reflections on a 50th birthday party

#midlife blog crestingthehill.com.au
Turning 50 with my husband - and a birthday badge that says "28" - I wish!

Well I've decided to link up with the #FridayReflections girls and write on one of their topics. For this Friday I picked the one that I thought would be the most fun (kind of my mantra lately!) and its:

"What was the last big achievement you celebrated, how did it make you feel, and what did you do to celebrate?"

The first thought I had was weddings - our son's and our daughter's, but they aren't really my achievements to be celebrated as such. They are our children's achievements - finding the right life partner and celebrating linking your lives together. So, the last big achievement that was actually about me would have been the big milestone of turning 50.

I read a long time ago that we should celebrate life events and make memories because that is what life is truly all about. Taking that to heart, I decided that I should do something about turning 50 - rather than weeping softly and sadly in a corner somewhere bewailing my lost youth and vigour. So, with much trepidation I decided to have a birthday party to mark the occasion. It had been a very long time since I'd had a birthday gathering - I think the last one of those was for my 21st/engagement - and that was back in the dark ages!

The trouble with being a non-party person and deciding to throw myself a birthday bash was finding the happy medium where it's not so stressful that I would have a miserable time, and yet there is enough going on that I could officially give it "party" status. I'm really horrible at mixing large groups of people who don't know each other well - I always worry that someone is feeling bored or left out or whatever (probably because it's been me feeling that way plenty of times - did I mention I'm not much of a party person?)

I have quite a wide circle of friends and acquaintances (one of the benefits of having been alive for a long time) - friends from my youth, from those we met as a couple, from neighbours, from work, from church and from anywhere and everywhere. I wanted to invite them all but I didn't want to be madly running around trying to make sure everyone was having a good time. In the end I reached a compromise, I invited only friends who knew each other and who lived within easy reach of our home. 

We decided on a lunch get together and sent out invitations adapted by my clever husband:  

#midlife blog crestingthehill.com.au

Everyone who was invited turned up and it was a really fun, relaxed time - there was a "no presents please" clause so nobody had to think up a gift to give me. People chatted and caught up with each other, our daughter made it down for the day and it was casual and I had a lovely time. It was definitely worth putting myself out of my comfort zone and I'm so glad that I made the effort - after all, you don't turn "28" every day......or do you?


32 comments

  1. Sounds like you had a good time. I skipped a party at my 50th, but I'm thinking 55 or 60 I need to throw a big bash with music and dancing and drinking!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think sometimes you need to just kick back and celebrate in a way that resonates with your personality - just to mark the fact that you have achieved a milestone!

      Delete
  2. I am glad you stepped out and made it a celebration. You gave yourself memories for your birthday! Hopping over from #midlifeluv !

    Shellie
    www.thefabjourney.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks Shellie - it's nice to look back on it now :)

      Delete
  3. I can so relate to this, I am not a party person either, it can be stressful can't it. It sounds like you made the perfect choice and had a great time. Happy birthday! Thanks for linking up, so great to have you #Fridayreflections

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My pleasure Mackenzie - and I think I'll never be a really party gal, but there are a lot of steps between a doing nothing and having a full on blow out birthday. This worked for me and I'm glad I made the effort. I'll be back to reflect again next Friday!

      Delete
  4. I am a non-party person just like you, but you just about convinced me to give it a try next year. It's always nice to have a reason to bring good friends and family together. Fun reflection.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was going to skip it all too, but when I read about making memories it inspired me to lift my game a little and it was a lovely way to mark a midlife milestone!

      Delete
  5. I'm like you and don't have parties either except for holiday get togethers, but for 28 you should go all out. Glad you enjoyed your day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks Rena - 28 is an important birthday to celebrate :)

      Delete
  6. Sounds so lovely, LeAnne! Just the kind of birthday I would choose to have too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. we can invite each other next time we have a party :)

      Delete
  7. Most birthdays are not that big of a deal to me. But turning 50 is a big one. Sounds like you had a great one celebration!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would be a shame to not do something for turning 50 - otherwise it was a bit like admitting defeat and surrendering to old age!

      Delete
  8. My Little House is only 22' x 22' so having people over, much less having a party, is something I miss... but I'm going to change that in the near future!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. the house or the party guests Brenda? I'll look forward to finding out which it is :)

      Delete
  9. Sounds like a great idea. My husband's 50th isn't too far away...*hmmm*

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it was more personal LuAnn because everybody knew everybody - very stress free!

      Delete
  10. even if there was a no presents clause, if I'd been invited to a party, I'd have taken at least a novel as a gift (assuming the person likes to read) :) I liked the invite image! :D Belated wishes, Leanne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks Vinay - a few people brought little things for me (coffee vouchers etc) but no-one felt obligated and that was nice.

      Delete
  11. I agree that we should celebrate life's moments. I wasn't very good at it when I was working full time and too busy, but I am doing better now. It is fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not very good at it either but it does make for great memories when you put the effort in.

      Delete
  12. A friend gave me a small (about 20 people) party in my own patio when I turned 50 and I will always have happy memories from that night (which is surprising because I drank a tad more than necessary). The same friend held a 60th party for me so life goes on!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now I'm going to have to start working my way up to my 60th Kay - would your friend pop around and do one for me too? :)

      Delete
  13. Hi Leanne! Good for you for throwing yourself a party! I actually throw parties all the time for just about any reason mainly because I love them. Although i have to admit that as I age it isn't quite as much fun to have tons of people over, but I love putting people together. I do believe that when we celebrate we remind ourselves that we have so very much to be grateful for and of amazing gift that each of us have been given. And don't stop! Think of all the birthdays ahead! ~Kathy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I envy you your love of party throwing - I wish I was more like that - they are quite stressful for me and I tend to avoid them, which is a shame because you are completely right about celebrating and gratitude Kathy!

      Delete
  14. That sounded like such a lovely way to celebrate your birthday, and now a wonderful memory was created. A nice pic of you and hubby, he looks kind and nice :)
    Kathleen
    Fridays Blog Booster Party #23

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kathleen - and yes he is kind and nice (most of the time!)

      Delete
  15. Such a great way to celebrate your 50th! Having a relaxed and fun time with people you love is the best way to celebrate any occasion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yes Sanch - I took the easy and relaxing route and loved it :)

      Delete
  16. Leanne, congrats on makin' it to 50! I did the opposite - I invited a group of girls...best friends from all walks of life from family to high school through mommy groups and presents friends. Not everyone knew one another - I rented a Palm Springs house and threw them all in there for a weekend and let us all fend for ourselves! It was great! It was one big p.j. party - not everyone knowing each other...but we all got along. Great fun! And new friends were made. So I double-dog dare you to invite anyone you want to your 60th...let them fend for themselves...then sit back and see what surprises will happen! You got 10 years to plan it! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. wow Karen - now I'm feeling the challenge! I'll have to ponder on it for a few years and see if I start to enjoy girlie get togethers more than I do at the time being. I'm thinking that 60 shouldn't go past without some celebration - your's sounded wonderful (I think I read the post you did on it a while back!)

      Delete

Thanks so much for your comment - it's where the connection begins.