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As I opened up my mail box first thing this morning, and smiled at the sweet, interesting mails waiting for me, it struck me – again – how much blogging has brought me.
I’ve often thought I would have loved to have been blogging when the children were little … when I used to run my big Christmas charity sales … when my husband and I had our travelling years …. but actually I’m not sure.
I’m 50-ish now and it seems to me that now is the moment in my life when I’m ready for this – to share, to think out loud, to draw on my experience.
When I launched my brocante tours this week, a couple of people remarked that it’s great I have the energy to do this sort of thing. This surprised me … once the children are nearly grown, are we expected to sit back and enjoy and …… what? I’m not very good at sitting still and I don’t like shopping, I can’t possible read all day or garden, or make curtains non-stop!!
So am I the weirdo here? Does a ‘proper’ gal decide at a certain time of her life that she’s to take one step back and slow down, or should we shake off the taboos and carry on doing exactly what we want to do, where and when we want to do it?
Lastly, for all those wonderful bloggers who are not yet 50-ish, I am certainly not implying that blogging is for the “older woman” !! All power to you, I know I would have loved the internet 20 years ago … just wouldn’t have had the time to write a blog!
Enjoy those blogs!
Have a great weekend!
photo: portrait by Ivan Kramskoi
57 comments
You are absolutely right!!!!
A 50-ish woman,
who is still working 🙂
(https://fraubuntstift.blogspot.com/)
and blogging
and shopping 🙂
Salut!
*Tasiaa
No no…don't step down, don't slow down just because you are 50'ish…I am too…and not slowing down…we have a daughter with a disability and are still doing bath time and bed time….just like in our 20's, 30's, 40's…and into our 'older years'!!! Enjoy your freedom to choose what you do when you do it…I often wonder what it would be like without our restrictions!!! Enjoy every moment!!! Dzintra♥x
Of course you should not slow down, and it´s a wonderful possibility to be able to do what you like for yourself. I was 50 last summer and during the previous year I started a blog (in swedish) about my feelings about turing 50. Today it gives me great pleasure to read bloggers in my own age. It´s wonderful to see how many fantastic women there are all over the world. So keep up the good work, keep on blogging! Best wishes from Sweden
I'll be 47 soon and I often say I wish blogging was around when I was in my early 30's, when my girls were little — how I could have grown a blog into something great — ha. Then I remind myself that I do this now because of experience and what I have to share. It's always better late than never, first off, and then, I hope, like you, to never stop, and to always be reinventing myself. How boring would life be if we didn't? I am thrilled you are a blogger! I love to come here, see beautiful images, and read what you have to say.
Hi Sharon Please do exactly want you want to do !! as long as you are kind to your body it will give you lohg years of enjoyment . I can give you more than another decade and have no plans to slow down( sdaly im not going at 100 mpf as I did in FULL time emplyment but doing thihgs we enjoy and descovering new things is food for the soul I thinkkeep the whels on your feet !! ENJPY fay xxx love you blog
I'm in my late 40's; I wish I had started blogging soon. Slow down, no way, it is time to enJOY, your passions that perhaps were tucked away, raising a family or being involved in a busy career. Slow down, no way, it is a time to find and rediscover yourself!
Dear Sharon, the success of your blog tells you that you are on the right track. I'm even much older than you are and have started blogging only recently. I'm not slowing down. I have a lot to share because I have lived a little longer than most bloggers. Being retired gives me the time to garden, paint ceramics, travel, be with friends and cook and learn from whatever comes my way. What has become more important than anything in our lives is that we stay healthy, God willing.
Your blog is perfect, it is one of my most favorite.
I loved reading Vickie Archer's post (French Essence) this week about her ski guide, a 72 year old woman! My kids are grown and I'm in my 50s. I'm working harder now than I've ever worked and loving it!! Our lives are no longer governed by age and like you, being connected by blogs 20 years ago would have been a blessing. Just being able to share ideas is a wonderful thing.
I will chose to slow down when I die. Too much to see, explore and enjoy! I find that the older I get the more I appreciate the little things, feeding the birds, making stock, finding the perfect socks. Viva la middle age!
I have been blogging for a little over a year now. I didn't even know it existed, till my daughter took a class and said I should do it. But I also am 50ish. They do say to stay active to live longer. I still work full time, have a florist business on the side… (will be my retirement gig) and spend about an hour a day blogging. I think it will help to keep my mind active and technical.
At 50 I started my own business It's been 8 years and I still have many more to go I feel very young and wouldn't have it any other way
I would like to have bloged when my kids were young because it would have been an online journal/photo book of our life then. I was not a good mum in terms of keeping baby books, so my records are sketchy.
It turn 50 soon, and have no plans to settle down. In fact, I am now kid free, pet free and we finally have a bit of time and money to do some new things. My 50's is going to be my time to explore what I want from life and seek the adventures that have been on hold while raising my family. I have been thinking hard about my next step.
