Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Living the Second Half

I've just started reading a book called Second Calling by Dale Hanson Bourke. It's geared for women who are on their second half of life and finding that there are adventures and joy that are on their way as we dive head first into our 40's and beyond.

I have to agree. I didn't even look at my life as if it was the "second half". Now I do, I discovered that there are some great points to living my second half. Here's some of them:

1) If I were younger, I probably would've cried when I realized that the ice cream maker was broken AFTER pouring the liquid into the ice cream maker. Yesterday, I laughed. Boo and I just stuck it in the freezer and stirred it every now and then.

2) Eating a powdered donut and dealing with allergies can be comical. After using the same napkin to hold the powdered donut, I got up from the table and wiped my itchy nose. Then, realized that I resembled a cocaine addict with white powder everywhere. I don't think I would've found that comical if I were younger.

3) The author says that in the second half, we are more accepting of our bodies not resembling that of a 20 something year old so we embrace what we can do more than how we look. I am so thankful that I can do so much, although, some of it may be met with more clumsiness and slowness, I can still do it.

4) Living my second half, I get thrills out having my daughters and son in boo, in the kitchen with me. The first half, I taught them how to cook but it was my love more than theirs so I spent more time in the kitchen, creating.





5) Even cleaning fish can be comical. In my younger days, I'd be grossed out. Instead, I embraced the chore and made the fish heads sing and talk. I challenged myself to look beyond the stink and to look forward to hopping in the shower afterwards.

6) I found humor as I waited for the fish to bite in these birds that I called, the God Forbid birds. I swear, they sounded just like they were saying, "God Forbid. You can see one of them here.



7) In my second half of life, I can try something new and if I don't like it, it's no big deal, on to the next adventure. My sister and I went to play Bingo for the very first time. It was the most comical sight watching all of the diehard bingo nerds. They had daubbers in every color, lucky hats, lucky stuffed toys and the desire to sit in one spot for two hours. My twin sis and I decided that we would rather move on to the next adventure.

8) As a second halfer, I can blame all of my issues on menopause (or pre-menopause) since I haven't reached the big M yet. When I get cranky, sweaty, sleepless and hungry enough to eat a whole bag of chips, I can always say, "It's just that ol menopause thing."

9) You can climb up in a toy made for kids and not feel utterly stupid because it's also an adventure. Here is Boo trying to show Baby Boo to have some fun and down the slide.



10) The food tastes better in the second half. Why? Because I've learned not to be a prisoner to how many bites or what I should or shouldn't eat. I've learned to enjoy while I still have active tastebuds.

Are you a second halfer?

18 comments:

Mari said...

I'm a second halfer too, and i love this way of looking at it!

natalee said...

Im getting there and my eyes are wide open!!!!!!!!! love that post

Heart2Heart said...

I am a second halfer as well and love this time of my life so much more.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Anonymous said...

I'm a second halfer and tell everyone "you haven't lived til you hit 40". To me you just have so much more confidence about yourself and your thoughts Things just don't bother you as much.

Deidra said...

I am so in love with this part of life!

Unknown said...

I am not a second halfer yet, but I hope to be able to embrace these things soon enough...especially the last one!

Liz Mays said...

I'm with you and I'm nearly to the same mindset. So wonderful!

Lin said...

Yep, I'm a second-halfer and loving it. I like the wisdom and the patience that comes with age. I like that I don't get as hung up about some things anymore, although there is still a few things that still bug me. And I like that I don't have to have a perfect body to feel pretty. My favorite part is blaming everything on menopause!

Formerly known as Frau said...

Second halfer is more fun to be! Your bingo experience made me laugh...

Buckeroomama said...

Not quite, but getting there... and I can relate to how "liberating" it can be. :)

Suz said...

Being in the second half of life is freeing in many ways.

Comfortable shoes win over fashion (sometimes!)

I love your being able to laugh at things that would have made you cry. What a great attitude!

Loved you post. it made me laugh out loud. Thanks for a great start to my day!

Veronica Lee said...

I'm a second halfer too! Like Lin, I can get away with a lot of things and just blame it on menopause!!

Hugs, Simone!

Sweet Tea said...

Yes Ma'am, I'm a Second Halfer, though I don't much like to think about it much. I love your list, but cleaning fish will not be a part of my first or second half...maybe in another lifetime. LOL

Thank you for asking about "homeschooling". I've ordered all the curiculum and we'll actually begin "class" the first of August. I've had a complete attitude adjustment and am actually looking forward to this as an adventure. We'll see. . .

Joanna Jenkins said...

Wait a minute-- You were making homemade ice cream? AWE-SOME!!!

I'm working on enjoying being a second halfer, I just wish I had the energy of a first-halfer.

xo

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Second half truly begins at 50....I'm a second halfer.

I found that by age 40, I began thinking anything and everything was funnier than it ever had been. I now laugh freely at inappropriate times with no regrets. I enjoy that it raises the occasional eyebrow of another or yields a head shake or a 'tsk tsk.'

And if people around me don't see the humor, it makes it even more amusing for me.

Around the truly clueless, I can be often be found in hysterics.

You have a lot to look forward to!!

Kwana said...

With 41 coming for me next week, Yes I am a 2nd halfer. Wow. I love you humor. Thanks.

peewee said...

FOOD DOES taste better now!!! And yes...GLEE is a MUST!

sanjeet said...

love that post
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