Article by Fabafterfifty
With constant messages alluding to women fading into the background and becoming invisible at the age of 50, I would like to stress one thing . Ignore them!
Living life to the full is not the preserve of the young! Women in their 50s are part of a generation used to breaking new ground and scaling new heights! We are redefining what it means to be 50. Far from being ready to retire, we are having second careers, setting up businesses, travelling the world. The rest of the world hasn’t quite understood yet how we’ve changed and are continuing to do so! We need to make sure we are seen and heard!
We can always choose between ‘can do’ and ‘can’t do’. Only we can decide if we want to flourish or fade.
Too long to be invisible
One in seven women turning 50 this year is likely to live to be 100, and there’s a good chance the rest of us could live at least well into our eighties. That’s a long time to be invisible! At 50 we probably have more of our adult life ahead of us than behind us. We face the next phase of our adult lives with more experience, more wisdom, and hopefully a better sense of who we are.
Life is for living. Be colourful, confident. We may not have youth but we have passion and wisdom.
It’s down to us how we choose to live our future years. Invisibly or fabulously”! I know which I’m choosing!
I have to say, having studied this whole “I am invisible” rant, I’ve realised the invisibility is usually to men of “a certain age” who haven’t the confidence, eyes, brain memory, or courage to face us women. So ignore them!!!! Dress up, have a fabulous haircut and colour, dress to make yourself feel fantastic and believe everyone can see you from afar…Then they will!
Well said!!
I’m not good at the ‘dressing to look fabulous’ thing – but then I’m an old hippy and still think I should be wearing flared trousers and flowery shirts. But now (I’m over 60, not crumbling yet – and still travelling) I’m not bothered if that makes me ‘invisible’ in the conventional sense. I feel fabulous – and that’s good enough for me.