by Suzanne Marsh

Created on: June 03, 2008

When my Dad turned 58 I thought that was hysterical I was only 38! However the far side of 50 has now crept into my life and I am 58. I love being on the far side of 50. I am healthier now than I was in my 20's. I do not have the stress in my life I had when I was younger. I have more poise and am content in my own skin so to speak.

My husband always tells me that it is only a number but he is 8 years younger than I am so I tell him my number is bigger. Truthfully I do not feel any different than I did when I was in my 30's and 40's. There is a whole world out there to explore, what difference does it make what age you are? I asked myself that when I turned 50 and decided that it did not make any difference. Age is what you decide it is: there is an old expression that certainly applies to we baby boomers: "Just because there is snow on the roof doesn't mean the fire is out."

On the far side of 50 here I am enjoying the United States from the front seat of a tractor trailer rig. My imagination is taking over and has since we came out of San Antonio. I can now visualize a lone rider here on the plains of Texas, the fires of the Comanche and Kiowas. When I was younger I never thought about things like that, I was a confirmed television addict especially the dope operas. Now I could care less if I watch the boobie tubie I prefer to read. There is so much to learn about life, to learn to use your imagination. What better way to explore life?

Life is what you choose to make it. You can worry about turning 60, 70 and so on or you can meet life head on. My uncle John just turned 95 in May, he is still going strong! His mind and his sense of humor are wonderful. He has a walker but he still enjoys life: he is really on the far side of 50!

Learning to deal with stress in everyday life is so important especially on the far side of 50! I learned that when my blood pressure climbed. There was the stress of paying more for the truck each month than for our home, once we paid the truck off my blood pressure came back down to normal I never realized how much that $1100 a month was affecting my health! My daughter Karen kept telling me to breath deeply every time I became agitated. Agitation was a huge part of my life but once I began to use the technique I began to feel better not just my heart rate slowing down, but I began to feel more relaxed! What a wonderful lesson to learn.

Learn to enjoy each day it is an experience to be treasured!

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