Positive stories of being 50 + please!

[FeelingFabat50]

There have been a few threads recently in which posters have written a long list of the downsides of being “the wrong side of 50”.

I want to counter this by saying what I love about being 50+:

DC don’t need me for everything
DC can help around the house
HRT has given me a big energy lift
More time for what I enjoy, less time running around like a headless chicken
No more packed lunches, ironing school uniform, nagging about homework
No more people pleasing - I suit myself much more
Weeding out people who are energy-sappers and consciously only spending time with people whose company I genuinely enjoy

Anyone else really happy with this life stage?

Such a lovely thread!

NGL, I look at reports that by 2030 we're all going to have to do this or by 2050 life is going to be like that (invariable pessimistic and doom laden) and think thank fuck I'll be out by then (unless I emulate DGA and live to 101).

I was putting a hopeful spin on it. You’re definitely going to be dying for feuding warlords over the strategic Chicken McNuggets stockpile by 2035. I’d start getting good with firearms or wooden clubs now.

Why are you casting a grey cloud over our sunny thread?

Was thinking the same thing OP when I read the posts about 50+ I'm liking being 56...fewer money worries, DD (14) more independent, work interesting due to seniority, and probably able to retire in about 5 years or so. I've been lucky with health and menopause (no periods! Yippee! ) and give less of a flying fiddlers about anything really. Am getting ready to do a 10k for charity this year, which will hopefully address the extra stone that's crept on...the only downside of middle age as far as I can see. Health allowing for me and DP I'm really looking forward to the next decade, and beyond fingers crossed. And if it all goes tits up then I'll deal with that too...as you've got no choice but to. I wouldn't want to go back to being under 30, ageing is great, and much better than the alternative

Anyone else really happy with this life stage?

Yes! Long and not very original story, but I basically wrecked my career by having dc, and was feeling washed-up and rubbish at 50 with teenage dc, still doing bits of part time work, applying for proper jobs and being rejected, belatedly realising that I had lost part of myself when I let my career slide. Otherwise I had a nice life.

Anyway... a year later I've been in a full time job I love for nearly a year, just got a promotion and feeling like a new person! I'm able to give more to my work now that my dc don't need me as much, and I feel more confident (at work and in general) because I'm a bit more 'take me as you find me' than I was when I was younger.

Positives? You’ll not be drafted into the water wars of the 2060s most likely, so congrats on that lottery win.

I’m a decade older - early 60s. My early 50s were a bit grim - children left home, having a tough time at work, and absolutely awful periods!
I got over the kids going, relished the free time, changed jobs and got a Mirena coil fitted! Health wise, I sailed through the menopause, became fitter and stronger as I had more time to take care of myself, and became financially more secure, enabling me to retire at 59.
Now, I’m probably more bolshy - I have no more fucks to give on fools and people who take pleasure on being miserable. I’m happier in my marriage, can give more time to my children and grandchildren, and overall think I’m living in my best decade.

Looks like there are advantages to being one of the most evil generations that has ever lived, then <sarcasm>

I know, right? I’m all “you guys so lucky” and then they’re all “why you point this out?” Thought that was a great benefit.

Ruined my day. :(

I guess it was the 'world's all going to shit and you lot are lucky you're going to be dead' vibe on a board celebrating what's good about being 50 and still kicking.

I’m just thankful they’ll not have anyone left behind experience that weird future on the board Mumsnet once gone.

Turning around the 'you'll all be dead before the shit hits the fan' vibe...

Now I have more time on my hands I can do a lot of campaigning on environmental issues and litter picking with a group linked to Surfers Against Sewage.

When I do these things the crowd is thick with people in their 50s and older. I went to see Greta Thunberg speak in Bristol and was buzzing at the number of people there from school kids to creaky pensioners cheering her on and making their voices heard.

"Over-55's are more likely to recycle waste (84%) and make other environmentally conscious decisions than any other age group, according to an Aviva Group study." 2020

You’re ruining ours. Now bugger off.

I find this lady so inspiring. She has made a new, full life for herself in her 50s and does so much good for the environment. https://www.jomoseley.com/about

She’s very inspiring @Owlglasses Thanks for linking to this.

