AN INSPIRING QUOTE
I found this quote on The Minds Journal the other day and I thought how beautifully it reflected how we should be living in Midlife. It's time to focus on ourselves and find those things that bring us joy - forgetting what others are thinking or doing with their lives, and drilling down to what makes us who we are.SHE'S FOCUSED ON HERSELF
Right now, she’s just living her best life. She’s focused on herself. She’s falling in love with who she is.
How lovely it is to be able to turn our focus inwards after all those years of worrying about everyone else. How pleasant to ponder upon the things that interest us and to engage in activities that appeal to what currently takes our fancy. How nice it is to really enjoy just being ourselves and discovering more about that person.
SHE'S EXCITED ABOUT WHERE SHE'S HEADING
She’s excited about where’s she’s headed, and she’s excited about what’s next. She has so many goals, so many dreams, so much ambition, and she’s constantly finding new passions.
Midlife has freed up more time for me. The hours spent caring for a family are free, the hours spent in full-time work are now available, there is time to think about a bucket list and what we'd like to do. For me there's been the blog, there's been stained glass, knitting, volunteering, travel, tai chi, online study. So many new things and it's exciting and engaging to think about all the things still out there to be discovered.
SHE'S LEARNING AND CHASING
She’s learning to be spontaneous. She’s learning to take risks. And she’s constantly stepping outside her comfort zone. You see — right now, she’s just chasing the things that make her happy. She’s chasing the things that feed her soul.
There are so many small ways to step out of your comfort zone - you don't have to be zip-lining or paragliding to be chasing things that make you happy. For me there's been simple things like having a coffee in a cafe by myself, going to a Tai Chi class where I didn't know anyone, and changing my career path at 52.
SHE'S NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE OPINIONS OF OTHERS
And to be honest with you — she couldn't care less about what anybody else is doing. She couldn't care less about what anyone else thinks.
This has been a big one for me. I've always worried about what people think and I can dream up all sorts of scenarios in my head where I'm being judged. But Midlife is helping me step out of that rut - now I am much more likely to do what I want without worrying about whether it'll be approved of by others. I like the idea that I've done silly things like putting pink highlights in my hair, getting a tattoo, wearing what I want when I want to, or even joining the local senior citizen's club when I felt like I was too young!
SHE'S LIVING A LIFE THAT IS FULL
Because right now, her life is filled with so much peace. So much light. So much growth. So much faith. And so much hope.
I love that I can agree with every word of this - it's such a joy to have a life full of peace, light, growth, faith and hope. How sad to be living in your 50's or 60's and to not be experiencing those things. I feel very settled in my life, it's like all the choices I've made, the hard work I've put in, the sacrifices in the earlier years, have all come together at this point in time to say - well done, now you can take a breath and rest and think about how you'd like to spend the next few decades.
SHE'S LIVING HER BEST LIFE
And right now, she’s just living her best life — and there’s absolutely nothing or no one that can get in the way of that.
I hope you're living your best life - I hope nobody is stopping you from from enjoying the peace and happiness that comes with Midlife. I hope you're not getting in your own way or living with regrets. Midlife is our time to shine and to smile and to be at peace with ourselves and the world around us - to enjoy the fruits of our labour.
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This is just awesome and really summarizes how I feel about my life at the moment. Right now, at 51 I am just living my best life and focusing on what makes me happy. What a wonderful message to share with all midlife women! Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteHi Darlene - I'm feeling exactly the same way - it's like I'm finally free to figure out what's important to me and to start living authentically and enjoying who I am - definitely my best life.
DeleteIt is a privileged place in life to be, and I am happy I can!
ReplyDeleteYou've definitely earned your place in the sun Haralee - and wouldn't it be a waste to not be making the most of every moment?
DeleteI am living my best life! Who knew that my second half-century would be so fun?!
ReplyDeleteI know! Nobody told me how great the second half of life would turn out to be Diane - isn't it nice that things are so good?
DeleteThis is an awesome post! It is exactly the place a person like me, at age 46 should be! I wish I could have been there in my 20's though! LOL
ReplyDelete#AnythingGoes
I wish I'd figured it out sooner too - but it's never too late to start making the most of the life we've been given - I'm so grateful to be enjoying Midlife so much.
DeleteA great reminder. It's interesting, many of of us talk about growing into ourselves in midlife, yet one of the fab photographers I follow in Instagram wrote something similar regarding her 20s and 30s. It said something like how the 20s were about scraping by, survival, paying rent & then things began to slot into place in her 30s when it suddenly changed from survival to discovery. She went on to say she was more herself than she'd ever been & was no longer apologising for it. I think I got to that point in my 40s, but after talking to a number of 30 somethings I'm wondering if the generation behind me is more together earlier.
