Entering a New Decade

It's so exciting to be entering into a new year, and in fact a whole new decade and for me, entering into my 50th year on this planet! I have been truly looking forward to touching 50; even last year, I was telling people I'm almost 50 when asked how old I am. (Actually, it was an ego booster for me as I loved hearing people say, "You don't look 50!")

You may ask, why am I so excited about turning 50? Looking back, the past 40 years have been so good to me. My childhood wasn't a time I can recall much, except that my family was very poor, and my mum had to work very hard to support us. The rest of it is mostly a blank - I don't even have a picture of myself as a kid.

One of the most memorable years of my life was when I turned 18 - it was as if I suddenly came out from a shell of shyness and started really living LIFE. It was also a year of many firsts - first time I went into a co-ed school and had male friends and peers, first time I went camping (which I love to this day) and climbed a mountain, first time I acted in a movie which topped the local movie chart, and was at that time the longest running local movie. I went to parties, I had great fun...

Fast forward to another memorable year... 2003. Wonderful, wonderful time of yet again experiencing so many new things, that will be forever etched in my mind! First time I walked on fire, first time I went sky diving, first time I had more than 6000 people singing Happy Birthday to me as I stood on the stage at the Sydney Entertainment Centre, cutting this humongous birthday cake. My heart just overflowed with joy and I was so touched, as I had myself forgotten it was my birthday.

It was just so amazing because one or two years before, on the same month, at the same venue, I was in the audience, witnessing a birthday celebration for someone else and had silently wished I could have such a joyous experience myself. Who says visualization doesn't work?

So, back to the question - why am I so excited about turning 50? I see this year as another memorable year for myself; I'm entering into my "second adulthood" and I intend to make it a year of many first's as well. In fact, I have been preparing for this new phase of my life - late last year I completed two diplomas - in Psychology and Clinical Nutrition, and soon I will be completing my third in Corporate Stress Management. My goal? To be able to help more people lead a happy, healthy life.

So, for those of you out there who are also 50 and beyond - turn any midlife 'crisis' you may be experiencing into a time of midlife adventures! And check out my 50s Club on Facebook!