Turning 50

Today is my birthday. I am 50. There’s been a lot of teasing lately about mid-life crisis. I’m sure buying a new red Mustang convertible had something to do with that. My life has changed a lot in the last few years. I went from being a soccer mom, to an empty-nester in a blink of an eye. The goal of parenting is to work yourself out of a job. And I did that. It was hard at first, but I love the change and the freedom it has given me. My children are my friends, now. And what’s really weird is people actually know my name. I used to be Jessica’s mom, or Daniel’s mom. Now I’m just Linda. Sweet!

Another change is at work. It used to be work was way down on the list of important things. It was what I did so that I could send my kids to college. But now it is something I do that really fulfills me. Who knew work could be personally rewarding. I love crunching numbers with the most awesome team of accountants and analysts. Many of them have become friends, too.

The most important change, though, is that I don’t feel like I’m hiding anymore. I don’t know why I felt I had to hide, or apologize for everything, but I feel so much more secure in who I am. I still have a heart, but I know longer wear it on my sleeve. I’ve learned to say no to things I don’t want to do. Negative people I keep at an arms length now when before I would kowtow to them. Guess what? It didn’t make them less negative, only more. Joy is something that just happens to me everyday. A dear friend asked me today what I see when I look in the mirror. I answered “I see happy” and I am.

There is no mid-crisis in turning 50 for me. It’s all mid-life CLARITY!!! I feel like singing “I can see clearly now the rain is gone.”

And since the rain is gone, I’m gonna go hop in my new red convertible Mustang and go shopping.