Life, Part Two

Life after 50 ..... Is there? Nobody warns you about old age, it just creeps up on you and makes tracks across your face. It's terribly rude and inconsiderate. The next thing you know, your body sags, your vision fails, and you wrench your back picking up a book! When we're young, we envision ourselves being fit and lean in the middle of a race against time!! At this stage in life, we become a Maintenance Woman. It becomes top priority. We do things differently now. When I was younger, I took a multivitamin and thought nothing of washing it down with a Coke and doing my own daily things. Now, I take more than just a multivitamin, and each one says "take with a full glass of water". I can do those OK, but the ones that are for taking at bedtime with a full glass of water.... um, nope! unless "bedtime" is now like 7pm... and lets face it, some days, it could very well be that!!! Life is full of transitions — changes in careers, the beginning and ending of relationships, living in new locations, coping with the loss of loved ones — to name just a few. Now that I've reached 50, I know I have a few more years before I become "elderly" ;) And while there are many options at this stage in life to explore new things, new ideals, to start new relationships, travel the world, or exploring in my own backyard, the one thing I notice is that there aren't many guidelines for how to make this transition. Check your local library: There are all kinds of self help books for loads of specific life changes (such as divorce, new parenthood, single parenting) and there are bunches of others related to the elderly side of life. But what about us who are entering our 50's, a whole new phase of life? This is a time full of new opportunities and responsibilities, but it also takes investments of time, money and energy to find out what those phases will be; to discover new goals, develop new life plans, learn new skills, or find our new passions in life. What is noticeably absent are the helps and supports to manage and succeed in this stage life. With new opportunities and responsibilities come the requisite investments of time, money and energy necessary to discover their goals and passions, develop new life plans, learn new skills, and find a balance of purpose and meaning.

So what do you do to find these new adventures? What are the key elements?

• Stay healthy; watch what you eat
• Be more open minded; try new things!
• Live outside the box; do something you've never done before
• Try something with a little bit of risk: white water rafting? sky diving?
• Get out and meet new people
• Travel
• Awaken the "kid" in you: laugh, have fun, be spontaneous and silly!!

It ain't easy being fifty.... but I"m not the only one, see what else turned 50.... Crayola's 64-count box, The Peace Sign, Gibson Guitar's Flying V, and Legos. (the above were from 2008, but they seemed noteworthy mentions!) Famous women who turned 50 in 2009:

• Actress Linda Blair most famous for her role as the possessed in ‘The Exorcist’ Deborah Meaden, multi-millionaire business woman Marcia Mitzman Gaven, actress Academy award winning actress Emma Thompson Kerry Kennedy, daughter of the late Robert F. Kennedy and human rights activist Olympic gold-medal pairs skater Tai Babilonia Entertainer Marie Osmond Sarah Ferguson, Dutchess of York Former prosecutor and legal commentator Nancy Grace Paula Poundstone, Comedienne

and last but not least, Barbie!! And with one last thought .....

turning 50 is a little like paddling a canoe down a stream, and hearing a waterfall ahead.... there's no turning back!!!!!

50 HUGS for everyone!