happy birthday @melissau. I agree with the points especially number 1. Dont let other peoples words/action affect on ourselves, i learned that recently and i am now trying to mind my own business and not to carry those with me. Thanks for sharing
Happy 50th Melissa!!!! I hope you had the most wonderful day, and this decade brings joy and peace and ease and beautiful hilarious surprises you can’t even begin to imagine.
I wish I could gently shake my younger self and tell her… pretty much everything? But for the sake of brevity: You love yourself by not abandoning yourself to please other people. Sometimes loving yourself looks like being willing to be the villain in someone else’s story. And people who make you chase them and leave you feeling less-than are not your people. (And you will find your people!)
First of all, happy birthday to you! I am 48 and have been thinking lately about how close I am to turning 50! It really sorta freaks me out! I am at the age now that classmates and friends are starting to have serious illnesses and health concerns. I too, have had my share of health concerns. I wanted to share with you that my last lipid profile showed a dangerously high cholesterol level (LDL). Last year I decided to embark on a Whole 30 to get rid of the sugar dragon and develop some healthier eating habits. After my Whole 30, I had dropped 42 points from my LDL cholesterol. The problem is that my doctor doesn't think it is something I should continue because she deems it "too restrictive". Now that I am no longer doing a W30, my cholesterol is creeping back up (as well as my poor eating habits). My question is, is it safe and healthy to continue on a W30 style of eating full time? And why or why not in your opinion? Thank you for your time!
Happy 50th! I’m planning on using Sallie O’Malley as my guide (I’ll be 50 next year), so I love that you referenced her. Hope you kicked and stretched and kicked!
What you wrote about lessons learned really resonates with me.
Happiest of birthdays! I always appreciate witnessing one’s growth and dedication to themselves, hence why I value following you. I know your 50s will be as amazing as you want them to be. ❤️
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! YES to all of that - I am turning fifty in August, and I am really starting to feel everything you described. Also, I too am just getting started - I just went back to school, and I feel this nervous excitement about what could be ahead. I am grateful in a lot of ways to be doing it now, because even if I don't know exactly what I want, I am excited to learn, and to grow into myself. Congrats - and your hair really is so gorgeous. :)) I love that you are saying all the things, and helping us to give ourselves the permission to be the badasses we are meant to be. And btw, I know that b*tch, especially as the guy probably intended, is not a nice word to call anyone, but somehow feminist b*tch doesn't seem altogether bad to me - I would respond f*ck yeah I am!!!
Happiest of birthdays! 🥳 So I’m 46, and my baby brother had a really hard time when he turned 40 last year. I let him know that, for what it’s worth, I struggled with the idea of 40, too. BUT! Every friend I have who has turned 50 recently has not been sad—it’s been a celebration, and we have had big parties! 🎉 And while I might not be a fan of my gray hairs popping out, I am a fan of how much more comfortable I’ve grown in my skin. I would not want to go back to the me I was in my 20s for anything. I know who I am now!
Happy Birthday Melissa! Loved this so much! And you do have rockin' hair!
I will hit 55 this coming June and I remember so well turning 50! It felt, in some ways, like a second adolescence! LOL! My son, my only child, was in High School, I was a year into a brand new career, had gotten into the best shape I'd been in since my early 40's, and was on my way to New Mexico for a month of working in the Mountains of Los Alamos. I remember feeling like my life was expanding and everything was ahead of me! I honestly felt like anything was possible. I had some pink put in my blonde hair and bought a pair of cowboy boots I'd secretly wanted since I was ten, but thought it was frivolous and "not my style." I started shopping for a motorcycle again. I sold my old one when my son was born. For me, much like you, I saw turning fifty as a wake up call to live by my own light and stop caring so freaking much about what everyone else thought! Five years later, I'm reinventing myself again. The COVID Years began while I was fifty and so much contracted and closed up during that time. I did to, for a while. My marriage suffered some difficult growing pains, and I had a health scare that resulted in the partial removal of my right ascending colon. Oh, and I changed careers again. Currently, I find myself distilling life in so many areas. I need less to be happy. I'm excited for 55. The joy of entering my fifties along with the lessons of the last few years find me reinventing my life again. I'm learning to love my body with a new normal after colon surgery. I'm enjoying a marriage that has found a way to hold its history, forgive, and be present in a new and kinder place. My son is navigating early adulthood. I ride my motorcycle for wind therapy. I continue to dream about what's next for me. I refuse to feel invisible and to submit to any idea of what aging is supposed to look like, act like, or feel like. Welcome to Club 50! I hope you have a wonderful first day of this fantastic decade!
Happy belated birthday! This is such a great post. Loved it so much.
I think the more accurate way to say it is "how long have I lived?" vs "how old am I?"
