What Is 50 Is The New 40?

It’s surprising how much emotion this phrase, ’50 is the new 40′, sometimes creates. Has it become a cliche? Perhaps. Is is inaccurate? Well, yes and no. When I met with Meredith Vieira and a few other 50-something gals on the Today Show recently, the theme was, “50 – Living it, Loving It’. The conclusion seemed to be that – surprise of surprises – being a 50-year old woman is kinda – awesome. A little bit scary, maybe, and the landscape is dotted with challenges, but overall rather wonderful.

For me, turning 50 was a big milestone. I didn’t even realize how big until I got there! My mother died of cancer when I was in high school at the age of 50. Within the span of a few short years, I had lost my mother, my father (who had left us anyway), and my grandfather. I was like a ship adrift. I never realized it until I closed in on my 50th birthday, but I had never been able to see past that point. For me, when I hit 50 life would be over. At least that was what I thought.

I wasn’t fearful of turning 50, it was just rather -well, a surprise! I didn’t have a party or a celebration – actually my best 50th birthday gift was the cake my boys made for me – a homemade chocolate sheet cake with 50 slash marks in the frosting! Once I cleared that hurdle, it was like a weight lifted off me.

For me, the phrase ‘fifty is the new forty’ is simply a reminder of how much further we have come from, say, my mother’s time. My milestone 50th birthday meant some freedom – to travel if I like, to go back to school, to change jobs or start a business. The possibilities are endless compared to what they used to be.

So, simply put…”50 it the new 40″ is just a phrase. That’s all. Maybe it describes you, maybe not. But in all honesty, I’m delighted that’s the case!




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