Reflections on turning 50
Today is my birthday. Not just any birthday, but my 50th birthday.
It’s such a weird and strange thing to say that you’re 50 years old. I’ve taken 50 trips around the sun, but I’m not a world traveler. I’m considered middle-aged, but will always be the baby of my family.
Recently, I’ve experimented with publicly saying that I’m 50 years old and I’ve decided...I love it! I’m proud of every single gray hair, wrinkle and sunspot on this 50-year-old body.
In 1988, my mom turned 50. She had a senior and a sophomore in high school, and coincidentally, so do I. I think both my parents would be proud of whom I’ve become and it’s fun to look back at some of their journals and read about their experiences at my age now. As I reflect on my half-century of life, there are a few things we would have enjoyed talking about:
Everything in life takes maintenance. Your car, your home, your body, and most of all your stuff. Sorting, decluttering, and organizing should be part of our everyday routine so that we can preserve our life without the burden of our stuff. Can you imagine taking your car into the shop for the first time after 50 years? Don’t wait to declutter and downsize.
Someday will never come. In my opinion, it’s simply a placeholder statement. It’s an excuse to delay making a decision. It usually comes from a place of fear or worry. Be decisive and make decisions, you won’t regret it. The weight of delaying will only compound the issue and make it harder to decide.
Marie Kondo did get one thing right. If it doesn’t spark joy, why keep it? The obligation we feel to hold onto things we don’t love needs to end. If it doesn’t make you happy, why keep it (I’m guilty of this too)? If you’re holding onto something from a period in life that wasn’t positive or something was given to you that you absolutely don’t love, let it go. Believe me, it will find a way into someone’s hands that will love and cherish it.
Failure is an option, and sometimes the better one. In every mistake or failure comes growth, learning, and progress, which are all fantastic things. I’ve never regretted mistakes I’ve made (except for bell-bottoms, I do regret those). The fear of failure can only hold you back from reaching your goals and moving forward.
Celebrate even the smallest of successes. This one is particularly hard for me. I don’t typically like to be the center of attention and to celebrate myself; however, a few weeks ago I heard Jewel say in a podcast that if you don’t allow yourself the opportunity to celebrate a success, then does it really happen (I’m paraphrasing… go listen to the show, it was fabulous)? We need to acknowledge every success, so we know that it happened and we can be reminded of what’s possible.
I’m looking forward to this next trip around the sun. Helping my peers (yo… middle-agers, I’m talking to you…) learn to embrace life and live it fully. Are you ready for your best life?