Hope you had a wonderful birthday! A signed pre-order of your new book feels like a present to me!! ❤️ 🥳
happy birthday @melissau. I agree with the points especially number 1. Dont let other peoples words/action affect on ourselves, i learned that recently and i am now trying to mind my own business and not to carry those with me. Thanks for sharing
Happy Birthday! I love that preorders can happen through your local bookstore and at the same price as Amazon-what a win!
Happy 50th Melissa!!!! I hope you had the most wonderful day, and this decade brings joy and peace and ease and beautiful hilarious surprises you can’t even begin to imagine.
I wish I could gently shake my younger self and tell her… pretty much everything? But for the sake of brevity: You love yourself by not abandoning yourself to please other people. Sometimes loving yourself looks like being willing to be the villain in someone else’s story. And people who make you chase them and leave you feeling less-than are not your people. (And you will find your people!)
Really great Melissa and thank you!
Today is my birthday as well as my daughter’s! I hope you’ve had a great day. Always love your clear and kind words.
First of all, happy birthday to you! I am 48 and have been thinking lately about how close I am to turning 50! It really sorta freaks me out! I am at the age now that classmates and friends are starting to have serious illnesses and health concerns. I too, have had my share of health concerns. I wanted to share with you that my last lipid profile showed a dangerously high cholesterol level (LDL). Last year I decided to embark on a Whole 30 to get rid of the sugar dragon and develop some healthier eating habits. After my Whole 30, I had dropped 42 points from my LDL cholesterol. The problem is that my doctor doesn't think it is something I should continue because she deems it "too restrictive". Now that I am no longer doing a W30, my cholesterol is creeping back up (as well as my poor eating habits). My question is, is it safe and healthy to continue on a W30 style of eating full time? And why or why not in your opinion? Thank you for your time!
Happy happy birthday!!! Hope you have an amazing day with your sweet family!!!
Happy 50th! I’m planning on using Sallie O’Malley as my guide (I’ll be 50 next year), so I love that you referenced her. Hope you kicked and stretched and kicked!
What you wrote about lessons learned really resonates with me.
Can’t wait for my August present!
Happiest of birthdays! I always appreciate witnessing one’s growth and dedication to themselves, hence why I value following you. I know your 50s will be as amazing as you want them to be. ❤️
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! YES to all of that - I am turning fifty in August, and I am really starting to feel everything you described. Also, I too am just getting started - I just went back to school, and I feel this nervous excitement about what could be ahead. I am grateful in a lot of ways to be doing it now, because even if I don't know exactly what I want, I am excited to learn, and to grow into myself. Congrats - and your hair really is so gorgeous. :)) I love that you are saying all the things, and helping us to give ourselves the permission to be the badasses we are meant to be. And btw, I know that b*tch, especially as the guy probably intended, is not a nice word to call anyone, but somehow feminist b*tch doesn't seem altogether bad to me - I would respond f*ck yeah I am!!!
Oh..and book has been ordered! I guess I’ll finally retire my OG copy…
Happiest of birthdays! 🥳 So I’m 46, and my baby brother had a really hard time when he turned 40 last year. I let him know that, for what it’s worth, I struggled with the idea of 40, too. BUT! Every friend I have who has turned 50 recently has not been sad—it’s been a celebration, and we have had big parties! 🎉 And while I might not be a fan of my gray hairs popping out, I am a fan of how much more comfortable I’ve grown in my skin. I would not want to go back to the me I was in my 20s for anything. I know who I am now!
Happy Birthday Melissa! Loved this so much! And you do have rockin' hair!
I will hit 55 this coming June and I remember so well turning 50! It felt, in some ways, like a second adolescence! LOL! My son, my only child, was in High School, I was a year into a brand new career, had gotten into the best shape I'd been in since my early 40's, and was on my way to New Mexico for a month of working in the Mountains of Los Alamos. I remember feeling like my life was expanding and everything was ahead of me! I honestly felt like anything was possible. I had some pink put in my blonde hair and bought a pair of cowboy boots I'd secretly wanted since I was ten, but thought it was frivolous and "not my style." I started shopping for a motorcycle again. I sold my old one when my son was born. For me, much like you, I saw turning fifty as a wake up call to live by my own light and stop caring so freaking much about what everyone else thought! Five years later, I'm reinventing myself again. The COVID Years began while I was fifty and so much contracted and closed up during that time. I did to, for a while. My marriage suffered some difficult growing pains, and I had a health scare that resulted in the partial removal of my right ascending colon. Oh, and I changed careers again. Currently, I find myself distilling life in so many areas. I need less to be happy. I'm excited for 55. The joy of entering my fifties along with the lessons of the last few years find me reinventing my life again. I'm learning to love my body with a new normal after colon surgery. I'm enjoying a marriage that has found a way to hold its history, forgive, and be present in a new and kinder place. My son is navigating early adulthood. I ride my motorcycle for wind therapy. I continue to dream about what's next for me. I refuse to feel invisible and to submit to any idea of what aging is supposed to look like, act like, or feel like. Welcome to Club 50! I hope you have a wonderful first day of this fantastic decade!