This post is part of the Gorgeous 50’s series inspired by a book given to me by one of my sisters on my 50th birthday – ‘Grown up and Gorgeous in your 50’s’ by Pamela Robson. I will be sharing some of Pamela’s words and my own thoughts along the way. To see all posts published as part of this series, go here.
Pamela says:
Reinventions can be as small as a new hair cut or joining a weight loss group or as big as retraining for a new job, building a house or travelling overseas. Start by making a plan for your life. Draw up headings such as ‘home’, ‘work’, ‘personal’, ‘money’, ‘relationships’. Look at what is working in your life, and what is not.
Make a wish-list, then refine it. Put down your goals, large and small. Prioritise what’s important to you. Then work out the steps you need to achieve them. Don’t get too bogged down in the detail. When you reach this point you just have to take a deep breath and jump in.
Achieving our ambitions can help us feel better about ourselves, liven up our lives and make sense of the world. And it doesn’t have to interfere with our marriage, work life or relationships with children and friends. Being fulfilled makes us better to be around.
My thoughts:
REINVENTION
I think I’m rather practiced at the reinvention thing in some regards. I mean, I walked away from the corporate life I’d been living since the age of 17. There was a brief interlude when I had my babies and then back at it I was, crawling my way up the ranks from the bottom again. Then one day in mid 2012, I walked out of the office never to return, though I didn’t know that at the time! Long story. However, since then I have been learning who Min is and in a sense reinventing myself.
I did a 365 Grateful Project where I took a photograph every day of something I was grateful for. I did this to help me reconnect to life and get a more positive attitude. This led me to starting a blog – a platform on which to share my daily photographs (the blog I had before this one). This then led to my love of photography. I did a local course on how to use my DSLR Camera on manual. This ignited a passion which then led to me doing a Diploma in Professional Photography at The Photography Institute and a try-on of the ‘photographer’ hat for a while. All of this then led to the creation of a new blog – this one – Write of the Middle (and a try on of the ‘blogger/writer/influencer’ hat), and onward the story goes! I will continue to follow my curiosities and hopefully that will eventually lead me to finding my true life purpose!
In other ways, I am so terrible at reinventing myself. My hair, for example, rarely ever changes. I am afraid of radical change to my hair in case I hate it. That has happened to me in the past and scarred me for life I think. I recall I was probably around 12 as I was about to start high school and very keen to make a good impression. It was during the Christmas/summer school holidays and Mum took me to the hairdresser for a back to school hair cut. I told them I wanted to look like Farrah Fawcett (you know, long flowy, flicky hair) and I came out looking anything but Farrah Fawcett. My hair had been radically chopped, was way too short, and I hated it very much and was devastated.
Getting back to the topic at hand, I think that reinvention is necessary as we move through the various phases of life. Nothing ever stays the same really … even my hair!! It has some greys (that I hide) for example and it’s not as thick as it used to be – so I’m adapting and reinventing how I manage my hair. We need to do that across most aspects of life as we move through the different phases of it.
PRIORITIES
Priorities change too as we move through the various phases of life. Having lots of friends for example is not as important to me as it used to be. More important to me is having quality friends. Going out partying at night is something I used to love to do but I’m not so much into parties now and I prefer my social events during the day. If going to an evening event, I now prefer a quiet dinner out with friends over going to a noisy club or party.
Life audits – a little term I just came up with, which probably already exists – are something I think are important and something we naturally seem to do once we reach midlife. It’s where you look at what in your life is working for you (relative to: work, home, friends, relationships, etc) and keep it and what is not working for you and ditch it! It’s actually a form of self-care. Our time is precious and we want to spend it in ways that ‘spark joy’ (haha – a little play on the Marie Kondo craze that is sweeping the world at the moment) and help us grow and flourish, not in any ways that is detrimental to this.
ONE THING THAT NEVER CHANGES
Setting goals and achieving them is something that is just as important to me now as it used to be, if not more so. As humans, regardless of our age, we need to feel a sense of purpose and at the end of the day it’s nice to feel a sense of achievement and accomplishment.
Make this a year of finding fulfillment, peace, and purpose
Have you reinvented yourself in any way lately? Ever done a life audit? What sparks joy for you?
Ciao for now,
Link up here at WOTM or with another of us in the Lovin’ Life Linky team:
Leanne of Deep Fried Fruit
Deborah of Debbish | Jo of And Anyways
It doesn’t matter where you link up as it will magically appear on all our blogs.
