On June 20th, I turned 50. 
What does 50 feel like? Look like? What does it mean?
Our society tells us something about this big milestone doesn’t it? There are medical markers such as get a colonoscopy, get bone density markers, really focus on creating and sticking with a regular exercise routine to avoid weight gain, cover up and/or get those wrinkles taken care of, touch-up your roots so as not to see any gray hair.
Our culture does not say a lot about the positives of turning 50.
The story I wish to tell myself about this year in my life is one of wisdom and health and happiness. It is not one of ‘hurry up and don’t look old.’ In our culture there seems to be a fear of getting older and one of resisting it. I am not saying that I don’t wear make-up or get my hair colored. I am saying that maybe, just maybe, the story we are handing out to everyone and passing down to our children could be one of empowerment… and grace… and love of self. I want to create a story for my own aging self that looks like something altogether more beautiful and personal. Something that looks like this:
- I will tell stories to my kids and the kids I teach of my mess-ups and lessons learned.
- I will seek to emit joy and peace, to be a grounding and calm presence in others lives.
- I will teach meditation and mindfulness practices to all who wish to learn from me.
- I will accept my body is changing as a gift from God, not a curse.
- I know and acknowledge my personal limitations, my struggles, my bad habits. I will seek to be aware of these and to make positive changes and create new, healthier habits.
- I will role model what it is to be accepting of oneself to the best of my ability. I will accept others too, in a much more concentrated and intentional way.
Maybe Turning 50 is a blessing. Maybe Turning 50 is a gift. Maybe Turning 50 could be the best thing to happen to a person, to me. I am happy to have lived on this planet for half a century and to continue to be myself, at peace, in this moment, with exactly who I am.
