VIVID AND VIBRANT
Today on the List of More we're up to V for Vivid and Vibrant - both are words that resonate with living life to the full. According to WikiDiff there's a slight difference between the two terms - "vivid" is bright and colourful and "vibrant" is lively and vigorous, but both seem to embody brightness and vivacity - something that Midlife can be encompass if we live it out loud.Unfortunately, too often women feel that they need to fade quietly into the background once they hit their 50's - and that's such a shame. I'm not sure where the idea came from that we're not as valuable once we reach Midlife, but I'm so glad that I can be part of a Midlife Movement that is saying that, rather than fading - we should be shining bright and living our lives on our own terms and enjoying every minute we have available to us.
WE'RE NOT INVISIBLE
Welcome to Midlife in the 21st Century where women are celebrating being in their 50's, 60's, 70's and beyond. We're not our grandmothers and we're not sitting around the house in a print dress and an apron, no... we're out living our lives and embracing the opportunities that come our way.shared with permission from Zen to Zany |
FINDING OUR VOICE
Once you realize that you're worthwhile and not relegated to the corner of the room, you find your voice again. Some women find it in their careers, some find it in volunteering in a field that needs their vibrancy and input, others find it in writing, or blogging, or public speaking, or social media. However it comes, there is so much freedom in owning your voice, owning your opinions, owning who you are (and your wisdom). Part of that too is knowing what to say and when to say it, being kind and considering the feelings of others, and then being brave enough to share our opinion.THE ALTERNATIVE TO FIERCE
I wrote a post a while back that asked if there was an alternative to the Fierce 50 brigade because I don't want to be fierce. Now that I've had more time to think about it, I'm loving the idea of being vivid and vibrant in our 50's - wearing what we like, living how we like, being authentic to ourselves, caring less about the opinion of others, but still having a warmth and compassion that seems to so lacking when you talk about being "fierce".SHINING OUR LIGHT
I think getting older has really emphasized to me the importance of being positive, upbeat and shining our light into the world. So many older women fall into the trap of being bitter, or resentful, or they drone on about their illnesses, basically they suck the light right out of the room. We choose who we want to be, we choose who we are becoming as we get older - nobody else is responsible for our attitude, or how we react to what life hands us. Being vivid and vibrant starts with owning our attitude, choosing to respond with a smile and not to resent or criticize because things aren't quite how we'd like them. Let's set the example and be the light that our world needs every day.WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Are you living in colour? Are you shining your light, being present in the world, and showing that Midlife is a time of vibrancy? I'd love to encourage every single Midlifer to make it their mission to live vividly and make the second half of life the best half of life.RELATED POSTS
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Recently I had someone refer to me and say,"She's older than she looks!" I thought that was hysterical - and took it as a complement! To me, age is a number (sometimes a large number)- but a number nonetheless. I am in the middle of a transition, eager to embrace what's next. There is more...much more!And I'm looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way Deidre - I want to just go from one good thing to the next and live life in a way that makes me smile. I'm about to have a birthday and I feel at least 15 years younger than reality - I figure that's an great indication that life's pretty darn good x
DeleteI'm with you and Deirdre on this one. I'm loving this transition and look forward to living each day as fully as I can in a way that is authentic to me.
ReplyDeleteExactly Donna! Isn't it amazing to be able to be our true selves, to figure out what's important to us....and then to get on with achieving it and celebrating along the way?!
DeleteI love the words vivid and vibrant and try to live that way most of the time, although it can be hard at times. I love colour and wear a range of bright hues which people have come to associate with me - I love that I've made an impression that way. We are not invisible, we are just more experienced and living life the way we want to! Great post thanks for sharing your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteHi Deb - I love your love of orange (mine is purple!) and I think choosing bright colours, choosing to smile, choosing to see the positives - all these things just make us shine and they definitely keep us feeling young and relevant don't they?
DeleteThey sure do Leanne, and we are extremely Grand! I love that quote about grandmothers by the way :) . #lifethisweek and pinned
DeleteLeanne, I agree with you regarding the "fierce movement." That word conjures up visions of aggression and territorial fights.I think Vibrant will be my WORD for the year 2020. It suites the way I feel and how I want to live this stage of life - all light and sunshine. Thanks for sharing your light with all of us. You continue to inspire.
