IT'S MY BIRTHDAY TOMORROW
Another year has sailed by and tomorrow I leave 55 behind me for good. I think I saw 55 as the Mid-point of Midlife. If this stage encompasses 40-70 (approximately) then 55 was the exact middle - now I'm about to become 56 and I really feel like I'm looking back at what has gone and at the same time wanting to make the most of what is yet to come.
I can't undo anything that has gone before - I can be proud of a lot of it, and learn from the mistakes I've made. I'm so grateful to have had such an abundant life - maybe a life that is smaller than some get to experience, but one I've been content with and I have no lingering regrets, just a sense of having done the best I could wherever possible.
Life doesn't stop at 50 like they allude to in the media. It keeps growing and flourishing. I still love the Perennial definition:
“It’s a mind-set about being relevant, staying curious, reinvention, looking outside your own boundaries, and living life fully sans generational boundaries.”
WHEN YOU ARE MID-MIDLIFE
There is no getting past the fact that the first half of my life is well and truly over. I've been a child, a teenager, a daughter, a girlfriend, a wife, a mother, a friend...and so much more. A lot of those roles are gone but some still continue to grow and develop. I like that they have been leading me towards the second half of life and preparing me for what is yet to come.I can't undo anything that has gone before - I can be proud of a lot of it, and learn from the mistakes I've made. I'm so grateful to have had such an abundant life - maybe a life that is smaller than some get to experience, but one I've been content with and I have no lingering regrets, just a sense of having done the best I could wherever possible.
QUOTE 1
Anyone who reads my blog knows I love a great quote and there are a couple that I wanted to share that sum up how I'm feeling now. This one by Michael Lipsey really spoke to me because it says it so beautifully.QUOTE 2
And this one by Kristin Armstrong is what I'm aiming for in the years ahead. The second half of life is underway and I don't want to waste any more time. I'm starting a bucket list of things to do before I turn 60 and there's only four years left! She mentions so many things that I've been learning about letting go, valuing my voice, not trying to please everyone, letting go of toxic people, and knowing who I am.WHAT LIES AHEAD?
I have no idea what the year ahead holds, but I have no doubt it will be full of really good things. There is sure to be a little heartache in the midst, because life always has sunshine and rain (and rainbows). I think I'm ready for whatever comes my way and I really believe that I'm up to the challenge.Life doesn't stop at 50 like they allude to in the media. It keeps growing and flourishing. I still love the Perennial definition:
“It’s a mind-set about being relevant, staying curious, reinvention, looking outside your own boundaries, and living life fully sans generational boundaries.”
I want my Midlife to be about living fully - not dependent on others but appreciating the people who want to be in my life and happy to share the journey with me. It's an exciting time if you choose to celebrate it and I intend to make the most of every minute.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Is Midlife a celebration and an adventure? Or are you still trudging up the hill and dragging your feet? It's really all about how we choose to look at things and if we choose wisely then we can enjoy the second half of life even more than the first.
This post was shared at some of these great link parties
To keep up to date with my posts, feel free to add your email into the spot especially for it on my sidebar and I'd love you to follow me on Facebook
To keep up to date with my posts, feel free to add your email into the spot especially for it on my sidebar and I'd love you to follow me on Facebook
Good post, Leanne, even though according to your staging, I have left midlife behind. Yeah, I guess I've accepted that. I'm post-midlife, but definitely not old! So what does that make me? Have a very happy birthday, and enjoy the rest of your midlife. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think post-midlife is a good term Shirley - you don't seem old to me at all (and I don't intend to get old when I turn 70 either!)
DeleteI really love these thoughts. I'm going to remind myself not to "give my power away." Well timed message!
ReplyDeleteThanks Rebecca - and definitely hold onto your power - it's one of the blessings of reaching this age and stage xx
DeleteI need to remind myself to say "no" more - thank you! Happy Birthday :)
ReplyDelete"no" has become much easier to say as I've gotten older Susan - I think I probably need to say it less than I expected to because I don't have many toxic or demanding people left in my life these days.
DeleteHappiest of birthdays to you! It just keeps getting better and better from here on, I promise!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Marcia - I don't think you're much further down the road than I am, but I'm expecting it to keep being great as long as I keep my attitude positive.
DeleteLeanne, Happy Birthday! I'm always amazed at how prolific and good you are as a writer. Truly inspiring. As for the middle years, I'm one of those weirdos who find the later years quite exhilarating. Rock on.