Bravo! 50-ish is just the beginning of new chapters.
We have a broader perspective and after caring for everyone else for years, we are finally able to do what we like, Blogging now allows us to see what our peers are up to, don't you think? What fun!
I always say age is just a number. Period. I personally as I have gotten older, at 46….feel more confident, more able to finally take the time to do the things I have put aside to raise a family (and wouldn't change that btw) Its a time for celebrating a new chapter with new things! I am having a bit of a hard time almost being an "empty nester" my youngest will be off to college in less than 4 years and my 2 older ones are in college, but as I am getting use to this new point in my life, I am trying to see the silver lining and embrace the freedom that I do have now to start doing the things I want to do. I have no intention of slowing down, in fact I plan on turning on the "turbo" button one day very soon:)
Best of luck in your fabulous ventures…..
Hi! After a long teaching career, I am into investing……since our 6 grandchildren all live in the same city that we do, I invest 1 day to my son's children, and 1 day to my daughter's children. I also have a day of investing
with my mother and with a group of long time friends. We didn't have blogging as we raised our kids…..we had each other – and most often met at church. I am also into thrifting, making, doing, copying blogland creations, and would love to have a shop or booth in an antique/flea market if the economy were better. BTW, I'm over 60 and do not intend on sitting still until I have to! Linda
you took the words right out of my 57 year old mouth …
I'm more busy now than I was 20 years ago.
Actually glad I raised my kids without the internet … it was simple and wonderful not being interrupted.
Hi, I started blogging at the age of 57. I will be retiring from teaching in a few years and blogging is giving me some ideas of how to make an extra income after retiring. I love this stage of my life with the kids raised and I have some time for me. No time to slow down with all the projects and ideas I have floating around in my head of what is to come. Karla
Keep on with your blog, the tours and all the incoming projects as long as they make you happy and bring satisfaction to you. Being connected to so many different people all over the world, sharing their culture, thoughts, experience, ideas, advice, etc. helps me widen my views and learn more than I've ever could have learned at school … perhaps travel could have done that but the budget isn't that generous. Go on girl!
Hi Sharon.
Who cares about age??
It's always right to do a thing whenever you feel like doing it!
I've started early my blog adventure (I think I will not have the time to follow the blog now that baby GG is coming) but I wish I've started a year or two earlier to keep a journal of the restoration of our home, but i really did not have the time. On the other hand, sometimes I think I've started too early…well….the matter is I have started because I wanted to do that as everybody out there. All these words to repeat: who cares about age??!!! I do not!
You make such a great work here, I love you!
Fra
I was searching for something that would be just for ME when I came across blogging. My children are somewhat grown…at least they need me less, so I have time…finally. Having just turned 50, this is a blessing. I think new chapters in our lives open at the right time and meeting all of you wonderful women is the start of a new one!
XO,
Jane
In my 30s I was afraid of the 40s, I thought, oh God, this is terrible. Then you're old! Tired! You could spend your time with exciting things such as fishing, collecting stamps or bingo nights must …. How awful!
That was 12 years ago and now I am full of energy, always busy with new things and just moved into a new house. I write a blog, teach the house a new and find new friends.
I can not wait to be 50 ….
Markus
https://teacup-in-the-garden.blogspot.com/
Please don't slow down!! I need to come to one of your amazing weekends but sadly can not manage it this year. But I will make it at some point so please don't stop! Rachel
I hear ya! I'm in my late 50's and blogging has been such an unexpected pleasure. All kind of surprises have happened to me because of blogging. It's good to keep going, keep growing, keep learning. To not slow down.
You go girl–as they say! ~Delores
PS: I just love your blog!
This time of life can be freeing. We've dedicated ourselves to our children and raised them, now they are ready, or almost ready to fly on their own, knowing that the nest is always there to welcome them. Now is the time to take the things we've learned about the world, about others and most of all about ourselves and FLOURISH!
I'm in my 50s and will finish my degree in French this year. There's so much to keep learning about life! Slow down – no way, not until I have to. Go, Sharon!
Dear Sharon, I bought my country cottage exactly on my 50th birthday for having occupancy for my future time.I manage the guest cottage ever since and I love to have people from around the world and around me in summer. In the winter I create my new ideas for the next season.
Unfortunately after having turned 60 I often ask myself who would follow me? My two daughters are grown upand live far away, my husband has other business, sometimes i am sad not to have as much time as I wanted to.
love Dorka
50 is the new 30! It sounds like the cliche that it is, but think about it. How "old" was your grandmother at your current age? your mother? we are younger today – at whatever age. Better nutrition, better living conditions, etc., and most importantly, different expectations have led to our leading much more active lives at much "later" years.
