I will be 80 next month, Jo and I agree with everything you've said. Physical limitations of old age take some getting used to. No matter what, I'm not as limber, fast, and strong as I used to be. But that lovely word wisdom makes up for so much. Just keep being curious with an outer focused view. Oh, and learn new things. Life stays worth living.
This has made me well up, as I approach my 47th birthday next month, very aware that 50 is around the corner. I'm not sure what I expected, but I have to remind myself that I am glad to have made it this far even if it looks nothing like I thought it would.
Jo, how funny, I was having this conversation over the weekend about turning 50. I too had many preconceptions in my younger days. When I was 20, 50 was akin to death. Now I'm here, like you I feel like I'm way more in control of the life I have. Yes, there are things that I sometimes feel are out of my reach being of an age - career things mainly - but ultimately I am happier as a whole and understand myself a hell of a better than I did when was 20, or even 30. Like you, I too have worried about what ageing might do to me. When I was younger, I always feared I'd lose my hair, which to me would be disastrous, because I know I'd probably end up looking like beetroot-faced Phil Mitchell. Luckily, in spite of several bleach jobs and a dramatic weight loss - thanks to Slimming World! - I've managed to hang to it so far! Phew! I also used to worry that because my friendship group is comprised of people of all ages - some even in their 20s! - people might think to themselves 'what is that old geezer doing with the bunch of young un's?' So , it's very nice to read a piece like this. It's reassuring to know that we all have these youthful worries, but as time passes by and we grow, ageing isn't actually so bad after all!
Agree with ALL. As a younger woman I thought this lifestage would be hideous. But I love my family and friends - some of my friendships are 5 decades long - and I no longer pick fault with myself. I simply can't be bothered. So being this age is actually... pretty okay! (I'm 60 this year)
Thanks so much for sharing Jo, I enjoyed it so much and you have truly helped me. Growing up in my teens and twenties I had a chronic fear of ‘getting old’ and was in floods of tears and total panic and misery the night before I turned 30. I’m 35 now, and it feels so ridiculous and silly to say that, especially reading all the posts from everyone else here. It hasn’t left me and lingers on, but when I woke up on my 30th birthday my main feeling was a huge sense of relief and contentment, and I’m enjoying my thirties so much more than I ever imagined. Also - you are beautiful!
A great piece of writing, and I do agree, being in your 50's is quite different to what you envisage it to be. I think we all need to enjoy the here and now, for what it is, looking back in 10 years time we are likely to think my 50's we're fabulous!
I am 47 and it’s been on my mind a lot that I’m approaching 50 soon. So reading your thought is so reassuring! I have young daughters who’ll be in their teens in my mid 50s. And I still have o/s exams to become a qualified accountant, so stuck in a more junior role than I thought I’d be. And I still don’t have that fin security I thought I’ll have by now.
But I’m healthy and like you, I’ve had this mind shift about fitness being about health more than appearances/vanity. And never being a pretty one, I’m surprised how good I look; better than I expected at this age!
Keep sharing your thoughts, I love reading them esp on Sunday evenings! X
Love this article Jo. I’m turning 44 tomorrow. Life doesn’t look like I thought it would at this age, but some things are better than I could have imagined.
My daughters are talking a lot about grey hair and wrinkles to me lately (mine), they are 8 and 10, oh I wish grey hair and wrinkles were the biggest adult problems I faced!!
Your essay pretty much sums it all up. My opinion is that of a 70 year old male, and my perspective is alien to the perspective of a woman. Mostly all I had to do was to show up. I had anxieties, but not the pressures put on those with an X chromosome. I'm 70 years old and I never gave it much thought. I took a bite out of the "shit sandwich," most days, like we all do during adult lives/careers. My secret: rarely following the rules. It was so liberating being an icoclast/scofflaw. I'm content and that is as good as it gets on this march as we return to stardust. I'm my own legend; I'm my own fanbase. I absorbed punches, hit the canvas, bounced back up before the count of ten, and delivered some well-timed
counterpunches that my more powerful opponents still feel. My attitude never changed from junior high school to this minute. The cruelest part of life is having to become an adult after the wonder-years of teenage fun and romance.
Loved this 👏🏻 And all so true. I landed by accident in my current career 8 years ago - I’m now 52 and have never felt better or happier about where I am. 50’s are the place to be 🙌🏻
I will be 80 next month, Jo and I agree with everything you've said. Physical limitations of old age take some getting used to. No matter what, I'm not as limber, fast, and strong as I used to be. But that lovely word wisdom makes up for so much. Just keep being curious with an outer focused view. Oh, and learn new things. Life stays worth living.
