Some of my friends were traumatized by their 50th birthday. I never understood why; I loved turning 50. For me, facing the big five-oh was liberating. Being over 50 is fabulous, so how can anyone not love it?
1. I Don't Care Anymore
I am free to be myself. I can remember being in my 20s and 30s and worrying about what people would say or think if I wore a certain dress or dated a certain guy. Now I just don't care. Not to say that I have started wearing frumpy house dresses to the grocery store or dating serial killers. I just don't feel that what anyone says or thinks of me is important. I have learned to like myself, to trust my instincts, and to be confident that what I am doing is right or to accept the consequences if it is wrong.
2. I Can Do What I Want
I have been a frustrated writer all my life. When I was younger, I stayed with boring jobs much longer than I wanted to in order to support my daughter and me. Writing is an iffy proposition at best, and working full-time plus taking care of a child on my own didn't leave much time to get the free and low-paying experience I needed to actually have a chance to make a career of it. Now, the daughter is off at college and although I still have to work, I have the free time to write -- and hope that one day someone will like it enough that I can actually make a living at it. If not, oh well, I am still doing what I love.
3. No More Drama Mama
She found out her boyfriend or husband is still talking to that girl he used to date. An ex-lover is stalking her or spreading rumors about her. The kids are sick, the child support is late, and she thought he loved her but he only wanted a booty call. Whew! It is exhausting just thinking about it. By the time you are 50, all of that (for most of us anyway) is over. Living a boring, drama-free life is wonderful.
4. I Don't Mind Being on My Own
Okay, I will admit that I am not adverse to having a man in my life. Having a companion to share your life with is a good thing, not to mention having someone around to open the pickle jar and mow the grass. Nevertheless, I don't have to have someone. I have learned to like living with myself, and I value my alone time. I have interests of my own, and dear friends who can give me all the support and companionship I want. The man in my life is there because I want him to be, not because I feel like I need him.
5. I Have My Ducks in a Row
Thinking about our mortality -- which most of us do when we reach this age -- forces us to take a look at where we are, where we want to be, and how we are going to get there. Suddenly, the things that mattered so much to me before are not important any more. When I die, nobody at my funeral is going to remember that I always had the laundry folded and put away or that I never fed my family a take-out meal. They are going to remember that I was a mother or a friend when they needed one and that I laughed and loved and lived my life to the fullest. In my 50s, I have finally come to understand what my priorities really are.
A friend once told me that she knew she was over the hill when AARP sent her a membership invitation right before her 50th birthday. Me? I was thrilled when I got mine. I signed up so I could get the hotel discounts and started traveling more. I am not over the hill; I am just reaching the top -- and I plan to enjoy every minute of the ride back down!
SOURCE: voices.yahoo
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