50 Shades of Play

This is the year when I and many of my classmates celebrated our 50th revolution around the sun. Scheiss! When I was a mere whippersnapper, I remember thinking that 50 sounded old. I mean, like geriatric purgatory. “Hello, support hose, Depends undergarments, and sensible shoes. Goodbye youth, skill, and sex.”

Nope. Nyet. Nay.

It’s interesting to me what a non-event this birthday was. And in reality, I’m loving this age. It just keeps getting better. Life is so full I could burst!!! I don’t ever want to return to my younger days.

“Old is Gold,” they say in Tanzania. Here, getting older is to be embraced, celebrated, revered. No black balloons here when you hit a decade milestone. No, at 50, if you have the means, you have a Jubilee celebration. You par-tay.

Which brings me to my friend and a recent conversation we had. Her 50th revolution was marked about a week after mine, and I LOVE her approach. Here’s what she said:

I heard this verse in a country song: “when’s the last time you’ve done something for the first time?” So in honor of turning 50 I’m going to try to do 50 new things this year! Africa will hold many firsts for me. So fricking scared but excited too!

I adore Joni’s attitude and think her plan is spectacular. Every year, no matter your age, why don’t you try X new things? They don’t all have to be huge. Maybe you try Ethiopian food (I like!). Maybe you do indoor skydiving like her. Perhaps you learn another language. Maybe you get a pedicure (I know a friend who just got her first at age 50). The possibilities are endless. Be creative, and be bold. Enjoy.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it. Life is short. Play like it’s your last day.

-Badger OUT