Why Turning 50 Wasn’t the End of the World For Me

A couple of weekends ago I turned 50. (That’s me up there at my jungle themed party.) And even though I cried twice in the weeks leading up to the big day, owing to unrelated frustrations and hormones (and yes, okay, probably a tiny, subconscious reaction to my impending old age) – it certainly wasn’t the end of the world. In fact, it was a pretty smooth transition into my 50s, as transitions go.

Because really, there’s not much we can do to slow down time or avoid getting older, so we might as well embrace it with some degree of grace. Am I right? Many people don’t even make it to this age, after all. Sorry, that took a pretty morbid turn right there, but I do try to bear that little fact in mind when I’m looking too closely at myself in the mirror (partly in a critical manner and partly because my eyesight is deteriorating). Because life is a gift!

Okay, so yes, my eyesight is deteriorating, I have a few wrinkles and my middle-aged spread is causing me more angst than I’d like to admit, but when I really think about it all, the good parts of life still outweigh the bad. No contest.

Related: Why Midlife Doesn’t Have To Be A Crisis

So, on the morning of my birthday, my husband gave me a card that detailed 50 things he loved about me. I mean, how sweet is that?! (That guy might chew incredibly loudly, but he sure is kind-hearted, thoughtful and incredibly cute. 😉 Haha. ) Anyway, some of those sweet reasons got me thinking about the person I am and have become over the years. And yes, I might now be a 50-year-old woman, but I’m also a brave, adventurous, healthy and relatively fit 50-year-old-woman.

When I was young, 50 sounded really old. And back then I thought I’d feel older and more hagged at 50 than I actually do now that I’ve reached this age. So what I’m saying is, I might be 50, but I don’t feel 50. (Or what I previously thought 50 would feel like anyway.) In truth, I’ve reached this milestone age and I actually feel triumphant. I feel strong – physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. I feel like the person I was always supposed to be. And that makes me all kinds of content.

Turning 50 and Taking Stock

So, taking a leaf out of my husband’s book here’s a little list of why turning 50 seriously wasn’t the end of the world for me:

• I’m healthy. That’s a big one. And I’m super grateful that my body still works as it should. Now that I’m middle-aged, I’m taking even more care of this body of mine because I have realised how important that is, going forward.
• I have more confidence now and that makes me feel sure of myself and comfortable with who I am.
• My 50 years of life experience affords me a mature perspective and I love that. I now know with certainty that life is what you make of it and it’s never as bad as your fear makes it out to be.
• I know that ‘comparison is the thief of joy’ and being true to myself has definitely made me happier.
• Clubbing has never been very appealing to me. Hahaha!
• I dislike drama, so the peace that I feel at 50 is very welcome.
• Friendships are such a gift. And I have some mature friendships in my life.
• I have solid family relationships and a supportive community.
• My kids are becoming awesome adults and it’s beautiful to watch.
• Looking at my life with my husband, I love that we have experienced so much together. And that we still have so many great plans for the future.
• I don’t feel embarrassed much in life anymore.
• I have more time for reading now. And that’s a real treat.
• My uncomplicated life gives me so much joy.
• These days, being 50 doesn’t mean you’re old and irrelevant. Midlife is a new and exciting phase of life.
• There is still so much life left to live because people are living much longer nowadays.
• The continued learning and knowledge accumulation about our bodies, health and science, means that we will benefit from improved quality of life as time passes.
• I feel as if I still have a contribution to make and fun experiences to enjoy.

Related: 5 Life Lessons That Have Taken Me 49 Years to Learn

How about you? Is/was turning 50 a big deal for you? Do you ‘feel your age’?

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