Life begins at 50

50plus is the age when your children are no more kids and flown away from your nest, its an age when you do what you like to do and don’t care what people will think, its an age when your happiness matters the most.

With many years of experience, you become hard nut to break; you have already seen the outcome of bad moves from your own experiences as well as that of peers and it is the age when you begin to have faith in yourself.

Gone are those days when women were just home makers, lived under servitude of family’s happiness and had no life of their own. They lived in a box, catered to family needs because ‘Children and husband came first’ Social group was mainly kitty parties/card sessions or a visit to spiritual meetings. Hobbies included stitching clothes for their children, knitting for grandchildren and if they were more creative, they would explore some culinary experiences like cooking a better food or baking a cake. Even if they chose a career, it was always teachers or bank clerks that was adjustable to her timings at home with her family. At age of 50 she looked old and drained, stressed and tired.

But now things have changed. Women are gradually learning to respect themselves and want to do something that gives them opportunities to rediscover themselves.

This week I was at 50youngconference  and was happy to meet the most inspiring ladies from different walks of life.

Anita Gurnani, is the most dynamic woman with pleasant personality. At 57, she has ventured on a new project of bringing enterprising 50 plus women under one umbrella to explore new horizons and facets of life, growing and evolving in the process. When she called me to be a part of this project, I was hesitant at first, mainly because I do not like to admit that I am approaching towards that ‘oldies’ group. It is difficult to come to the terms that I am aging and is no longer that energetic and bubbly 20s-30s youngster although mind refuses to grow up. It has the same emotions of enjoying every moment, same childishness, same curiosity of discovering something new. What actually hinder are the health issues and physical limitations. The idea of joining 50young did not appeal to me. But after seeing the vibrant spirit of Anita, I decided to learn more about it and agreed to attend the conference at Bandra.

At conference, I met women from different walks of life and they were so very inspiring.

Varshaben Vijay Mehta didn’t walk alone towards the dais for panel discussion, one young girl held her hand while she walked. She is able to utilize only 5% of her vision, but still at 57 years old, she runs a business of household and hygiene products and boasts of a large clientele including enterprises and consumers.

Surjit Kaur, entrepreneur and dance enthusiast is 65, but if you were not told her age, you would never guess. She is the member of the dance group at ‘Terence Lewis Academy’ where the oldest member is 88years old. It was entertaining to watch the group of these ladies shaking to the Bollywood number of ‘Lungi Dance’ 

Woman finds happiness when she is able to do what she loves. Children and grand children are her best supporters and very proud of her.

There were about hundred women in the room, and most of them successful and proud. Being it the first ever conference, selected women with their success stories were invited and the experiences were very enriching.

For most of them, life began at 50, when the demands of family slowed down, and women began to appreciate their ‘Me’ time and utilize it to seek happiness to its fullest. It's the age not to retire but to retry.

With a proper support group, many more women will find true worth of themselves.