Welcome to the New 50+Fabulous Community!

Do you have a success story to share about reinventing your life or your career beyond 50?

Hi Susan!

I think that most of us 50s women find ourselves having our lives successes only AFTER 50! In fact, it’s only when we reach this age and learn hot to live for ourselves that we truly discover what success in life means. We’ve got well-mannered adult kids; that’s a success in itself right? I’m part of a group called http://www.womenetcetera.com, which is all about making the best of your life, embracing transitions and changes and having a good life the way you want to live it! We do re-invent ourselves, in that, were freer than we were, more independent, more everything really!:)

Natasha

I’m working on it!

hello ladies!
iam always reinventing myself!
iam adjusting to my husbands retirement..
its not easy for me..
so, i went back to work part time myself..
its better for me…
iam very active in family life, go to grandchildrens functions alot..
my husband and i, have date nights, when we go out to dinner, or just sit home and watch a movie and have pop corn and cuddle on the sofa..
we find adventures outside the home to do, planting flowers, or just for a nice long walk..
we are finding new ways to comunicate since were together more..
its rocky at times, we do get on each others nerves sometimes..
so, yes, iam trying to find all new ways to reinvent myself…
any suggestions???
bren

Hello,
I just joined & am looking forward to this adventure & getting to know my way around.
Reinventing one’s self?
bren67 nailed my reinvention to a T.  after a major illness and recovery in my late 40’s, I was ready to really enjoy my life. Then Hub’s gets the idea to retire (early).  We had a boomerang child for several months too.  I went to work PT, just to get out. After all there’s only so much shopping you can do. So I decided to be out making $$ vs spending it.  My first job was with Senior Citizens, I told myself it was a stepping stone and I’d do it 1 year. I did 2 days per week, then in my last month with them I started 1 day a week w/ a marketing firm. Now, I’m working anywhere from 2 to 5 days a week assignments determine that. I get travel reimbursement and love my job! Prior to going to work outside the home, I’d been a FT Homemaker since we had children (our oldest is 30) + being my husband’s secretary.  I feel reinvented, from a domesticated ranch wife/mom/secretary to a “what’s for dinner honey?” independant woman. I will admit, having my husband home all the time is a challenge, since he traveled extensively for business before he retired. We are still adjusting to that on days I’m home. It’s not all sunny, there are lots of times I want my old life back w/ time to clean closets all night or whatever w/o being intrupted. So, the new me is learning to let go of some of the super organized traits of my home and focus on my job, my fun and myself. I’m the only person for certain that I will have to live with forever.

hello roadrunner!
sounds like we had no choice but to reinvent oursleves…
iam happy you got a job you truely enjoy doing!
mine is good, i would like better, but there very hard to find right now…
so iam going to stay put were iam at…
good for you!!!!!!!!!!!!
bren

Hey again Bren!
Pretty true that our reinventions were imposed by external forces, but overall I’m glad I jumped into a new Zone of Life.

Don’t sweat it, any job has it’s drawbacks..there are some elements of mine I could do without occasionally.  Those are the assignments that get done on Mondays, so the rest of the week is more pleasant.  Still I;d rather be at work than home somedays. Today being one, DH & I have been canning.  Some may say how wonderful to have a man that will help w/ canning, I beg to differ when in his attempt to help, I must follow along and inspect his work. IE” Veggie stems in the mix etc,,,,and his speciality is dissapearing when it’s clean up time. But, he only dissapears as far as the tv remote.

desperately seeking patience, RR lol

oh yes, i do understand!
ive been canning this week myself, and hubs does help, but cleanup?
well,
just got off work, my back hurts today, i guess my grandaughter tossed to much last night as she slept with me..
been very cloudy here today, looks like were going to have a very nice weekend!
gotta put up sourkraut next week..need to rest up for that!
take care, hope you get the canning done!
bren

Ladies,

Are any of you in my position right now: I am 58, I want to retire, but I have two more years to go.  How do I hang in there when I’m sick of working (I’m a teacher) and I want to have fun????

well girls, i havent been here in awhile now..
so, i need to update you all..
first, retirement is ok,been to busy to notice much..
also went back to work for a year, then hours were cut so bad, i gave it up!
my sweet daughter came down with breast cancer last year too, been with here through a year of chemo treatments, this weekend we go to st louis mo to barns, she has surgery there monday to start the recostruction process, it will take a few months to complete, but she will feel better, she is young, and that means alot to feel like a women again!!
ive had to have a couple sugeries myself, but they were just minor, so no big deal!
we still get out and go to places when we can, since the economy has got so bad, we dont get to do as much!
i thank god evry day for our health, and the health of my children and grandchildren!!!
everyday, is a blessing!
bren

EGO: The Sand Wedge
The Sand Wedge– Don’t be fooled by the name of this club into thinking it’s only for use from the sand. Its loft is somewhere between 55 and 59 degrees and provides a great amount of spin or stopping power. Ishiner It can be purchased on its own or sometimes come with other discount golf clubs. You usually hit this club form 90 yards into the pin including the sand traps.

