This Is 50-Something: Learning to Love the Life (and Body) You’ve Got Right Now

Let’s just get this out of the way: Your 50s are weird.

52 and loving

You’ve got one knee that sounds like a microwave popcorn bag, a closet full of clothes from three different body sizes, and a strong opinion about Tupperware lids. And yet… there’s something deeply powerful about being in this chapter of life.

Somewhere between the hormonal chaos, the reading glasses, and the deep sigh you now make when getting off the couch—you’ve quietly stopped caring so much about what people think.

And that? That’s freedom.

You’re Allowed to Like Your Life—Even If It’s Not What You Imagined

Maybe you thought you’d be married forever. Or richer. Or thinner. Or climbing some glamorous corporate ladder in heels that didn’t cause blisters.

Instead, here you are: Possibly single, possibly divorced, possibly wondering if you remembered to switch the laundry over (again).

But guess what?

You don’t need to fix your life before you’re allowed to enjoy it. This version of your story—yes, the messy, imperfect, real one—is still worth living fully. Stop waiting for some magical milestone (like “losing 10 pounds” or “finally figuring out your purpose”) before giving yourself permission to feel joy. You’re not an unfinished project. You’re a living, breathing masterpiece in progress.

Your Body Isn’t a Problem to Solve

Let’s talk about your body for a minute. It’s changed. Let me tell you, I know firsthand. We know Gravity is doing the absolute most. There are creaks where there used to be curves, and let’s not even talk about the chin hair that shows up like an uninvited guest who refuses to leave.

But this body? This body has carried you through five decades of life. It’s done some serious heavy lifting—emotionally, physically, hormonally.

And you’ve earned every freckle, every line, every soft place that used to be firm. You don’t have to love every inch of it to respect it. You don’t have to look like your 30-year-old self to feel beautiful now.

And here’s a secret: No one is thinking about your thighs at the beach. They’re thinking about their own. So put on the damn swimsuit and go live your life.

Let’s Laugh About It (Because, Honestly, What Else Can You Do?)

Here are a few universal truths about being in your 50s:

• You no longer trust a fart on a walk.

• You’ve developed a passionate love affair with high-waisted everything.

• You have a favorite grocery store cashier, and it feels like betrayal to use a different lane.

• You wake up sore, even if you did absolutely nothing the day before.

• You might start hormone replacement therapy.

• You learn what Botox is.

• You no longer care how much face cream costs, because you will now try them ALL.

• And you will, without question, fall asleep on the couch at 8:47 p.m. like it’s a scheduled event.

But with that weirdness comes a quiet strength.

You don’t have time for fake friends, tight shoes, or chasing validation. You know what you bring to the table—and if someone doesn’t appreciate it, that’s their loss (and they can eat alone).

You Don’t Have to Reinvent. You Can Just Be.

Look, there’s a lot of talk about “reinventing yourself” in your 50s. And if that’s your thing, go for it. But you also don’t have to burn it all down to feel worthy or whole.

Maybe this season isn’t about reinventing. Maybe it’s about remembering.

Remembering who you are under all the roles. Remembering what makes you laugh. Remembering that you’re still allowed to want things—and go after them.

Even if you're a little tired. Even if you're not "ready. "Even if your body doesn’t cooperate the way it used to.

My 50s: Not the End, But a Fierce New Beginning

My 50s have held heartbreak that cracked me open. Growth that wasn’t always graceful. Lessons I never asked for—but needed.

I became an empty nester. Started a new job. Moved to a new state. I let go of what (and who) wasn’t for me. And found the kind of friends who remind me who I really am.

There have been quiet mornings, loud laughs, solo dinners, and deep, soul-stretching conversations. There have been wild new experiences I never saw coming—and gentle, healing ones I didn't know I needed.

But the best part?

I’m healthy. I’m whole. And I’m finally living my life—not the edited version I once tried to fit into, but the real, unfiltered, beautifully imperfect one.

This isn’t a midlife crisis. It’s a midlife awakening.

And if this is what the second act looks like, I’m here for every minute of it. I'm ready to share it with someone and build whatever lies ahead.

My Final Thought:

Being in your 50s doesn’t mean you're winding down. It means you’ve seen enough to stop pretending. You’re finally living your life, not the one the world expected of you. And that? That’s worth celebrating. You do you boo.

So wear the jeans that fit now. Take the picture, even if you don’t love your angle. Go on the date. Dance at the wedding. Say yes to the dessert.

Because this chapter of life isn’t a consolation prize. It’s a whole vibe—and you’re the main event.

Becky Shaffer

Communication/Transition Life Coach

Living In Confidence