Some thing unforeseen took place when I turned 50. Really, it commenced the yr ahead of as I began to experience the large 50 steadily approaching. I stopped caring — not about myself — truly fairly the reverse. I commenced definitely caring about myself as I started to care considerably less about how I seem, how I am perceived, what folks consider of me. As I appeared about at my girlfriends who ended up all either approaching their 50th birthday or who had very long since been there, I recognized we all shared this sensation. What a surprise it was — fairly than anticipate my 50th birthday as a dreaded, ‘over the hill’ celebration, I truly truly feel like it gave me a new liberty a independence to not acquire so considerably so seriously. I do not mean to suggest that I’ve grow to be rude, insensitive or the like. I only do not bother with several of the issues I felt bothered about prior to and I giggle more. Now, I’ve normally been an assertive, outspoken man or woman, so what is really unique? I have been wanting to know what this phenomenon is all about due to the fact this is a unique and pretty superb knowledge that several of us gals share.
One new early morning, I noticed it a lot more plainly when I was with a team of 5 women of all ages that I meet up with for breakfast two times a year. We experienced been neighbors and periodic strolling buddies, but in excess of the decades, schedules and going to other neighborhoods designed having with each other a lot less convenient. We continue to keep up with every single other and the information of our people by this two times a yr breakfast exactly where we celebrate our birthdays. A thing experienced altered and having together this previous time was distinctive. 3 of us just turned 50 and two will be celebrating their 50th birthday this yr. Our usual catching up and conversation had a different good quality — it was irreverent and pleasurable in a total new way as if no subject was any lengthier also taboo to converse and snicker about. We exchanged birthday playing cards and gifts that built us snicker so loud at ourselves that other individuals in the restaurant couldn’t assist but smile and wish they were being in on the joke.
One of my close friends described the Pink Hat Modern society for women of all ages 50 decades and older, which celebrates ‘acting your age’. This created me recognize that the inner thoughts I have are extra than a individual working experience and are shared by so very many women. My curiosity, fueled by my history in psychology, created me assume about this widespread bond. I realized that as we change 50, we are catching a glimpse of our mortality and building a option about how we want to experience and are living the relaxation of our life. By now, we know what is important and what isn’t really, what requires to be taken to coronary heart and when we can giggle unabashedly at ourselves and at every single other. We’ve been undertaking all, or practically all, of the factors we’re meant to be executing for 50 decades and we are going to continue on (most of them anyway) for the reason that these are points we want in our lifestyle. But now that we have lived 50 a long time — for the upcoming 50 let’s chortle out loud at ourselves a bit more and a bit louder and make day to day just a minor extra enjoyment! Right after all, you can find a great deal to smile about.