ReplyDeleteHi Suzanne - I'm SO glad you get what I mean about the whole "fierce" thing - I find it such an agressive term (though I'm sure it's not intended that way) and I think Vivid would make a great WOTY. I'm still figuring out what my 2020 word will be. And yes, light and sunshine are wonderful traits and I really hope I inspire them in others xx
DeleteAs I read your post, Leanne, I think how our culture does not necessarily value aging. I agree with you on how I have met vivid, vibrant women from all over the world since I started blogging. I am nodding, yes, to everything you wrote about “finding our voice” and “shining our light.” A great, positive, empowering, uplifting post! Thank you for shining your light, Leanne:)
ReplyDeleteHi Erica - I want to say 'right back at you' in regard to light shining - isn't it wonderful how we can encourage and inspire each other? We are definitely undervalued by society and I think that's a shame - especially for the thousands of Midlife women who think they're not important any more and who don't have a voice or feel valued - such a waste of this wonderful time of life.
DeleteOh I so identify with this concept. I a m allergic to midlife that change the dynamics of a room with their issues. I recently cut my hair, show my gray and am natural...oh the crickets in the room !! I smile, put on my red lipstick and laugh as I plan my next adventure! Thanks for writing this!
ReplyDeleteHi Teri - I love how we can each choose to do Midlife in our own way - but for me it's about celebrating this age and not hiding ourselves away like little old ladies. This is such a bright and inspiring time of life and I'm cheering for each and every one of us doing our best to show others the way. xx You rock that red lipstick!
DeleteLeanne, I also like the words Vivid and Vibrant. I have not started thinking WOTY yet, but those might be on the short list! The phrase... "your voice, your mind, your vision, your story" also resonated with me. Being authentic to myself and being OK with that is something I am learning in mid-life.
ReplyDeleteI've learnt a lot about being authentic too Pat - and about being okay with who I am - I just need to keep reminding myself not to sweat the small stuff and to embrace all the bright and beautiful things in my life x
DeleteI totally agree with finding your voice (and using it!) because that's what makes us you-nique!
ReplyDeleteExactly Sam - we spend so many years trying to fit in, only to find that it's our uniqueness that is what sets us apart!
DeleteWell...as someone who will be 70 in just over 3 weeks I am sure not living life quietly or without colour. I have not changed much at all from the person I was pre-cancer/anxiety. I do admit my years 62-67 were tough on me emotionally as I was very affected by the life transitions that threw me for a loop. To leave an education role, my family 'role' as grandma and our house and area we knew all at one was well-planned intellectually but rocked me emotionally. I was not well but I sought answers and did all within my power to help myself. Then came the unexpected...as it does naturally with ageing (remember which decade I am in, it is not mid life!) and it was cancer. I am doing very well and the resurgence of my personality has been a great. Whatever the age, expect the unexpected and enjoy all the in between that happens. Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. Next week's optional prompt is 45/51 Share Your Snaps #9 11/11/19...the second LAST for 2019 (where did that year go!) Hope to see you there. Denyse.
ReplyDeleteHi Denyse, you're so right about life throwing us curve balls and if we get a few at once it certainly knocks the wind out of us. I've had my share of upheavals too - spread out more than yours were in your 60's, but at the same time, I'm learning that we can let them knock us down and be defeated or we rise back up again (as you have) grow stronger and then embrace our new normal and the silver lining that is always there if we look (remember that's what I titled your guest post when you wrote for me!)
DeleteI think back to my grandmother at my current age and it is amazing how differently we live! Thanks for sharing with us at The Blogger's Pit Stop!
ReplyDeleteI think so too Roseann - my grandmothers has much more constrained lives than I have. They also seemed much older physically than I feel. I think we're a product of a healthier and more "aware" environment and I'm very grateful for that.
DeleteLeanne, I have always hated that whole "fierce" thing since the very first time I heard it. Vivid and vibrant--now that's something to aspire to!
ReplyDeleteMe too Jean - I joined the FB group for a week or so, but couldn't handle the focus on physical appearance and trying to prove we can compete with women our daughters' ages - I'm happy being the best version of me and leaving the 'fierce' ones to do their own thing.
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