Go with what feels right. if/when you are ready to slow down, you will. But even slowing down is different today. Blogging would have been great in our youth, but that takes nothing away from the pleasure of it today. Keep writing!
We received a Christmas Card from a 91 year old friend this year, and you wouldn't believe her spirit, or her schedule! Age is totally irrelevant to the creative mind. As well it should be.
50-ish is still young in my book it's the old 40-ish they say.So embrace it however you please my dear.This is your time so enjoy.I am 44 & my Mom is 64 and my gram is 84 we all still stay as busy as we can be~Cheers Kim
Dearest Sharon,
I'll be only weeks away from my 60th birthday and have absolutely no intentions of slowing down or giving up on anything. Like you said when you had your traveling years (like I had as international consultant in the air for over 1,500,000 miles!) we could not blog! No time then.
So why not share those wonderful experiences?! We all learn from each other and this goes on till our death. If you give up; you will go down fast… As the saying goes; if you don't use it — you loose it. Keeps our minds alert and fresh!
Have a lovely weekend!
Mariette
Hello Sharon!
I just beacme a NEW follower! 🙂
After reading all the comments I am amazed at all the women who are 40ish~50ish who blog!
I just started a new "baby" blog, going to be 49 this year and have a son who is 7 & after my other children were grown! Us older women ROCK! 🙂
Ginger
I'm past the 50ish and find I have so much more time to "Do what I want" and oh, do I do it!
When the kids were all home, had a full time outside job and no time for me. I was always tired. This is the best time of my life,, really!
It would have been nice to have my blog years ago to showcase all the crafty/decorating things I did…
Nice post!
Sandy
So many people are discussing the pros of blogging this weekend on their posts….all i have to say Sharon, is that yours is beautiful and one that I really enjoy reading…keep it up!!
There has been alot recently about ageism and women recently on the news here in the UK, I have never really thought about age stopping me from doing anything, I think blogging is a wonderful place to hear about other peoples lifes whatever their age I find it ageless and inspiring!
Jillx
I'm 53 and couldn't agree more! It would have been nice in my younger years. But I had two daughters and little time. Now I can devote chunks of time to this, and make many new friends at the same time!
Brenda
I think you should do what you want or what's on your heart at ANY age. And I think 50 and over is when you have perhaps more freedom, financially and family-wise to do that, so it only makes sense to little moi that you would be embarking on some great adventures at this stage of your life… I'll be joining the over 50 crowd soon, but my kiddos are still young as I was a late bloomer. But I sure hope act 2 is even more fun than act 1. So far, so good!
Hugs,
Judy
I truly do believe that age is just a number, and for me at least, blogging would have been nearly impossible 15 years ago. I was too busy chasing after children and volunteering in their schools. At 47, I have a very different voice than I would have had at 25 or even 35, and in the last year I've done things I never dreamed possible. I think woman have something to offer at every age, and I'm glad I didn't decide to let age prevent me from pursuing my dreams. For me it's not even a factor as I continue to do what I want, set goals, and reach for the stars…I hope I always feel that way and have the health to make it all happen. I hope you continue to do what you love and to share it with others, that's an ageless gift in my opinion.
Kat 🙂
I'm 52 and I've never been happier since I started blogging. Timing is exquisite!
xo
Age..smage..if you know what I mean. I like the fact we grew up without computers, in fact I think the 70's were the best decade for childhood so am happy I was able to be part of it. Blogging is a lot of fun though! What would I have blogged about back then? Probably just my ponies as they were my life 🙂
Hi Sharon
Well you know I wish I'd found blogging years ago… I started my blog to look for 'something' . a passion hobby.. something creative I think… I had no idea what but just something to counterbalance my workaholic nature and all the 'in my head stuff'.. and as you know.. i got back in touch with my creative side.. and couldn't never give that up now…
I think I have slowed down.. but more a reflection on issues in my life right now.. rather than age… and I think I needed to slow down… Maybe though it is time to get going again..
I can't imagine you slowing down at all.. a one woman dynamo!!! Go Sharon!!… ciao xxx Julie
The 50's have been the best time of my life! Being semi-retired has giving me the luxury of doing all the things I wanted to do when I was younger but didn't have the time. I don't see me slowing down any time soon.
Hugs,
Sherry
Sharon I feel like even after 50 we are just coming into our own, the next chapter in our book!!
I for one love it!!
Come and join my Gorgeous Giveaway from Blydesign!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Yikes Sharon, I find it hard to say but…I'm mid 60's! Time flies, but doesn't slow down. I take care of my 9 yo twin grandsons: all after school activities, music, sports; at least 4 dinners a week, week end breakfast; all summer activities 8-9pm. I work part time in the tv/audio/theatre area and produce a 5 hr telethon for our high school scholarship fund every fall. I blog at night. I wish I had more hours in the day. And time to travel back to France.
