Yeah so when I was a little girl I really thought fifty was a big deal. I thought 50 year olds were old. When my mom turned fifty, I remember asking her questions like: “So how does it feel?” And she’d say: “Oh, it doesn’t feel much different than a year ago.” I could never see myself as almost or even near fifty, and if I did make it there, I thought it would be a miracle.
And so..
Now I am here.
And all the more WONDERFUL that I am.
Amazing. I still haven’t figured out if LIFE slows down, or “I” just have slowed down a bit. I think it’s me. Ive. Grown up! I have lived in four states, I am an auntie of about 21m a great auntie of about 24 , I m. In my career for about 37 years, and I am blessed!
Now I can seem to appreciate all that’s around me and even “value” differently if I want to. I still enjoy helping folk. I thought at some point in my life, that would become less interesting , and I wouldn’t want nor desire to be a social worker/ counselor/ mental health therapist , anymore.
But it didn’t change.
It just became a bit sweeter. And the job more refined. Feels good.
As I was writing this, I realized not everyone feels the same about getting older. Some are depressed, some are really just feeling awful about it, and others are just like : ” Can’t I just be 35 again?” I actually enjoy again. First of all, I can’t do anything to reverse it, and as long as I have a cool partner to hang with, I’m good.
Well, I just noticed that the reason I feel so good about gaining another year, and actually arriving here, is because I don’t take life for granted. I just really, really appreciate my life, my family, and my friends and all the fluff in between. I don’t have a lot of fluff, but it sure feels good to think like I can ‘create’ some fluff’, every now and then.
Here’ what’s wonderful about fifty:
- The fact I can be myself. With no explanations.
- The fact that I am ME. Purely Myself, and I like myself. And who I’m becoming.
- The fact that life at this age, you kind of know what to expect. It doesn’t really get any easier, and it really doesn’t get any harder, either.
- The fact that I have an empty nest, and have had one most of my life And it’s OK.
- The fact that life is GOOD. I like keeping it simple, here.
- The fact I have lived my life in such a way that I look younger than 50; and being quite content with that.
- That all my nieces and nephews have grown up and I get to see what they’ve become.
- The fact that I can see what miniatures of them look like, now as well.
- The fact I can do #Netflix&chill …and be OK with just about a few eves a week. ( Why do we put the words ‘Netflix and chill’, together?” ) (What’s that about?) ‘ Oh and an update:
- 2022 – I have two grandchildren, now!
I think my joy for living and helping others truly live and thrive – is what keeps me going. Someone, somewhere is often way worse off than I am, and I think it’s what keeps me going in the field in which I work, the life that I live, I know this. And I’m not doing all that bad, I guess.
Come Again, J
Leave a Reply