Nice to see this thread. I saw the doom-laden one yesterday and felt sorry for any 30 or 40-somethings reading!

Anyway, my 50s are great - I like my job and really enjoy the (mainly) millennials I work with, peri/meno has been relatively trouble free (I take HRT), I walk 6-9 miles most days, enjoy fashion and feel funky, DC are pretty independent, and I enjoy spending time with DH and friends. NOT depressing and there’s lots to enjoy.

Really good to see this thread.
I'm early 50's and after many years being well I'm in the middle of a horrible relapse of depression and anxiety (no 'cause' just seems to come out of nowhere.)
As a result I've been reading a lot of 50+ material which is often very negative.
Lovely to see some really positive examples.

Thank you so much for creating this thread, OP - and to everyone who's shared such wonderful positive things about being 50+.

I'm 28 so I hope it's okay to comment, cos I just wanted to say - my last job involved working with mainly old people (80s upwards really, so a lot older than most of you on this thread) and they were making me feel so down about my future. So many would say "don't get old", which I think they think is ok to say cos I'm still young - but to be honest it's a frightening thing to hear! I don't want to be worried about my future, I want to believe that my life can be as wonderful as I make it for as long as I have. They made me feel really quite fearful of time passing, and it's certainly made me decide to pass on nothing but joy and wisdom if I get old!

So thank you so much for sharing all your positives about getting older and how you feel, it sounds like you're all living life exactly the way it should be lived! And your lives sound easier and nicer than mine at present! Keep it coming

I think this thread was very much needed in this climate of doom mongering about the menopause.

Thank you for this thread. I turned 50 two days ago so it's given me a lot of hope!

I wanted to add to this thread...thank you OP for starting it.
I'm 53, qualified as a nurse 2 years ago and am probably the healthiest and happiest I've been all my adult life.
I've lost 5 stone, I go to the gym and I invest a lot in myself, something I've never been able to do before.
I think this is a combination of...
HRT
Small disposable income
DC's grown up
Lost both parents.
I definitely give less fucks. Theres also an inner confidence which I suspect is down to all the above.

I'm 56, I was loving this stage of my life. Financially freer, I have more time to myself, kids still at home but able to look after themselves, my health and fitness are still good and I thought I was looking really lovely for my age.

Husband was struggling with getting older, health OK but he'd had a back op and needs a hip op, body crumbling a touch, still looked well even though the grey and the wrinkles were upsetting him. He was also missing having the kids little. Living with the pain, as he just would tv do anything about it, really affected his mental health and he was insecure and miserable, and he has erectile dysfunction. Anyway, 5 weeks ago he left me for someone 20 years younger.

I have had a breakdown and panicked about starting over at my age. However, I'm starting to feel more positive now. I'm making some positive steps to restarting my life. I don't have misery guts with his bad mental health holding me back anymore. I would like a boyfriend eventually, I look around and there's still some loving looking 50+ men out there, and I think that's perfectly possible, I'm not giving up. I genuinely think I'm going to be happier than I would've been if he'd stayed and we'd limped in. I realise the plans I had for our lovely retirement would never have happened anyway as the man I thought he was was just not really there anymore. I get to move on guilt free, let his poor OW look after him, it really won't be long before she's regretting it. The kids say he's still miserable and that I've always been the fun parent. They say they can't understand why he left me, he had what most men over 50 would kill for. Yeah, finances are in a bit of disarray at the moment but I'm still on track for a decent retirement. Husband has always struggled with work, he's a lower earner and so is his OW, he's probably extended his working life by a good 10 years over what he'd have done with me. Happiness will come, I have no doubts about that, I will stop thinking of him, that's my next goal! Lol

I'm so happy to read this thread. I'm 50 next year and had been rather dreading it. Reading these posts make me feel positive about it!

I'm 58, fortunate to have no health worries, menopause was just mild. Very energetic, sea swimming, gym, cycling. Have worked up to a good place in work. A few very well settled friendships, nice quiet social life. Its a good time of life I think, and the time to build strength for older age. I like it.