THAT GOLDEN AGE

midlife is the golden age of something good and right and real

THESE GOLDEN YEARS

I'm pretty sure Taylor Swift wasn't referring to Midlifers when she wrote "State of Grace", but a little snippet of the lyrics rang true to me about this stage of life. It is a golden age - time to take a breath and discover the people we've become, different to who we were and hopefully better versions of our younger selves.

She refers to three different aspects of the golden age....


midlife is the golden age of something good and right and real

SOMETHING GOOD

It is a really good time to be alive - all the hard work of raising decent, caring human beings is largely behind me. There is time to slow down a little and smell the roses, work less, take a stroll, drink uninterrupted cups of coffee with friends, see the latest movies and even travel a little. There is time to talk and re-connect with my husband and focus on the shared history and commitment we have with each other. There's time to chat with my children, to visit them, and even time to be excited about the grandbabies as they start to arrive.

SOMETHING RIGHT

It is a time for getting the balance right - how much time to spend working, how much time to give to those "grown and flown" children, how much time to give to friends and family. It's about putting my needs closer to the front of the queue and not feeling guilty about that. It's about cutting myself some slack and acknowledging that I have managed to get a lot of things right (and a few wrong along the way). There have been so many upheavals, but predominantly most things have turned out alright in the end. 

SOMETHING REAL

That is what my life is for me now - real, I don't want to be a product of the First World I live in - I want to be true to myself, true to my belief in God, true to my marriage vows, true to my role as the mother of two adult children, true to my role as a mother-in-law (that one's always a bit tricky isn't it?), and true to my new role as a Nan to my lovely grandbaby. I also want to be a true and loyal friend to the friends who have stuck by me through thick and thin over the years. 

I can look at myself in the mirror and know that I am 'real' - that I may not be perfect but I am authentic to my values and the person I present to the world isn't wearing a mask (most of the time!).

So Taylor, in all her 20 something years of wisdom managed to touch a chord in this midlifer's heart and made me stop and think and appreciate that "the golden age" I'm in isn't too bad after all. Getting older might suck in some areas but it has its blessings too.
midlife is the golden age of something good and right and real

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Windback Wednesday ~ www.crestingthehill.com.au

25 comments

  1. I like to think I can only get better & richer as the years go by - like compost.
    Hello from the AIM party!

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    1. That made me smile Mrs S - I've never thought of myself as compost before! I guess that's the farm girl coming out in you :)

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  2. You are damn real, girl, for real. That's my thought for today.
    Carol

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    1. Thanks Carol - that is high praise coming from such a grounded and wise woman as yourself :)

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  3. Midlife is definitely a time to realize what's important and then spending time focusing on that!

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    1. It is indeed Roseann - if not now then when? comes to mind a lot these days. I think once you hit the halfway mark in life you start honing in on what's authentically 'you' and focusing on enjoying that part of life.

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  4. These lyrics are very relevant to our age Leanne. I like the 'something good' with more time to spend enjoying the simple things in life, spending more time looking after 'me' and also looking forward to grandchildren (which we be a few more years for me). Thanks for reminding me of what's important at this stage of my life. :) #TeamLovinLife

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    1. Hi Kathy - you're right about enjoying life and all the simple pleasures that come our way. Wait til it's grandbaby time - that takes it to a whole new level :)

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  5. My something good was to simplify my life this year and also spending time with my darling grandson. You have nailed it again in expressing that midlife and beyond certainly is a golden age.

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    1. I love that you've found your sweet spot Sue and you have your life so well balanced. A little bit of this and a little bit of that is definitely the secret - not getting sucked into what others think we should be doing. And those grandbabies are the BEST!

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  6. Thank you for sharing this post at the #WednesdayAIM #LinkUp #BlogParty. I shared it on social media.

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    1. My pleasure Dee - and thank you so much for sharing - much appreciated x

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  7. All I can say is a heartfelt AMEN!

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    1. It's such a true sentence isn't it Janet - and we're living it every day :)

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  8. Spot on Leanne. There are some sucky things about getting older but finally being able to have the room to find a better balance for ourselves is a wonderful thing isn't it? #TeamLovinLife

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    1. The physicality of getting older drives me bananas - I feel like bits of me are wearing out slowly but surely Min, but the headspace and the self realization makes up for a lot of things - not to mention working less!

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  9. You do write with both energy and truth! Thanks so much for this post. I am learning to be 'just for me' and not feel quilty about that. Takes a while for sure!!

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    1. What a lovely thing to say Denyse - thank you so much. And yes finding that you're allowed to have Me Time is such a reward for this stage of life.

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  10. Yes retirement form official paid work is great. Yet I must say we have been so busy becoming involved in many aspects from our Church to mission work, more time to share the load helping out with children and grandchildren. We love it.
    There are days too when we can really relax and do as much or as little as we wish on that day.
    Blessed indeed

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    1. That's the secret to enjoying this stage of life Alexa - using all that newly found free time to invest in things and people that fill your heart and soul. Having the time to give back and to enjoy the grandbabies is wonderful.

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  11. Life is what you make of it, at any age. It's great to hear you're enjoying your "golden age" Leanne :) #TeamLovinLife

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    1. Thanks Lyndall - if you don't grab this stage with both hands and live out every minute, you miss out on so much. I don't want to have nothing to show for this great decade.

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  12. Very philosophical post, I think that having the time to think about what your real opinions are is a perk of middle age.

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  13. Good ol' (young) Taylor. She has a song for everyone.
    #TeamLovinLife

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