I’ve always liked writing. It’s been my outlet for many years, especially when I feel overwhelmed or stressed. But since I usually feel better after writing, I never did it consistently. Until now.
This time, I didn’t want to “wait until I was ready.” I didn’t want to write only when I needed to decompress, or wait for a specific date like turning 55 or reaching some milestone. I just wanted to start, so I did.
I don’t feel any different being 53. Aside from the occasional muscle pain that appears for no apparent reason, I feel the same as when I was 25 or 30. Except now, I enjoy freedom more than ever before. Freedom feels like a right—like a part of my soul. It’s something I can’t live without.
I’m free of the fear of what others might think. Free from needing to be accepted or liked. Free from the fear of making mistakes. Free from regrets. That freedom feels like a huge relief. Honestly, I don’t care anymore about what people think of me or my decisions. I guess I didn’t care before, but I resisted the idea of not caring. Why? I’m not sure. Maybe it was the way I was raised, the culture I grew up in, or maybe just my mind playing games with me.
I’ve always considered myself a free spirit, though I wasn't always like that. When I was 19 and thought I’d met “the one,” I went all in. I believed that was the next step in life, as if life was a checklist or bingo card I needed to complete in order to find happiness. At the time, I didn’t understand that happiness doesn’t come from a relationship, a job, a house, or a husband. With time, I learned that happiness was in me the whole time. So I stopped looking for it outside of myself.
I began to focus on me—just me (well, and a few years ago, my dog too). I realized life is too short to spend it feeling sad about things I can’t control, angry about what I can’t change, or waiting for something magical to happen. Life isn’t about waiting for someone to love you or make things better. It’s about making something beautiful out of what you already have.
It took me, in my opinion, far too long to learn that I could do things without needing others’ approval; not from my (now ex-) husband, not from my family, not even from my friends. That’s one of the reasons I started this blog at 53. I want to share my experiences and adventures, funny, joyful, sad, or a mix of it all. I also want to encourage you to stop waiting until you’re 40 or 50 to live your life your way. Don’t let fear stop you. Do that thing you’ve always wanted to do.
And remember: you don’t have to live a conventional life if you don’t want to. When I was younger, married, and confident in my decision not to have children, people called me selfish or silly. I was told I was “too young” to know what I wanted, and that I’d regret it. But I never did. I never regretted it—not for one second. I’m grateful to see younger generations living on their own terms, without apologizing. It gives me hope.
So, if you’re part of that bold new generation, cheers! You’re doing amazing, and you’ll enjoy life a little longer than those who waited. And if you’re closer to my age, don’t worry. Life might be a bit shorter, but it’s still beautiful.
Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
- Get to know yourself to know exactly what you want and what you don’t want.
- Do what you want—big or small, one step at a time or all in. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes (as long as you’re not hurting anyone).
- Be happy and proud. Write down your attempts, lessons learned, and successes. Learn from your mistakes and keep going.
- Be grateful for everything you’ve lived through, for everything you have now, and for the chance to plan your future. Whether that future is long or short, it can still be beautiful.
So here I am, writing, sharing, creating at 53, simply because it brings me joy. If there’s something on your heart, don’t wait for the “right time”. Start now. Life is too short not to live it fully. It’s never too late to begin again.
If you liked this reading, leave me a comment below! Thank you!
.jpg)
.jpg)