The Golden Years

Fifty is considered the beginning of your golden years. But to some it seems a age that no-one looks forward to.  I remember way back when I thought thirty was old. My sister-in-law was thirty and mum to three young children. One of those young children is now a grandad! And my sister-in-law is no longer with us, another victim of the dreaded cancer.

I was born in the swinging sixties! I don’t remember much about them. However, I do remember more about the seventies including my, much older, brothers having flares and motorbikes. Not a great combination as my brother will concur after breaking his leg in an accident. They both got married and chose me as a bridesmaid. I do actually remember being a bridesmaid twice when I was six and seven years old, I loved wearing pretty dresses and the fun celebrations. Such memories of joy, all the family together including my Dad.

Also in the seventies my life was blighted by my younger brother. I really didn’t want a brother, I wanted a sister and can remember complaining bitterly about his arrival. I guess I got used to him being around, but I can’t help but think about how different my life would have been with a sister instead.

My Dad passed away when I was eight, he was only in his fifties. Losing a loved on is such a difficult thing to endure and sometimes it’s difficult to know just what to do. It makes you think of your own mortality when a parent passes away so young.   I was terrified of reaching fifty but it didn’t turn out to bad.

 

Both my brothers are in their sixties now and are doing fine, so I guess my Dad dying young was not something that ran in the family. Of course I managed to get sick shortly after my fiftieth birthday which was a major downpoint, but other than that I don’t mind being in my fifties at all.

The Good Life

So the fifties are your golden years, in between becoming an adult and becoming old. You have so many things to look back on but still more to look forward to.

Most women my age are enjoying the freedom from their children growing up and beginning their own lives. They have more time to themselves and in many ways return to the fun times of their earlier years. But, there is also a maturity that helps all the problems of the past seem small and insignificant, because, after all, you survived. 

I chose to have children later in life and that’s why I now have three young ones when most women my age are enjoying grandchildren instead. I love having them around, they keep me feeling so much younger and give me a reason to keep on fighting. I think it would be a lot easier to give up without dependants. 

To all the young people out there, I’d say, don’t worry about getting older, being in your fifties is not so bad, whether you are a mummy to young children or not. A few more wrinkles and extra bumps and lumps seem insignificant. You can’t look twenty forever, and you really shouldn’t want to. Look at Cher, I don’t think she looks better trying to hide her age. It can be difficult to accept, but once you do, you realise that aged women can also be beautiful. 

I worried so much about getting older, but now I’m enjoying life as it is and looking forward to my sixties next. At least I won’t have to worry about losing my mobility. I just have to keep hold of my marbles and I’ll be fine.

What about you, do you worry about getting older? Is there a particular age you are not looking forward to reaching? Or are you already older and enjoying the benefits?