Big hugs.
You are 💯 wrong about not having a pretty face, you nutter. But I forgive you because you also used the excellent phrase “wanging on”.
This has made me well up, as I approach my 47th birthday next month, very aware that 50 is around the corner. I'm not sure what I expected, but I have to remind myself that I am glad to have made it this far even if it looks nothing like I thought it would.
Jo, how funny, I was having this conversation over the weekend about turning 50. I too had many preconceptions in my younger days. When I was 20, 50 was akin to death. Now I'm here, like you I feel like I'm way more in control of the life I have. Yes, there are things that I sometimes feel are out of my reach being of an age - career things mainly - but ultimately I am happier as a whole and understand myself a hell of a better than I did when was 20, or even 30. Like you, I too have worried about what ageing might do to me. When I was younger, I always feared I'd lose my hair, which to me would be disastrous, because I know I'd probably end up looking like beetroot-faced Phil Mitchell. Luckily, in spite of several bleach jobs and a dramatic weight loss - thanks to Slimming World! - I've managed to hang to it so far! Phew! I also used to worry that because my friendship group is comprised of people of all ages - some even in their 20s! - people might think to themselves 'what is that old geezer doing with the bunch of young un's?' So , it's very nice to read a piece like this. It's reassuring to know that we all have these youthful worries, but as time passes by and we grow, ageing isn't actually so bad after all!
This is such a good piece Jo! Personally, I didn’t think I’d still fell like the dag I am (and have always been) at 50, but here we are!
Agree with ALL. As a younger woman I thought this lifestage would be hideous. But I love my family and friends - some of my friendships are 5 decades long - and I no longer pick fault with myself. I simply can't be bothered. So being this age is actually... pretty okay! (I'm 60 this year)
Thanks so much for sharing Jo, I enjoyed it so much and you have truly helped me. Growing up in my teens and twenties I had a chronic fear of ‘getting old’ and was in floods of tears and total panic and misery the night before I turned 30. I’m 35 now, and it feels so ridiculous and silly to say that, especially reading all the posts from everyone else here. It hasn’t left me and lingers on, but when I woke up on my 30th birthday my main feeling was a huge sense of relief and contentment, and I’m enjoying my thirties so much more than I ever imagined. Also - you are beautiful!
A great piece of writing, and I do agree, being in your 50's is quite different to what you envisage it to be. I think we all need to enjoy the here and now, for what it is, looking back in 10 years time we are likely to think my 50's we're fabulous!
I am 47 and it’s been on my mind a lot that I’m approaching 50 soon. So reading your thought is so reassuring! I have young daughters who’ll be in their teens in my mid 50s. And I still have o/s exams to become a qualified accountant, so stuck in a more junior role than I thought I’d be. And I still don’t have that fin security I thought I’ll have by now.
But I’m healthy and like you, I’ve had this mind shift about fitness being about health more than appearances/vanity. And never being a pretty one, I’m surprised how good I look; better than I expected at this age!
Keep sharing your thoughts, I love reading them esp on Sunday evenings! X
Love this article Jo. I’m turning 44 tomorrow. Life doesn’t look like I thought it would at this age, but some things are better than I could have imagined.
My daughters are talking a lot about grey hair and wrinkles to me lately (mine), they are 8 and 10, oh I wish grey hair and wrinkles were the biggest adult problems I faced!!
Your essay pretty much sums it all up. My opinion is that of a 70 year old male, and my perspective is alien to the perspective of a woman. Mostly all I had to do was to show up. I had anxieties, but not the pressures put on those with an X chromosome. I'm 70 years old and I never gave it much thought. I took a bite out of the "shit sandwich," most days, like we all do during adult lives/careers. My secret: rarely following the rules. It was so liberating being an icoclast/scofflaw. I'm content and that is as good as it gets on this march as we return to stardust. I'm my own legend; I'm my own fanbase. I absorbed punches, hit the canvas, bounced back up before the count of ten, and delivered some well-timed
counterpunches that my more powerful opponents still feel. My attitude never changed from junior high school to this minute. The cruelest part of life is having to become an adult after the wonder-years of teenage fun and romance.
Loved this 👏🏻 And all so true. I landed by accident in my current career 8 years ago - I’m now 52 and have never felt better or happier about where I am. 50’s are the place to be 🙌🏻
Boo hoo, And Begin only ships to UK💔