What happened when you reached 50?

[blandana]

Freak out? Chill out? Fine tune the bucket list? Do drugs? Go raving? Go on a retreat? Detox? Carry on as normal? Nothing?

@IstillloveKingThistle Happy Birthday!

I turned 50 in May. Was unexpectedly made redundant 3 days beforehand, so that put a bit of a dampener on things. However I was exceedingly lucky to secure a new ‘big job’ quite quickly which I start on Monday. It’s a significant step up in responsibility and pay but I’m hoping will see me out for the next 7-8 years at which point, the increased salary should allow me to retire. Possibly I’m being very naive thinking I have this in me, but I’m going to give it my best shot!

Mine was in lockdown… Booked a day off & stupidly answered my work phone absent mindedly (lifted it out of my bag thinking it was my personal phone). T’was a social worker telling me how a child’s circumstances had gone totally t*ts up, and wondered what my plan was… Ended up sorting out support for the family. On the plus side, when Covid restrictions ended, hubby took me to a swanky jewellers & bought me a belter of an emerald & diamond ring as a belated pressie. As for life in my 50s, I’m chucking out all the negativity, faux friends & family who drain the life out of me. I practice gratitude every day for my many blessings. Also bought myself the Trinny elevator neck cream. No idea if it’s working or not, but no neck wrinkles yet.

Hopefully, I'll live happily ever after.

Thank you! Still wide awake ..
Not like a child would be in excitement.. more reflection/ anxiety/ fear etc ..

Erm , DH has ordered me a cake from a fancy place ( saw said cake in box accidentally in fridge tonight ) and I’m quite excited about that, I am seeing my parents then off to a really nice restaurant tomorrow night with DH and the children. Then Fri—Sun we’re off to a lovely hotel in the Cotswolds 🩷

Ps… would happily share a slice with you! I think it’s likely to be some sort of strawberry cake - I love Strawberries!
Hope you do too! 🍓 🩷

Carried on. Went on holiday and went back to work. Nothing happened.

No-one has mentioned eye sight - mine fell off a cliff almost overnight. I now have pairs of reading glasses scattered round the house.

But as I turned 50 I changed jobs into a totally different industry. It has been unexpectedly great.

Kids are older and more fun (more challenging in some ways but definitely more fun and engaging- I find teens much more entertaining generally).

It’s not all bad OP.

@IstillloveKingThistle Happy Birthday 🥳

This.

Oh, I dunno, I got my first hot flush on my 50th birthday 😂 It was a doozy! Straight down the doctor's and on HRT.

I had a scrappy sort of party (there was karaoke) and a nice lunch with family.

Thank you muchly 💕

Your parents get elderly and need more care.

Enjoy your forties everyone - independent kids and independent parents!

My actual 50th birthday was during Covid, which messed up my 50th plans unfortunately. I'm planning a hell of a 60th.

My life hasn't changed significantly since turning 50. A few more chin hairs maybe (but under my chin as opposed to protruding from my chin).

Happy Birthday @IstillloveKingThistle. Enjoy your birthday celebrations.

I got a puppy - a long held wish . He turned into the most beautiful creature - my soul dog. ( probably love of my life , sorry DH)

He saw me through a tough decade, before he died, a few months ago in his teens.

Turning 50 was wonderful; mid sixties, it’s starting to go downhill …

I was helping teen DD to battle anxiety, self-harm and an ASD diagnosis.

After we made it through the battle, I definitely put myself first a couple of times to recharge. Started a new hobby which also includes some travelling and stopped finding excuses to spend money on myself.

Still a work in progress but I think it definitely improved my relationship with DH as we all found ourselves so focused on DD that we neglected us and each other.

My 50th birthday was an anti-climax - I'd looked forward to it, having planned a day out with my family and a meal, but it ended up being dominated by an issue with my elderly parents (who were with us for the day out etc.) so I couldn't relax and enjoy myself. I was glad to be 50 at last because my late 40s felt like a nondescript age to be, but the birthday itself was disappointing.

51 was much better, I made sure it was just DH and me, so nothing could end up taking it over, on a day trip to a favourite place I hadn't been to for about 15 years and we had an amazing day.

I’d lost some very good friends (including my best friend) in my late 40s so hitting 50s was like a rocket up my arse: lost 4 stone, changed jobs (promotion) and made a pact with myself to go solo travelling once a year. Became a lot more outspoken and more easily irritated. Crave solitude and being left alone a lot more. It’s been the best decade so far. The shedding of the fucks is real. You think you’re getting there in your forties but for me, it’s on a whole new level.

I had an amazing long weekend away with family, in a place that's very special to me. Otherwise life didn't change except that about 8 months later I got a great job I really wanted, after quite a few (fortunately) unsuccessful applications to places I would have liked much less!

Hot flushes waited till 58 for me. As did needing varifocals (always been blind as a bat distance-wise) and properly challenging elderly parent issues combined with not yet fully independent DCs.

A lot say on these threads about craving solitude as they get older and feeling able to say no to invitations etc, whereas I am making the most of my social life now the DCs are older, I love being with other people, there aren't enough hours in the week for all the hobbies and activities I'd like to do despite only working pt (don't want to retire as I love my job).

Nothing.
I turned 50.

Then I turned 51.
Im trying to think if im 52 yet or if that's the end of this year 🤣🤣

I had a wobble turning 30 but that was the last time I cared about aging

For our 50th year my group of school friends and I booked a 5* hotel on one of the Greek islands and flew there business class.

My previously perky boobs have dropped a couple of feet since then.

I have had a hysterectomy.

I dress for myself - and I have found my sense of style (Mr Tumble meets Dark Academia). I’ve always struggled to know what to wear so I followed a load of instagrammers and started experimenting. I like bright colours teamed with dark pinstripes and fitted jackets. I look like an extra from the staff room in Hogwarts and I’m good with that 😁

Nothing much. Had a lovely holiday, came back and handed in my notice at work after reaching complete burnout. I guess I reevaluated things which turned out to be a great decision. I’ve a new job I enjoy much more, I’m now 3 stone lighter and much fitter and stronger a year later.

I got the best job I ever had with lots of travel opportunities. My 50s were great.

It was awful… my tits fell off, I woke up to a moustache, I discovered wrinkles all over my neck so I compensated by going raving every night and sleeping with 18 yr old men

Er, IIRC I took some cakes into work.