdom I’ve gained along the way. Great blog! Am sharing.
Thank you so much for reading and it’s very kind of you to share! Glad you like it!
Amazing to read and, I’m on my way to get myself a bikini. You have inspired me. 🙂 50 does feel kind of fabulous, doesn’t it! (Even though I still have young teens…but I’ll get through it. Bring it on. ) 🙂
What a lovely comment! Thank you so much! I am so glad you got some inspiration from the post! Send me a pic of the bikini!! 😍
I’ll be 53 next month. By far, my attitudes about things have changed quite a bit. Me and menopause…that is a different story. I had a hysterectomy at 36 and an oophrectomy at 40. Three days after that surgery, I got my first hot flash. Surgically-induced menopause is NOT fun. It’s damned unnatural. If I had it to do over again…
So for the last 13 years I have been on bio-identical hormones. At the end of this year, I’m giving up on the patches and letting nature take its course. We shall see how that goes. I will shift gears and start using progesterone cream. I hope I can ease the symptoms. I can’t put off dancing with the devil indefinitely.
I never had any kids. I never had siblings. I do, however, have three ex-hubbies. I think I will coast for a while.
Happy Belated Birthday 🎉
Happy Birthday!!! I’m also 53 and living my best life 💕
Great to hear it! ❤️
So wonderful to read your post. You are still just a kid in my book. You know, they (whoever they are) say that 60 is the new 40 and I believe it. I am 77 and can still bend straight over and touch the floor hands flat, and also squat and come back up with no help and bend almost halfway backwards with no problems. I don’t go to special classes of exercise. When I open the freezer, I bend backwards instead of stepping backwards. And I bend straight over to pick up things, and step over the pet gates instead of removing them. I keep active with volunteering, writing, art and being generally involved with my community. I have stopped feeling any age. My body may speak differently, but my mind knows no age. I have lived through successfully cancer surgery in the right breast. The doctors wanted me to have 5 days a week for 6 weeks of radiation and 5 years of anti-hormonal medication. I always do my research carefully and I have had a number of my own businesses and careers, so I know how to do what I need to do, and I said no to all those things. It is three years later and I am cancer free. Had I selected the radiation, there is a good chance I could have had a heart attack since the heart is on the left side and radiation is not selective exactly (even proton radiation, which cannot be used on breast surgery). And the reason women don’t have as many heart attacks is because of our hormones which take us beyond menopause as far as protecting our hearts. So why would anyone want anti-hormonal therapy?
We make ourselves old by our attitudes. I met a woman in her 40’s who said she no longer liked sex because she had a hysterectomy. I said that was strange as this was just recently and I had my hysterectomy at age 35 and an ovariectomy when I was 17, and I love sex. I am not ashamed to say it either. I have been to nudist colonies as a senior, and I will go back anytime. I want to ride a horse naked like the lady in the tale who rode the horse through town. Why should we accept the words of others or do the things they decide? They are not my decisions. It is a natural thing, and as long as we think young, we will be young. I can dance and do just about anything I make up my mind to do and I don’t want to allow something like age deter me from anything in this lifetime. Many thanks for your excellent post.
What an absolutely lovely response!! I want to be you when I am 77 !! …. or at least have your attitude. You’ve hit the nail in the head – I know some women a lot younger than me that consider themselves old and act as such. Sad. And what a waste of precious life. Keep up your wonderful attitude! ❤️❤️
This was gorgeous to read!!
Thank you so much! ❤️
I thought I would hate getting older when I was in my 20’s and not like the idea my hair turning grey.
By my mid 30’s I found my first couple of grey hairs at the front. I don’t know how long they were there before I noticed, but it didn’t bother me. I seen them as highlights, rather than grey. Maybe bey my hair is a light colour that this is also why the grey has not bothered me. I don’t really know.
In my late 30’s I was bothered about reaching my 40’s, but as it got nearer, I became less bothered. Not bothered at at all by the time I was 40. I am 43 now and I am not dreading reaching the age of 50.
I love reading your blog by the way, after recently discovering it.
You will love your forties…. and your fifties even more! ❤️
Very nice. I had thought about something like this about aging into your 70’s. I’m too busy out in marshes and swamps working and documenting our wildlife. Maybe I’ll start something later about the 80’s…
Wonderful! Sounds perfect! 😊