This Is 56

On burning away doubt, chasing delight, and staying strong for the future.

I turned 56. When my parents were 56 they were old. They were old at 50. They had this messaging that you were supposed to be old. Which is so silly, but they only knew what they had seen with their own parents. Unfortunately, when my dad was 50 I was 10. At 56 I was 16 and they were very over having kids at home still. Just another reason that I’m grateful that the internet hadn’t existed and there is very little record of my teen years. To say that it was wild is an understatement and I’m working on a way to tell that story - but it’s not for today.

Instead, let’s talk about what I think about being in my 50’s:

• There is a clarity to purpose that I haven’t felt in the past. I don’t have interest in things that don’t move whatever it is that I’m working on forward. I give this a ⭐️

• Menopause is no joke. Although… I see it as a burning away of everything that didn’t belong before. Goodbye self doubt. Goodbye body image issues. Goodbye caring what other people think. It’s liberating and freeing. And it’s hot as hell. I am forever breaking into an incinerating amount of heat from my core. If it doesn’t burn everything up I don’t know what will. I give this 🔥

• I am delighted to not care about things and caring about things that delight me. Do I want to read 10 memoirs about walking the Camino? Yes! Do I care that it’s a weird obsession or hyper fixation? Nope. I’m going down all the rabbit holes of things that delight me and just don’t give a fig about what’s popular. Very freeing! I give this 🐰

• If you are reading this in your 30s or 40’s GO WORK OUT. Seriously. Your body will break down on you and being as strong and flexible as you can will become so important. In the past year I had to slow down working out to almost nonexistent because of pain. I’m now having knee replacement surgery at the end of October and I can’t wait. My goal is to go into the recovery like an old footballer who wants to play in a reunion game. I intend to get super strong and regain everything I’ve lost. BUT if you are younger, don’t get into this sitch! Go work out. Work out every freaking day. Just do it. I know you hate it. That’s ok. You will thank me later. I swear. I give this 🏋️‍♀️

I’m excited about the future - and that is something my parents didn’t feel. They were just waiting until it to be all over. Not me… I intend to be going strong for a long time. Thanks for joining me on this journey!

What do you think YOUR 50’s will look like, or if you are past that stage what was the best/worst part of that decade?

I got some VERY cool birthday art related gifts. Check it out in the next episode of my studio series.

Lucky to be here doing life with you!

Until next time - Jackie