pexels-photo-378148

Admit it. When you were young, you thought being in your fifties was older than time itself. You couldn’t imagine being that aged and decrepit. But then the years moved forward. And here you are. The strangest thing is you look around and realize they aren’t so bad. In fact, here are seven reasons why being in your fifties is downright great….

You’re free. Take a bow. Somewhere in this decade your kids probably graduated high school and maybe even college. Perhaps they moved out. Perhaps they’re still home. But even if they’re living under your roof, things have changed. They’re now full-functioning adults… *cough*. Baby sitters? Checking school homework? Gearing for college essays? They’re all in the past and guess what? You graduated too, to a different, more expansive stage of life.

You’re still young. Yup. I just said that. You’re still young in your fifties. Take a walk through any nursing home if you don’t believe me. What’s even better is you’re the same crazy person inside you’ve always been. Sure, maybe the outside has more mileage but you still love the “Little Rascals” and singing in the car and shoving pink hunks of cotton candy in your mouth at summer carnivals. Some things never change. That kid is still in there.

However…time is ticking. And this is a good thing because nothing focuses the mind like a deadline. When I was young I was always putting things off, like exploring the world, going on that cross-country drive or maybe living in New York City. Time stretched endlessly into the future like the Sahara desert. Then the years came along and that Sahara desert shrunk to the size of my local beach. Before I know it, it’ll be the size of a kid’s sandbox. I realized if I’m ever going to see South America or learn how to make a cheese soufflé or try and write that novel, I better start moving.

You know who you are. In my twenties, I worked in the corporate world and always felt defective. I was never good at politics, organizational charts or football pools. I got teary-eyed easily much to the eye-rolling impatience of tougher colleagues. Instead I liked ideas and words and emotional, messy things. It wasn’t till I had a few decades under my belt that I realized this wasn’t my fault. I hadn’t found my tribe. If you’re young and still in that search mode, don’t worry. You’ll discover who you are, most likely through hit or miss. But you will find it.

In your fifties, you’re in the sweet spot in life. Remember during early parenthood when you were changing that third stinky diaper within two hours and fantasized about lying on a beach somewhere? Or maybe taking a week-long camping trip? Good news: it’s easier now. Your fifties is that great intersection between “Raring to Go” and “Having Most of your Marbles Left to Do it.” I have fifty-something friends who have more adventures these days than they had in their twenties. They finally have the time and means and believe me, they’re gunning for it full-throttle.

You’re strong. By this age you’ve been tossed around by life a little… or a lot. You’ve had to climb back on that horse many times. And the great thing is you know you can do it. By your 50’s, you’ve been tested emotionally, personally, marriage-wise, kids-wise, financially, health, you name it. You know what to put on the worry list. You know what’s not worth it. You know where to put your energies.

You’re free to chase your dream – I know many who picked up the pen, guitar, paint brush, and yoga mat in their later years. Who knows why? Maybe we’re less afraid. Maybe we have more to express at this age. Maybe life, with its joys and sorrows, deepens the soul. People who took no prisoners in the corporate world discovered they now love the gentler side of life. Our fifties are the first time many of us have the time and space to explore our hidden, creative self. And that can lead to riches we never knew we had.

I just started my last year in my 50’s. And looking back it’s been an awesome, educational, inspirational, spiritual decade. I’m grateful. My fifties were one bad-ass teacher.

Am I ready for the next decade in a year? Gulp. No. Yes. Maybe. Not sure. While I think about this, please pass the cotton candy.

 

How do you feel about getting older?  Comments are always welcome.  If you like this, please share with one of the magic buttons below.  If you’d like to receive posts via email, just press the subscribe link above.  Thank you.

 

Besides feeling younger, want help looking younger? Check out this article from Proven Skincare on the magic of night cream. Nothing repairs, restores, and regenerates quite like it.  

 

Comments(26)

    • Marilyn

    • 9 years ago

    So true! Enjoy each day.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Marilyn, I think that’s the key to much of life!

  1. This is great, Laurie. Such a nice perspective. You give this mid-forties woman some hope. 🙂

      • Laurie Stone

      • 8 years ago

      Karen,

      The forties are also a great age, and yes, the fifties weren’t nearly as scary as I thought they’d be. Now its almost (gulp) onto the sixties. I’ll keep you posted!

  2. Got to move forward and live looking ahead!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Haralee, Yes, looking ahead is crucial. I’ve never understood people who live in the past. The future’s always so much more interesting!

  3. What an excellent post. What I LOVE is that this honors what we’ve earned and doesn’t minimize it all with advice on looking, acting, dressing like a younger person.

    I love this age so much, as much for what’s over as ahead.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Susan, I think self-acceptance is a huge part of aging well. I have to confess, I don’t miss a lot of things past. I’m always excited by what’s coming up too.

  4. This is great and I can relate. In my fifties, I finally feel comfort in getting out of my comfort zone…if that makes sense.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Laurie, It makes perfect sense. Just started my 60’s and feeling the engines just starting to really rev!

  5. Great post. Sure made me feel better about getting older. Thanks. Your points were valid.
    Janice

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Janice, Thank you. There’s too much negativity women get about getting older. I’m always grateful for anything positive.

  6. Love this! Don’t forget you also get AARP membership at 50. LOL

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Shari, True about AARP! Yes, the 50’s can be a wonderful decade in many ways.

  7. I’m 52 this year … and I’m not child free yet (my youngest boys are 9 & 11) so still have to arrange babysitting… however, they are a pleasure to take out and about and our holidays are getting more adventurous and further afield as they grow older! 😜

      • Laurie Stone

      • 7 years ago

      Linda, I loved the school-age years of my sons. They weren’t as labor-intensive as the real early years, and its a great time for establishing closeness.

  8. We always thought that the twenties were a time to “find ourselves”, turns out with the wisdom and accomplishments behind us, the fifties is truly the time to find ourselves, and at this point we have the freedom to truly follow our personal (as opposed to professional) passions.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 4 years ago

      Karen, Such a good point. As we grow older, we learn better who we are, which can be fascinating and sometimes surprising!

  9. I agree with all of this! I still feel young. Just with wrinkles and wisdom!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 4 years ago

      Lauren, Funny how we still feel the same on the inside isn’t it?

  10. I love my fifties. I loved the freedom that went with them.
    And they springboard me directly into my 60s.
    Which are even better! 😉

      • Laurie Stone

      • 4 years ago

      Diane, I love my sixties. They’re a free, wonderful time.

  11. I really enjoyed my 40’s and just joined the 50-club, looks like I have plenty more to look forward to!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 4 years ago

      Andi, For me, the fifties were great. Most of us never feel old at the time, so when we get to these “scary” numbers, they turn out to be nothing.

  12. Thank you. My fifties begin in less than two months. You’re giving me high hopes!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 4 years ago

      Heidi, An early happy birthday! Enjoy!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *