How to Turn 50

fivestarsbarb
Jan 24
3 min read

Updated: Feb 1

OMG it's finally here.

Driving home from Tahoe I listened to the Wiser Than Me episode with Gloria Steinem in which she said, "I think we have an age when we kind of gelled, you know what I mean? And I would say mine was 50." That's what I'm talking about.

I've been mentally preparing for this milestone for a year. Initially I thought I should mark it with a big, adventurous trip - but that's not what I want right now. I thought I'd get a tattoo that says "I am fine" because it's hilarious, totally me, and Dad would appreciate the inside joke - but the impulse faded.

So here's my actual approach to turning 50:

1) Think about it for a year. That's partly what Moon Quest was about; with each full moon of 2024 I contemplated the passage of time. On morning runs I've been thinking about what this time of life means. Many of the books and podcasts I listened to over the past year were about valuing time and spending it well. The arrival of 50 is not a shock; I'm acclimated.

2) Stretch it out. A single day is insufficient and too much pressure! Whatever age you are, spend your whole birth month celebrating and treating yourself.

3) Listen to Wiser than Me. This podcast is a gift. Julia Luis-Dreyfus interviews iconic women in their 70s, 80s and 90s. Their vigor, candor and wisdom are inspiring. Women of every age should hear this. The Jane Fonda episode was a highlight of Season 1; I started Season 2 while hiking around Tahoe. These ladies are sharp!

4) Do something strenuous and nurturing. For me, this was a long weekend south of Tahoe. Each day started with a bad-ass early morning hike through the snow, then an afternoon in a cozy cabin writing, reflecting and relaxing. It was perfect.

5) Make time to reflect and plan. Look backward and forward. Think about your life's path and decisions. Contemplate where and who you want to be in 10 or 20 years. This how I spent a lot of my Tahoe think-time, while slogging through snow drifts.

6) Feel love. While face time is wonderful (loved my pre-birthday dinner with Elizabeth), being together physically isn't the most important thing. It's the gestures of love and thoughtfulness that matter most. I'm blessed with my far-flung biological and chosen family, and thinking of all of you with love. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

7) Be grateful to have made it this far. While I'd love to reach my 90s with a strong mind and body, my 50 years on this planet are a gift. Not everyone gets this much time. Beyond that, I am stronger and healthier than I imagined I'd be at this age. It's sheer luck to live in this part of the world, at this time. Every day is a bonus.

8) Do the admin. I updated the doc with all of my emergency information (which has already been put to good use), a separate tracker for life events (because I have no memory), and caught up on many other organizational tasks. For some of us, this is satisfying.

9) Make it a special day. I started with my daily 5 a.m. run at Arastradero Preserve, but added a fifth lap to the usual four. I spent each lap thinking about my life, ten years at a time. It was pretty wild; I was completely in my head and didn't even notice the hills. 8.5 miles, no problem. (Does this mean I need to run 10 miles on my 60th?) Toward the end, I caught the moon reflecting off a cloud in a completely trippy way. After a shower I headed to Watercourse Way for a sauna and deep tissue massage, paid for with birthday gift cards. ♥ (I'll keep saying this: You can never go wrong with a Watercourse gift card!) I can't completely unplug from work since there's a conference starting Sunday, but I'm mostly taking it easy at home.