SHARON:
I AM 60-ISH. STILL ACTIVELY INVOLVED WITH MY INTERIOR DESIGN BUSINESS, SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS, JUST BEGINNING ACCESSORY IN-HOME EVENTS, WRITING A BOOK, ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN TWO GARDEN CLUBS, JUST ELECTED TO THE VESTRY OF MY EPISCOPAL CHURCH, LOVE TO ENTERTAIN,TRAVEL AND JUST STARTED MY FIRST BLOGSPOT 4 MONTHS AGO. I GET UP EVERY MORNING EXCITED TO READ MY EMAILS, SET UP APPOINTMENTS AND LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST. THIS QUOTE by Lauren Graham SUMS IT ALL UP, "MY IMAGINATION ABOUT WHAT I CAN STILL DO IN LIFE IS ENDLESS." Hail to those being 50ish,60ish and even 70ish! That rocking chair will always be there…………….we just aren't ready!!!!!
Sharon, you are wonderful in what you do…..and you are right, raising children never gave us the time to blog………….God bless those in their 30's who can do both!!
go sharon! i too am 50-ish too and keep planning away, dreaming and reaching for ever new goals. we have to, that is life n what it is all about. keep reaching!
xo
debra
ps; heading to england for 5+ weeks to fulfill a long held dream. why not, i am still alive!
I think Pamela summed it up perfectly Sharon.
Age is irrelevant to the creative mind…I think all the comments here
attest to that fact. I love all the doors we are able to open in our lives and this one has been one of the loveliest surprises of all.
To the 50's and beyond!!!
Jeanne 🙂 xx
Wow what inspiration! Well, I too am 50-ish and it was so weird reading your post this evening as I was just having a conversation with my sisters in law (I have a few) about this very same subject today. I suppose back in the day when our parents were 50 we saw them as 'old' but now that we have reached this age we know 50 is NOT old! As for me I feel I should still be in my thirty's! I have so many dreams and things to do. I would love to open my own decorator shop filled with my own designs and other pretty things and yes sometimes I have even questioned myself, am I too old? Well I say definately not, I don't intend to slow down or let my age stop me from doing anything.
Sharon you rock girl! take care, Maryann
No, no, dear Sharon,
We must keep pushing, trying new things, discovering aspects of ourselves we had no idea were there.
Brocante tours! I want in.
Let's talk. . .
xo,
Tish
Just discovered your blog. Just recently entered blog land with one of my own. Why do we women just love this world?? What a wonderful outlet. I'm in my early 40's and I totally relate to this post. We are 1.5 years away from our oldest leaving for college. I constantly stop and wonder what will be the next stage. Ooooooooh. I hope lots of travel.
Sharon — I'm 55 and started my blog, napervillenow.blogspot.com, 18 months ago. I think most bloggers are quite young, so that makes me (and you) pretty darned amazing. Love your interiors, love your brocante.
Sharon,
What ever your age is, is the right age. Like many of the other people who commented on your blog, I just over 50. I decided last year to follow a new career path, something completely different from what I was doing.
It feels good.
Love your stories and pictures.
It sounds like you've gone from "work" to "passions" and that's a great natural progression! And we all know that when we're pursuing our passions it doesn't feel like work at all.
I love blogging and there is a lot of really young ladies out there blogging and have small children a job and a husband i don't know how they do it.
I really enjoy just like talking to myself and putting things on my blog for show and tell. Guess it's my entertainment really.
I am a single lady with a pug and cupcakes at home. You could say 50ish
Janice
I retired at 50, but find that my life is busy beyond my wildest expectations. I often wonder how I found time to work. LOL
Personally I feel that age is liberating. I think your idea of the brocante tours is marvelous. If you are still offering them in September, I'm interested. 😉
~ sarah
Good GRIEF!! 50 is the new 30! You are right. GO GIRL. NOw, how do I get up there for a brocante tour? Let me know if you want to come down for a Toulouse one ;-)xx
My Great-Aunt is about to turn 100 next week. She was forced to hand in her Driver's Licence at 98 & was NOT HAPPY! Longevity runs in our family, so I reckon I haven't even hit my prime yet at 55. MOTH reckons I'll have to trade him in on a younger model as he says he can't keep up with me. My gorgeous clients often reckon that I'll still be shuffling into see them on my Zimmer frame & stilettos! I want to be just like my favourite bumper sticker 'Avenge yourself, live long enough to be a problem to your children.'
Millie x
I just discovered your great blog & loved it. I'm just new into blogging & have just finished off my own blog on fashion & interior design.
scrapbook-melissah.blogspot.com
I had a lot of fun putting it together. I would love your feedback on it if you've got a spare minute.
x
Melissah
Dear Sharon, I just want you to know that you are at the top of my blog list…read you first! For some of us, our me-time and career begin after family and children…I know mine did. Enjoy this time of your life and please…KEEP BLOGGING!