Aspirational/admirable in middle age

Women who are killing it at a second career. DM went to work for a small charity at 53 and retired in triumph as The Legend aged 80.

Women who are taking time to find out what they like doing and doing it. My boss goes riding every weekend on
an equally midlife pony. They love their gallops.

Last and very much not least, everyone who’s refusing to be held hostage by a shitty menopause or the other ailments middle age brings.

Being fit and in shape

I am neither

@Wisenotboring thank you v much! I read that back & thought omg I sound v boastful. But honestly I'm just so happy to be healthy & able & I'm incredibly conscious of all the opportunities to live a rich & fulfilling life.

My mother is the total opposite & has no interests outside the comings and goings of her small town & TV. She was old way before her time. I feel sad that she's allowed so much life to pass her by but I also have to remind myself that she's OK with that. And it's OK that we're different.

Oh! And I've lost 31lbs since January & I'm feeling physically fabulous & vital & sexy again.

I'm 54 & for me taking on new challenges & learning new things & not stagnating is my main drive. I'm full of curiosity & since turning 50 I have completed a post masters course overseas in a really interesting very specialised area which involved a lot of travel to places I'd never been before.

I've changed jobs as a result of this into a specialist, developing area of practice in my field & I'm now working with amazing teams & great budgets to realise projects.

I've taken on a personal academic challenge not at all related to my work & I've gone to an international event related to this study & realised I was as knowledge about this niche thing as many of the people there who were making a career out of it & I was simply doing it out of interest. That was an enormous boost.

I have a wide & eclectic group of friends who are all working in creative sectors & I have the best stimulating & fun conversations with them

I have a couple of incredibly close friends who are family to me & have known me since we were kids.

I've led out on some of the most cutting edge pioneering work in my field in my previous job.

I'm married over 20 years & adore my dh & we have the best time together & we've raised a fantastic dc who is now in university.

I feel incredibly happy & lucky to be where I am!

To me it's someone who is really comfortable in the stage of life she's in. Looking like a kick ass 40 or 50 something rather than trying to look 20, enjoying their years of experience paying off at work, not complaining about being 'so old', solidly embracing who and what they are.

I think for me it's about not letting life grind you down. Generally you're out of the worst of the childcare and what I find inspiring is women who are picking themselves up and starting again on what makes them happy and fulfilled. That might be fitness, new qualifications, career progression, travel or any or all of the above. Just having that drive and energy to get a second wind and do something fulfilling!

I've been too busy getting through the day for the last twenty years to compare myself to anyone else.

I think you need to be happy with the life you've created, thankful for small things and not stagnate professionally.

I'm really happy with who I am. I think that's the biggest thing to aspire to, because if you're not, little will have the shine in life it should.

Planning for financial security in future. Living for good health in the future.
Enjoying life and being brave enough to make bold changes if they aren't enjoying life.

Giving something back to others who have given to you or to a community you've been involved with.

Having new goals if previous career or family goals have been achieved.

I know the correct answer is a middle aged women who’s a really great mother or something but to be honest I admire middle aged women who are killing it in their career. Smart, accomplished…particularly those in public life. I have to say I really admire(d) the likes of Angela merkel, Mary Robinson….not achievable for most of us I know!

Assessing your life based on whether you feel fulfilled and contented, rather than comparing yourself to other people?