ReplyDeleteI think I may be dwindling down a bit with the writing next year Laurie - it might be time for me to diverisfy myself a bit - but thank you so much for your kind words and I will definitely do my best to Rock On :)
DeleteBaby Boomers are still re-defining midlife, so this idea of old is gone for good! Happy birthday, Leanne! In a few weeks I'll be two years closer to 60.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right about redefining this stage of life Terri - I certainly feel more positive and more empowered than I ever expected to - and it certainly wasn't something we say in previous generations. I'm so glad to be living in a time where Midlife is celebrated.
DeleteGreat thoughts and reflections (as usual), Leanne!
ReplyDeleteWishing you a very happy birthday!!
Thanks so much for the birthday wishes Donna - it's not the Camino Trail, but it's still a great day and I'm having fun!
DeleteI wished you a belated birthday so I hope you are HAVING a Happy Very Happy birthday! Even though there is longevity in my family I am still past midlife because I just want to live to 80, 85 tops if I am still healthy. Each year healthy is a blessing and an opportunity to do something new and fun!
ReplyDeleteI've noticed that the quality of life for most people starts to really spiral down after they turn 80 Haralee - I'm not sure whether we'll be lucky and live more robustly, but I certainly don't want to live past 85 if it's as a decrepit old person.
DeleteI love these quotes. We should be thankful that we are in a place where we can define our own lives going forward. It will be as good or bad as we make it!
ReplyDeleteI loved them too Michele - they just really define what Midlife is for us if we choose to embrace it.
DeleteHappy Belated Birthday and just remember like fine wine you are getting better and better all the time! Fine wine should never be consumed too soon! You are just getting to the top of the hill enjoy the ride.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much - I had a lovely day and I think the top of the hill looks pretty fabulous - and we are definitely getting better with age!
DeleteVery nice quotes and I hoped you had a wonderful birthday.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much and I had a really nice birthday - they seem to come around a lot faster these days though!
DeleteHappy birthday! Love the quote - "Do the things you used to talk about doing . . ." Thanks for sharing at The Blogger's Pit Stop! Roseann from www.thisautoimmunelife.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for the birthday wishes Roseann and I am workign very hard at doing the things that I've talked about - still got a few left on the list though.
DeleteHappy Birthday, and thank you for this post! Just what I needed to read.:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the happy birthday and I'm so glad you enjoyed reading the post x
DeleteFirstly Happy Birthday Leanne and secondly I add together and have done for a number of years and it causes great meriment for my grandchildren and my children just think I am crazy...So I am 12 yrs and my grandson who is 12 is 3yrs so younger than his sister who is 4 yrs and not in double figures for a while...No is definitely easier to say also..lol Unless it is to another glass of wine :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I love a good quote too. Hope you have a lovely time celebrating your birthday.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting and commenting Rachael - and yes I had a lovely birthday thanks x
DeleteWhat a fab post!
ReplyDeletethank you so much - lovely of you to stop by and read it x
DeleteI like the quotes very much! I'm still in early midlife, but am always thinking about how to make the most of each moment. I think when I turned 40, I felt the savor of life. I wasn't always rushing around, I wasn't doubting myself as much. I can't go back and give my 20 year old self the gifts I now understand at 40. But I can take them with me as I move forward. Thank you for the chance to ponder this mid-point of mid-life. I've got another birthday coming up and I want to love every minute.
ReplyDeleteHi Angela! I really like how you said said that you can't go back and teach your 20 yr old self, but you can carry the gifts forward. That's what makes getting older so much easier - we learn and we apply and we appreciate - all great things in life!
DeleteI turn 43 in a few days. Usually birthdays are no big deal to me, but I've been doing some soul searching this time around
ReplyDeleteThat's not necessarily a bad thing Jeremy - I think we all reach a point when we wake up and realize we aren't in our 20's any more (it takes longer for some people!) and that's when we start moving into a new (better) phase of life - you might just be hitting the beginning of Midlife!
DeleteI trust you had a happy birthday, you have bought us all so much pleasure as we read your wisdom. I hope there is much more to come. So we had better feature this post to celebrate with you.
ReplyDeleteKathleen
Blogger's Pit Stop
I hope you had a very happy birthday Leanne. Midlife is certainly a time for celebration and adventure so I think I'm trying for both. Having reached 60 this year celebrating life and going for what I want is certainly even more important. xx
ReplyDelete