ReplyDeleteI think younger women figured this out much sooner than we did Jo. I look at my daughter and DIL and they seem to have much more confidence and self assurance than I had in my 20's and 30's (and 40's) I think we parented them better than we were parented in regard to recognizing their strengths and building their foundations.
DeleteThat being said, it's never too late, and I'm so glad I can live my best life now - and I know it's only going to keep getting better if I invest in myself and those I care about.
Absolutely!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great Sandra?!
DeleteI hope that everyone finds this 'best life' at some point -- and if we can't claim these things - that we make changes to find it. The best life won't look the same at each phase - but hopefully we can find peace and joy at every step.
ReplyDeleteI agree Janet - life isn't always beer and skittles, but if we have grateful hearts and a positive attitude, then we can create the best out of whatever life happens to be dealing us. I think I'm learning that attitude is what makes the difference - we choose to make this our best life and that manifests into our daily experiences.
DeleteThis is a wonderful quote, Leanne. It is such a great reminder to live our best lives right now and not put this off for another day. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteI just kept reading it Donna and thinking that I needed to share it somewhere - and why not on my blog where my thoughts all end up being written down?
DeleteAnother great post Leanne. After being told what to do, what I can’t do, where I can’t go in my marriage, it is now wonderful to be able to do anything (and I mean anything) and go anywhere without being told otherwise. It may have taken until I hit my late 60’s, but now I enjoy life to the fullest. Life just keeps on getting better. So watch out for all us senior citizens acting outrageously.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame it took us so long to figure all this out - but it's nice to know that we're leaping into it now - and you're paving the way for me rocking it out as a senior citizen - life just keeps getting better!
DeleteHmmm,,, That one was really nice.. I like this and really enjoyed... Keep it up and I also read your blog posts. can I get few more information if you have about few things which you shared in past. I will be thankful to you... proprepandfulfillment
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Julia - you are welcome to ask about anything I write about and I'm happy to discuss it with you further :)
DeleteHi Leanne, visiting your blog after a while.
ReplyDeleteNice thought. We should always try our best to be happy. We don't get happiness from anywhere. We discover it ourselves.
Thanks for popping back Pradeep and yes you're right, happiness is so important - especially as we get older.
DeleteI really love this total quote and am definitely pinning it. Right now, I am living my best life!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pin Patricia - and I loved it too. Every line seemed to resonate with me and that's rare to find isn't it?
DeleteThis is beautiful Leanne. I'm so happy to read that you are growing so much and living a rich full life. You are an inspiration. I believe I am living my best life in this moment. I look forward to retirement when I can free up some more time for travel and other ventures, but I'm not waiting until then to try new things. I got my first tattoo and ran my first race (a marathon) in my 40s. I started a blog, going to sangha and Orangetheory Fitness all in my 50s. I'm still working on letting go of coulda, woulda, shoulda and accepting the twists and turns that life brings. Overall, I am a happy person--as happy as I have ever been. #MLSTL
ReplyDeleteI think we're walking very similar paths Christie - not perfect, but working on the areas that we recognize need some action, and appreciating the blessings we have in our lives. I wish I was a runner - that would solve a lot of my fitness goals, but it just doesn't seem to mesh with my body - so I can't tick that one off unfortunately :)
DeleteShared on my Social Media.
ReplyDelete#MLSTL
Thanks Donna xx
DeleteLeanne I love this quote. It really does say it all about life as a midlifer and beyond. I love that I have no care at all about what anyone else is doing. And I especially am not at all bothered by what others think of what I'm doing. Just trying to live my best life. #MLSTL #midlifeblogger
ReplyDeleteOops that was silly -midlifeblogger! Meant to say shared in SM
DeleteThat's what I loved about it too Jennifer - that liberating feeling of not basing every thought and action around what other people want or might judge. To let go of that has been so freeing for me - and there's more to come I'm sure x
DeleteVery nice quote, Leanne. It's never too late to enjoy life to the fullest. I've been living my best life since my mid-20s. I ignored many opinions and societal expectations to live my life my way. #MLSTL
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd started back then Natalie - it took me an extra 30 years to get my head around all this stuff - but I'm hoping to make up for lost time!
