On Turning 50

Well, today I enter a new decade. I feel much too young to be at this half century marker, but ready or not it is here. And really the fact my husband and I have a married daughter and our last child is graduating high school in a few short months, starting a new decade alongside a new life chapter seems appropriately fitting. Even fun! Especially considering the adventure of the past ten years…

At 40, I was only beginning the parenting teens stage. At 50, we are wrapping up. The ten years in between represent alot of life. A lot of hard, but good hard. In fact, I think I grew more as a person in these past ten years than any other time. I am thankfully now more self-aware and compassionate. As I’ve grown in grace for others, I’ve also learned to give more grace to myself. But I’ve also found the beauty and necessity of weakness. In realizing I am not strong, that I cannot control, I have grown in greater dependence on the Lord.

At 40, we were still relatively new to Oklahoma and starting our church. I had just begun a middle school girls’ Bible study, initially to help our daughter (and us) cultivate friends. I had no idea, that yes, that group would lead to friendships, but God would use it to cultivate in me a passion for the gospel at work in the lives of teens and parents. Fast forward ten years and the fact I am now an author and hold a master’s in counseling I directly attribute to leading that group of girls.

At 40 I started working part-time at Anthropologie. At 50, lo and behold I still am! Though very, very part-time, it’s the longest-held job I’ve ever had. At the time I started, I remember being excited about having my discount to purchase my daughter a dress for winter formal and thinking how nice if I could keep the discount through her high school. Never did I imagine that discount would still be around to get her a wedding dress and my mother-of-the-bride dress!

At 40 I had never colored my hair, been to the eye doctor, or a chiropractor. At 50, the greys are coming in fast. I take pictures of words I can’t see (like on medicine bottles or instructions) and then zoom in to read them. And I must be cognizant in my workouts to not strain a muscle. But at 50 I’m thankful for my health in a way I didn’t even consider ten years ago. 

All the way around, I’m more thankful. For all the little things. Or, maybe I should say I don’t take as much for granted. Aging has a way of doing that (as does Covid). I’ve also noticed that with age comes perspective and wisdom. Not as much stressing over things that don’t matter, and more attention to things that do.

So if this is fifty I’m here for it!

Cheers,