The fall is my favorite time of the year, a time when I enjoy the real beauty of nature from the leaves turning awesome colors that take your breath away, to the beautiful warm colors of the mums in my garden. I really revel in decorating the house with warm colors of burnt orange, olive green, gold, burgundy, and chocolate brown. Of course, the scent of pumpkin or spice candles set the mood. The cool crisp evenings coupled with a cup of tea with lemon, a good book, a nice warm throw, and of course, my glasses really make fall evenings on a private deck ideal.

I really wanted to do something totally different this year so I decided to make a wreath for my front door that included the beautiful colors of fall. I brought the flowers, fall colored ribbon, and heavy-duty wire (my husband’s idea) to shape the wreath into a large circle. On a cool evening, I set up a workstation on my deck and began working on what I now call the masterpiece of all masterpieces. I turned on Watercolors and while I enjoyed the soothing music, I discovered a hidden talent.  My masterpiece is now something that I can mark as accomplished on my Fabulous Fifties’ Bucket List. Who would have guessed? Wonders will never cease to amaze me!

I decided to create a Fabulously Fifty Memoirs album that will contain memoirs of my creations. I covered an album with beautiful print cloth and left over dried flowers. On the inside, each addition will include comments along with the date and a photograph.

How creative are you? It is amazing when you discover your hidden talents by chance. As the fall slowly creeps in, take the time to discover your hidden talents. You may just create a masterpiece, begin writing a best-selling novel, a poem or two about the beautiful fall weather, or a short story that rocks with suspense.

What will you fabulously create to celebrate the beautiful fall? Whatever you create, enjoy the time spent on your fabulously fall project and then take a picture and add it to your Fabulously Fifty Memoirs.

Discover your hidden talents as you live life fabulous!

During a conversation with a friend last year, we began talking about our ages and when she learned that I was turning fifty in a few weeks, she commented, “damn that is old, things just start going downhill at fifty.” Downhill? Was she actually serious? A woman who would not turn fifty for another ten years was entirely too negative about life so I quickly distanced myself from her. I was actually excited about turning fifty and could not wait to receive my AARP membership card. During the next few weeks, I reflected on my life, my accomplishments, good times, bad times, and dreams for the future.

I celebrated my fiftieth birthday with my husband and my best friend (who is actually the male version of me). As we sat in a quaint little restaurant enjoying great food and a great conversation, my best friend marveled at my accomplishments, noted that I was at the what next stage in life, and inquired about my plans for my fifties. Another thought-provoking moment that led me on a journey of deep reflection. 

One year later as I continue the transition into my fifties, I am in love with my life. I am in a good place personally, psychologically, emotionally, physically, and socially. I love being a woman of color who is transitioning into her fifties fabulously. Actually, I am better now than I was in my 20’s, 30’s, or 40’s. I have successfully accomplished each goal that I set out to achieve and continue to amaze myself every day.

 As I continue this fabulous transition, I set new personal and professional goals to accomplish during my fabulous fifties. To add a sparkle and a dash of flavor, I also created a fabulous bucket list that contains some awesome things that I will accomplish during my fifties. Notice that I wrote “I will accomplish.” The word “want” was not used because I do not “want” to accomplish items on my bucket list, I WILL accomplish them. Words are powerful and this is positive thinking at its best. This blog is one item on my bucket list that I have marked as accomplished.

To all of the fabulously fifty women of color around the world, this blog is for you. As you transition into your fabulous fifties, rebalance your PPEPS (personal, psychological, emotional, physical, and social) status. This is a time to celebrate you! This is also a time for enhancement, rejuvenation, and empowering yourself. Try setting new goals and plans to achieve them, create a bucket list for your fifties, discover a new hobby, embrace the beauty of nature, begin an exercise routine, schedule your general and women’s wellness exams, begin or continue eating healthy, begin writing your memoirs, and most importantly, make time for you to truly enjoy your fifties. During this fabulous transition, focus on your self-esteem, self-love, self-identity, self-respect, and self-pride. You radiate positive energy! You sparkle like a diamond! You are indeed fabulously fifty!

I love the following quote and often post it as birthday wishes to friends. “A birthday is the beginning of another 365 day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip.” (Author unknown). Transitioning into your 50’s is the beginning of another 3,650-day journey of living life fabulous! Revel in the awesomeness of being fabulously fifty.

Enjoy being fabulously fifty, live this time in your dash in style, and most importantly, live life fabulous. You deserve it!