TerriW…

I just found this website and think that its pretty cool. Having been very active on another site for about 5 years, I expected a ton of activity here and have been somewhat disappointed. (I wonder how more members/participants can be drummed up?).

ANYWAY, I wanted to respond to your post about having 2 more years before you can retire since I’m in a similar situation. I’m 57 and have been with a well-known, large university medical center since ‘88. I left for 5 years to check out the “grass on the other side” and found that it wasn’t greener at all. So I returned to the original institution and have been bridging my time away ever since. We operate on a “Rule of 75” that assures a retiree of benefits for life if s/he retires when her years of service, added to her age, equals 75 or more. I’ll reach that time in 2 years. The job has become rote and un-challenging and, due to what I’m suspecting might be a bit of age discrimination, other jobs within this large university haven’t been too available. Also, I guess that once you reach the management level (which I have) and need a lateral move, at least, opportunities are fewer. Either way, I’m bored and would love to move on.

So what have I done? I’m planning the second half of my life, of course! Since I LOVE academics and have realized that a career in another field is what I would truly love, I’m planning to back to school for another master’s degree, this time in public health. I’ve been a personal trainer for many years and have taught fitness classes all over the area in which I live. Also, having had breast cancer 5 years ago, I’ve formed new bonds with some community agencies. All of these experiences have prompted me to aim for a career in wellness education and coaching.

So that’s how I’m staying engaged and having fun! That and finding a fun-loving boyfriend, pursuing an interest in dance and, possibly, returning to my pre-cancer sport of figure skating, doing lots of reading, film-watching, sewing and needlework and anything else that strikes my fancy, like volunteering at a therapeutic riding facility. I think that the key to finding new activities is staying in touch with what causes your pulse to quicken and then finding ways to get involved in something related.

Does that sound like a possibility for you? What do you really LOVE to do?

~Marin (FitChik)

FitChik - 16 July 2010 12:36 PM

TerriW…

I just found this website and think that its pretty cool. Having been very active on another site for about 5 years, I expected a ton of activity here and have been somewhat disappointed. (I wonder how more members/participants can be drummed up?).

ANYWAY, I wanted to respond to your post about having 2 more years before you can retire since I’m in a similar situation. I’m 57 and have been with a well-known, large university medical center since ‘88. I left for 5 years to check out the “grass on the other side” and found that it wasn’t greener at all. So I returned to the original institution and have been bridging my time away ever since. We operate on a “Rule of 75” that assures a retiree of benefits for life if s/he retires when her years of service, added to her age, equals 75 or more. I’ll reach that time in 2 years. The job has become rote and un-challenging and, due to what I’m suspecting might be a bit of age discrimination, other jobs within this large university haven’t been too available. Also, I guess that once you reach the management level (which I have) and need a lateral move, at least, opportunities are fewer. Either way, I’m bored and would love to move on.

So what have I done? I’m planning the second half of my life, of course! Since I LOVE academics and have realized that a career in another field is what I would truly love, I’m planning to back to school for another master’s degree, this time in public health. I’ve been a personal trainer for many years and have taught fitness classes all over the area in which I live. Also, having had breast cancer 5 years ago, I’ve formed new bonds with some community agencies. All of these experiences have prompted me to aim for a career in wellness education and coaching.

So that’s how I’m staying engaged and having fun! That and finding a fun-loving boyfriend, pursuing an interest in dance and, possibly, returning to my pre-cancer sport of figure skating, doing lots of reading, film-watching, sewing and needlework and anything else that strikes my fancy, like volunteering at a therapeutic riding facility. I think that the key to finding new activities is staying in touch with what causes your pulse to quicken and then finding ways to get involved in something related.

Does that sound like a possibility for you? What do you really LOVE to do?

~Marin (FitChik)

it makes me feel good to know your haveing fun in life!!!!
thats what its all about love,life,enjoy every moment you have!
bren

hi TerriW and Newbie
I’m 56, a teacher, tired of work as well, trying to hang in there until at least January 2011. It might sound like a short time for most of you but I am completely burn out, not from the students, I enjoy teaching, but sick of the educational system,school politics, some “age” discrimination, it seems that the school cares only about young teachers, of course, in times of crisis, they have lower salaries, there’s pressure to make people retire.
If only I could retire, but I still have to go another six months. Honestly, I have nightmares about going back to the job, I wonder if I will be able to do it, also, sometimes I think life is too short, but I really need to put another 6 months.
how does anyone find the strenght to keep going? also, I feel depressed in the winter, no family around, very few friends, no time or energy to do anything.
Can anyone relate to this?
50+expat