Give Experiences not stuff this Christmas
I have been on a mission to get rid of stuff. Downsizing saw me get rid of many possessions, and I am regularly looking at things clothes, books, and thinking it is time to pass these on. I read a great article – 46 Ways to Give Experiences Instead of Stuff This Year (Even Last Minute)
In the run up to Christmas, people have been buying many gifts for their children and getting ready to swap gifts. But we mainly end up with things we do not want. I love how this article asks us to consider experiences rather than things.
Re-finding our passion – mine is music
Do you have something that you loved to do when younger, but somehow life took over.
Now is the perfect age to rediscover a lost passion.
I’ve always loved music. I moved to London at 16 and was out at gigs almost every night, watching live music at bigger venues (Marquee Club (where I lost my hearing for 2 days listening to the Groundhogs play standing next to the speaker stack) and Hammersmith Odeon) but also at the pubs, following one particular band Scarecrow and going to my local pub Windsor Castle in Maida Vale regularly too.
But you move on.
You stay in more.
There is work, and family commitments.
Is 60 a new beginning or a step to decline?
50 seemed like a major turning point, but I was active, just got into adventurous travel and work was a central part of my life. I had years ahead
But 60 more of a milestone. I think 80 is old, so that means 20 years left. Would I be able to do everything I want to do?
But what if I don’t have 20 years? What if my health declines and I find myself unable to do the things I want?
Do you have a tribe?
Some women have close friendships, friends from university. Or perhaps friends made via their children, friendships formed via maternity classes or at the school gate. Others have close friends from work.
But there are other women who don’t have friends. Circumstances have meant they never formed these close bonds. For some there was not the opportunities to make friends at work, or they concentrated social activity with their husband/ partner.
The importance of Strength Training
We know that we lose muscle as we age, and this leads to a change of body shape.
Since moving home and changing gyms I’ve switched from weights sessions at the gym to Zumba and other dance classes.
I do love dancing, but its not building muscle.
So, I’m back to weights. And back to sessions with Emma, Personal Trainer. Emma understands my body niggles and with recent mishaps she has put a programme together that suits me. I don’t have arthritis but with my knee injury, doing exercises to focus on joint problems will mean I stay safe.
I love weight training and being strong.
But many people don’t. Especially women, they get frightened they would bulk up too much very unlikely.
Moving on … Creating a new life at 50+
Yesterday I posted a blog post the stress of a break up. I wrote it a few months ago when feelings were raw. Reading it now so much has changed. I can barely recognise the person I was then.
The change happened about a couple of months ago. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d cried. I had gone through a period of crying a lot. I was fine with clients, but when I was alone with my thoughts it got tough.
I was spending a lot of time with my family, but as my social life has developed I’ve focused more on my new life, rather than revisiting the past.
I’ve come to terms with the decision and I’m happy that it was the right thing to do.
I’m focusing more on the road ahead rather than where I’ve been.
The Stress of a break-up
A break-up or divorce can be highly stressful, add in a move of home and the stress increases.
Although I expected this, the experience was more difficult than I expected.
I’ve reflected on the break up of my first marriage. That was stressful, and I was over 20 years younger and there were issues regarding the children that I hadn’t anticipated.
With this being a mutual decision with a plan to have it as an amicable split I expected to almost sail through it. But …
Return to work at almost 50
A reader recommended this blog post
I went back to work in the corporate world at almost 50!
At 48 I went back to work in the corporate world. It was scary.
Benefits of hiring older workers – older workers rock
A brilliant article on the benefits of hiring older workers.
Too many companies, especially the tech ones focus on recruiting millennials. FaceBook CEO Mark Zuckerberg once said young people are smarter!
Research shows Gen Xers being recruited 33% times less, and baby boomers 60% less than millennials.
In this article by Kelly Palmer, for Market Watch she writes about the benefits of hiring older workers. On recruiting an editor in chief and how productive he was. He could make an impact based on his knowledge and skills.
Living alone can mean that we need to learn new skills
When you are no longer a couple you need to adjust and take on some of the things that your partner used to do. Its a time to learn new things and for personal growth.
In many relationships we divide up the tasks and get better at different things. Its a bit like as our children grow up; if we continue to do their ironing they will never learn.
