Entering into the 2nd half
In the years leading up to turning 50, something in my spirit started churning. My eyes were opening and the truth about many things that I had been taught was in question. My view of the world and the people in it was changing and I wasn’t really sure if I had become the woman that God had intended.
Or maybe it was due to becoming an empty nester and finally having a sense of self back, or simply the fact that I started to realize that life was moving quickly and tomorrow wasn’t promised. But whatever the reason, my new outlook on life made my confidence soar and my thirst to enjoy life to the fullest became overwhelming!
My petty frustrations over the inconveniences of daily life and vain insecurities over extra weight, fine lines, and failing eyesight no longer occupied my thoughts. For the first time in my life, I was becoming completely satisfied with who I was and the life I was living. Though life had not always been perfect, nor will it ever be, I realized I had everything, (minus the house on the water) that I had always dreamed of as a little girl. God had blessed me with the family of my dreams and a lifestyle that had always been comfortable. For the first time in 45+ years, I could say I was absolutely content with the life I had been given.
I just wanted to experience more of it!
Make the decision to live YOUR life.
I made the decision to stop letting society, social norms, rules for age appropriate behavior, whatever you want to call it, stop me from being who I was and doing what I wanted to do.
Yes. I was approaching 50, I was a wife, a mother of four and a Christian. But I wasn’t dead!
Well that was several years ago and in November of this past year I turned 55 …
And I can honestly say I am loving life!
The stress of “stressing” is pretty much gone and the desire to impress anyone or try to be something I am not, no longer interest me.
Though I still remain gracious and respectful of my environment, I have given myself the freedom to say what I want, wear what I want, go where I want and do what I want.
I am proud of the wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend … Woman, I have become, but I know I still have so much living to do!
I am not done! Not even close! These days I’m pushing myself to see just what I am capable of. I’m more curious than ever and I explore anything new that grabs my attention! I may be aging, but I will never be old! My plan is to live what time I have left with as much flair for life as I can possibly muster.
To quote Maya Angelou …
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive, and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style.”