Turning 50 and Loving it

As I approach my 50th Birthday, there are many things to contemplate....I find myself doing lots of that lately.  Something is shifting and I like it.  I have stopped caring - not about myself -actually quite the opposite.  I find myself caring more about my health, my relationships, my life's work, my purpose, my higher power, my dreams, and my fears.  I suppose turning 50 is when we catch a glimpse of our morality and it becomes a life review of what is important and what isn't.  I have spent so  much time worrying about what others think and doing what I am "suppose" to be doing that now is more about re-claiming what has been lost of my authentic self.  It is about doing things I have never done before, walking through what I once perceived as "Do not Enter" zones,
It is very liberating and a time of no limits and being sure of myself; something I never did in my younger years.  Maybe it is true, "50 is the new 30."  I feel I am becoming the best I have ever been.  It is an awaking process and a time for reflections, gratitude for what is, what was, and what is yet to be.
Although reaching a milestone in age can be a bit traumatic, it also has given me the opportunity to take an inventory of my life.  What have I accomplished?  Well, my greatest accomplishment has been  my 24 year old daughter.  It definitely took a village to raise her as a single parent and I am grateful to all those that supported me and nurtured her.  I went back to school, became a therapist, wrote a chapter in a published book, was on radio and even TV and started my own private practice . Who would of thought after graduating 10 years ago, I would have experienced all that I have in my career.    Not me.   After many dysfunctional relationships and jobs,  who would  have thought, they were blessings in disguise. Not me.     Would I change a thing?  Probably not.

Tips on Turning 50 or other Milestone Birthdays
1.  Scare Yourself - try public speaking (that is a big goal for me this year)
2.  Learn something new
3. Perform a random act of kindness
4.  Start a new career or go back to school
5.  Buy a box of chocolates and eat one for 50 days (Dark chocolate, of course)
6.  Say yes, to what you usually say no to (As long as you don't hurt anyone)
7.  Treat yourself to a makeover
8.  Tell someone how much you appreciate them (I told my husband thank you   for championing me everyday)
9.  Learn a new language and visit that country
10.Pray and meditate

Finally, Happy Birthday to all the baby boomers that are turning 50 this year
Linda Blair (The Exorcist was my first date movie)
Marie Osmond (Did I actually think her brother was cute)
Madonna (Ok, she turned 50 last year)
and anyone else hitting 50......make it a great year!!!!