I officially "turned the corner" about 2 years ago and am now entering - as some call it - the second half of life, provided I live to 100.
The "big" 5-0. Yup.
I'm coflicted about reaching this milestone.
Obvious pros: I feel I have more wisdom about life and a lot more to offer than I did when I was in my 20s; I'm more peaceful; I'm more skeptical (don't laugh...I consider that to be a plus!); and the biggie: it sure beats the alternative!!
Obvious cons: the body develops rolls, lumps and bumps that you would swear weren't there two days ago; young, sexy men view women my age as mother figures; and you have to find new ways to dress - Levi's just don't work anymore!
I suppose one needs to reach a point in one's life whereby you find other ways to sparkle.
I think that reaching 50 the sparkle comes from experience and confidence. We're no longer competing for a man...or a job...or wasting time on deciding which bar to go to on Saturday nights while spending hours in the mirror primping and priming. Been there, done that. We were young and stupid. Granted, we had fun.
But "fun" now comes in a different package. It's wrapped up in volunteering time and giving to others. We are more concerned with leaving the world a better place than when we found it. We are discovering our true inner beings and we are learning about things that help us to grow. Our relationships deepen or end. Our ties to our past become more profound and necessary. We long for that time of innocence and try to recapture it through re-connecting. Old wounds and emotional hurts become more distant and we find ourselves in a state of forgiveness because the pain of growing up made us who we are today.
All of these things provide an inner peace which I'm convinced shines to the outside world. That's the sparkle.
So, embrace getting older! It offers gifts that one could not imagine at 25.
And the gifts are tied with the prettiest bow you could imagine.
The "big" 5-0. Yup.
I'm coflicted about reaching this milestone.
Obvious pros: I feel I have more wisdom about life and a lot more to offer than I did when I was in my 20s; I'm more peaceful; I'm more skeptical (don't laugh...I consider that to be a plus!); and the biggie: it sure beats the alternative!!
Obvious cons: the body develops rolls, lumps and bumps that you would swear weren't there two days ago; young, sexy men view women my age as mother figures; and you have to find new ways to dress - Levi's just don't work anymore!
I suppose one needs to reach a point in one's life whereby you find other ways to sparkle.
I think that reaching 50 the sparkle comes from experience and confidence. We're no longer competing for a man...or a job...or wasting time on deciding which bar to go to on Saturday nights while spending hours in the mirror primping and priming. Been there, done that. We were young and stupid. Granted, we had fun.
But "fun" now comes in a different package. It's wrapped up in volunteering time and giving to others. We are more concerned with leaving the world a better place than when we found it. We are discovering our true inner beings and we are learning about things that help us to grow. Our relationships deepen or end. Our ties to our past become more profound and necessary. We long for that time of innocence and try to recapture it through re-connecting. Old wounds and emotional hurts become more distant and we find ourselves in a state of forgiveness because the pain of growing up made us who we are today.
All of these things provide an inner peace which I'm convinced shines to the outside world. That's the sparkle.
So, embrace getting older! It offers gifts that one could not imagine at 25.
And the gifts are tied with the prettiest bow you could imagine.