22 Comments
Hi Min there are many ways we can reinvent ourselves and as my WOTY is ‘Evolve’ we are on the same page. I do believe there is pressure on Women to always be changing and some are very happy and contented with the way they are. That is great for them. However, I am someone who needs to feel that I am learning and moving forward in life. I’m a great believer in taking a Life Audit and then making a Life Plan which I often write about. It puts things into perspective because we can get so caught up in life that we don’t realise we aren’t happy or we are going in a direction we don’t want to go. Taking a life audit shows where we are now and it is a good wakeup call sometimes. I’m like you and my hair has been roughly the same for years. I would love to have a hairdresser that would give me a ‘new look’ which I can manage and not have to visit the salon every day! Have a great week and I always enjoy this series. x #LovinLifeLinky
I need to be always learning too Sue, and I need to have goals and feel a sense of accomplishment and achievement. I went to the hair salon today – same, same of course! lol xo
I wish I could think of a hairstyle that 1. suits me 2. is not a grandma style and 3. is easy to manage. I need to magic wand!
I think how you have your hair now 1. Suits you 2. isn’t grandma style, and 3. looks easy to manage? Is it? You always look so stylish and lovely Sue! 🙂 x
There have been a few evolutions and definitely working on another one this year!
I will watch on with great interest to see the newly evolved Nikki for 2019! 🙂
I don’t know if I have reinvented myself. I have made changes along the way – plenty of them. Intersting post. Never really thought about a Life Audit. #Lovinglifelinky
I think often we do reinvent ourselves without realising it. It’s a natural adaption to changing circumstances. 🙂
Hi Min – I agree our time is precious and so spend it on what brings us joy. Your life experiences have brought much wisdom. At this phase in my life, my priorities are family, friends, health, and leisure activities that I enjoy doing. #TeamLovinLife
You have your priorities very right Natalie. You impress me with your ability to ensure you get a good balance of all life’s offerings to keep you feeling happy, healthy and fulfilled! 🙂
Hi Min, I’m enjoying the series, and will link up in March, when I have a new post.
Thanks Christina! I’m not sure if you’re referring to the #LovinLife or #ZTT linky but I’m looking forward to your post in March! 🙂
I’ve stuck with the same hair cut for several years now Min – when you’ve found what suits you it’s better to play safe IMHO. Maybe one day I’ll chop it all off but I’m not ready for that reinvention just yet. I’ve definitely culled my friends list over the last few years too – I just don’t have time for people who don’t have time for me. Life is short and getting shorter – I’m finding what I love and focusing on that these days – and to hell with the rest!
I agree about the hair cut situation Leanne. I was brushing my newly hairdressered (freshly coloured and trimmed) this morning and it ‘sparked joy’ because I really do like my hair done this way … so I’m sticking with it! I also agree with focussing on what we love and to hell with the rest … because as you say … life gets shorter each day and like most people, I want to make the most of my remaining days while I can!
I so agree about having setting goals, in all sorts of ways and feeling good about achieving something. It really keeps me motivated and on track with new things.
Same for me Christine!
Ah yes reinvention is so important for all of us and a subject dear to my heart. I really dislike seeing older people (men and women) who are stuck in their ways be that what they think (you know, the good old days), how they dress and generally how they relate to the world. It isn’t good for them and it isn’t good for anyone around them. As you say the changes don’t have to be enormous but it feels to me that if we stop growing we stop truly living; there are so many rich experiences to be enjoyed.
Couldn’t agree more Jan. I too find it sad when I see older people stuck in their ways, refusing to learn and grow and move with the times. This could be in regards to fashion, technology, and generally with forward thinking and having an open mind etc. They’re missing out!
I’m actually overdue for a reinvention. Even though we had the massive location change in 2017, the only change I made was where I lived. Yes, a transformation, reinvigoration is well overdue.
That relocation from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast was a pretty massive reinvention Jo! I think you’ve deserved a little time to adjust to that one before bringing on another but I look forward to seeing what you’ve bot in mind next! 🙂
Reinvention takes many forms as you say Min and as we get older we seem to face these challenges more often. I was devastated when I was made redundant after a career of 22 years but have managed to reinvent myself into this new updated version of myself and I must say I’m mostly happy now. Fashion comes and goes and I love trying new things. I’m always either growing my hair or cutting it too short so I love a challenge!!! Great post 🙂
Thanks Deb. I can imagine how being made redundant after a 22 year career would have devastated you but so pleased to hear you’ve managed to reinvent yourself and are mostly happy now! I’ve had a similar experience, though wasn’t made redundant.