DeleteHi Leanne, I love this quote and it certainly sums up life for many of us Over 50 women. I am always encouraged by our generation who seems to be taking Midlife & Beyond to a new level of enjoyment and fulfillment. Great to be back at #MLSTL and I'll be sharing on SM. x
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way Sue - it's like we woke up and got the hang of what we'd been missing out on - and then decided to seize the day/year/decade! I am so glad that I discovered blogging and the women who are living their best lives and encouraging me to do the same.
DeleteThis is something I want to read once a month, maybe once a week. A great reminder to stay focused on MY LIFE and not get caught up in other people's dramas or needs - unless they are out of pure love.
ReplyDeleteI've read it several times over the last few months Christine - it just kept coming back to mind and that's why I wanted to tackle it and share it with others. It's been such an encouragement to enjoy life and stop worrying about other people and what I imagined they were thinking.
DeleteI turn 60 next month. This was a lovely way to ponder my 50s. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThe 50's are just the beginning Terri - I think our 60's might be even better :)
DeleteAmen to all of that!! It's a great time of life. Now is awesome!
ReplyDeletePerfectly said Chris - now is awesome indeed (and who'd have thought?!)
DeleteAbsolutely fabulous quote that sums it all up perfectly. So happy to be in the position I am now. Love this post Leanne. #mlstl
ReplyDeleteThanks Deb - it's lovely that we can read it and see that we're putting it into play (no regrets - and even better days to come!)
DeleteWe were just talking about some of these concepts in the car this morning. Now I'm 60 I was also saying that we have to focus on everyday and the things we can do, and not say, "I'll think about that tomorrow." A great post, thanks Leanne :)
ReplyDeleteOh Pinned and Tweeted and G+'d :)
DeleteYou're right Jo - our 50's and 60's are definitely the time to get on with things and tick a few boxes. I don't want to be 80 and looking back at what I wished I'd been brave enough to do.
DeleteI am feeling pretty lucky to be able to live my best life. It's a very good place to be.
ReplyDeleteYou've certainly made a lot of big changes in your life over the last few years Cherie - and I'd say you're definitely living life on your terms - good for you! :)
DeleteThat sounds lovely, and inspiring, but a bit distant from my reality. Having children later in life has meant for me - I have never been so tired, or had so many responsibilities with kids, stepkids, husband and partner. But that’s not a complaint, I’m happy to have them. #MLSTL
ReplyDeleteYoung children definitely put a bit of a brake on things Sonia, but at the same time they are only young (and you're only tired) for a while - then you come back out of the tunnel, they're grown and thriving and you can start focusing more on yourself again - your time will come!
DeleteNot worrying about the opinions of others is the hardest one for me. That's why it took so long for me to share my blog with my friends and family. That was the hardest hurdle to get over. Since then it's been easier but not easy.
ReplyDeleteI was the same Jennifer - it took me a very long time before I told people about my blog - not sure what I was so worried about - the majority of them don't even remember I told them!
DeleteSuch a wonderful, inspirational post.
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy - it was a quote that really spoke to my heart and I wanted to share the thoughts that it brought to mind.
DeleteI think one of the most freeing things about midlife is letting go of concerns about other people's opinions. It is truly liberating. And yay, I think google likes me today and will let me comment!
ReplyDeleteThank goodness it worked Kristin - it's a bit hard to reply to comments when Google is being stingy with who it lets in!
DeleteHello Leanne,
ReplyDeleteI love this! These are what's beautiful about life that we can make the most out of in mid-life. Thank you for sharing!
Best,
Sigrid
Hi Sigrid - I'm so glad you enjoyed it, I thought it was a beautiful analogy for Midlife - it's our time in the sun and we should be enjoying every moment.
DeleteWhat lovely thoughts!
ReplyDeleteAnd you know - I can't believe it. As many times as I've been on here and read your blog posts, I've never noticed your tag line "Replacing Midlife Crisis with Midlife Connection and Contentment" I don't know how I've missed that, but I LOVE it!!
Sharing for MLSTL
Thanks Trisha - I changed my header the other day (it used to have the woman on the hilltop in the breeze) maybe it's easier to read the tag line now? I have a few other changes pending so the blog seems to be in transition mode atm :)
DeleteThis really reconnected me to those life-giving attitudes that have moved me forward through midlife. It's so important to wrap ourselves in the cloak of self-worth and allow space for our lives going forward. Thanks Leanne! I'll be sharing on FB and Twitter for #MLSTL
ReplyDeletehttps://meinthemiddlewrites.com/2018/10/19/me-in-the-middle-of-life-3/
I'm glad you liked it Mary Lou - I find that self worth is a big one for me - I need to remind myself regularly that I have the right to live a life that I enjoy and not one that is constantly dedicated to everyone else's needs over my own.
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