The focus of my blog is fashion, beauty and lifestyle for women over 50 and beyond. Frugal tips and tweaks to help us look and feel our best as we age gracefully. But, there is something deeper that compelled me to create “50 With Flair”. It is about my Reinvention.
As I was writing the draft to describe my reinvention after the age of 50, it brought a flood of words into my mind, all of which beginning with the letter “R”. I did not plan it that way, it just rolled out and presented itself to me, so I’m going with it!
Using the Reinvention “R”s in My Life
This is my list of realizations that I try to be mindful of as life goes on. Nothing rigid, just a few things that I try to think about as life continues to change. I am far from perfect, but I try to keep life in perspective as much as possible.
Reminisce
I chose to be a full-time mother and enjoyed every minute of it, but left my career far behind and have always missed it. Both of my daughters are now young adults. Both of my parents are gone, and we lost three beloved pekingese throughout these years which I cannot bear again. My husband is still working full-time and plans to continue to his maximum time. There were a few small side businesses that ran their course, but what now for me?
Reinvention vs. Re-creation
After total dedication and focus on the “taking care of others” years, I woke up to the revelation that it was time for me to think about myself again. I gave myself permission to quit being selfless and take care of me. My honest “self talk” told me that it was impossible to re-create anything that once was, like my past career and who I was then. Times had changed to never be the same again. Reinvention was the word that kept flowing through my mind over and over. So much so, that I Googled “reinvention over 50” and found a book by Claire Cook, “Never Too Late, Your Roadmap to Reinvention”, which also comes with a workbook. I read the book and attended one of Claire’s seminars at Emory University in Atlanta. Claire’s concepts really cast a fresh light onto how I was feeling. Claire also wrote the book that was turned into a John Cusack movie, “Must Love Dogs”. She’s a pep!
Read & Write
Reading is a nice escape from the never ending news headlines and noise in the world. I joined the Rosemont Book Club online for a no-pressure, pleasant experience with a variety of books and positive group of women.
The main reason I started writing this “50 With Flair” blog (just 5 weeks ago, eek!) is to help women freshen up their fashion and style, and to share my personal thoughts and feelings with other women over 50 who may find something in common with me. I enjoy exercising my writing skills to keep my brain and language skills in shape.
Release
Releasing negative things that have had a huge impact on your life can be difficult. No matter how badly someone hurt me or how much I may have regretted a particular decision or moment in time, it is in the past and not happening anymore, unless I let it happen in my mind. I had to let it go for my own sake. Release the heaviness that causes stress and anguish that can impact physical and mental health.
Rejoice
I rejoice and am thankful every single day that I wake up to a healthy, fully functioning body, no matter how sore it can be at times. After a health scare with breast cancer in 2010, my 50th birthday year, I am thankful for every healthy cancer-free day and try my best to make each day count. We don’t know the number of years we have left or what may happen, but being as positive as possible is my goal. When I was so crazy with worry during that time, my oncologist said, “you will wake up one day and remember that you didn’t think about it the day before.” I am still waiting for that day, but I rejoice in the meantime.
Relationships
Seeking reinvention of relationships is a necessity for me now, I have a social personality. Online connections are great, but we all need more than virtual friends. This is an odd spot right now that I need to work on. My best long-time friends live two hours away due to the sprawling Atlanta suburbs and I don’t see them as often as I would like to. Friends who are closer are still working, raising younger children, or are taking care of elderly parents or grandchildren.
Reduce
We are slowly working toward reducing clutter and unnecessary things. The day will come when Honey is ready to retire and we are ready to downsize. While we feel good, we press toward the mark!
Reflection
Do you like your reflection, what you see in the mirror? I decided that I needed to update my hair, make-up and clothing about a year ago. It was a gradual process to break out of the almost frumpy rut, but I am glad that I did. It feels so good to spruce things up for a more youthful appearance. A timeless yet current look is what I go for, without it looking too trendy or screaming “mid-life crisis”, LOL. If I can soften the appearance of age along the way, why not?
//Dressing with Texture, Distressed Jeans//
Roadrunner
Are you still a roadrunner, adding on projects and things to keep a full schedule and trying to be everything to everyone? I gave myself permission to slow down and quit saying “yes” to everything. I want to have a manageable schedule with some time to breathe and enjoy the moment. I can get caught up in “busy-ness” with projects when I feel the need to be productive. I am still learning to have balance in this area.
Reward
Do not feel guilty about splurging on something special that is just for you, reward yourself. If you have accomplished something or it is a special day, then go celebrate! Be generous with genuine compliments to others. Praising others can be reward in itself, “Good job”, “I am so proud of you”, can go a long way when you see that it brings the recipient joy.
Realization
Our digital world moves in an instant and it seems to get faster every day. I am “plugged in” just enough to stay current and manage my blog, but I have realized that too much media has its drawbacks. There are days when I minimize my interaction with various platforms, never turn the television on, and I leave my phone in my purse in another room until I feel like checking it.
Real
Being real and authentic is more important to me now than ever. I try to live inside-out without oversharing, and I seek that in others as well.
How about you, are you under reinvention or soon to be? Let me know!
Did you enjoy this post about Reinvention Revelations? Pin it!
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26 Comments
This is a fabulous post, Lori Jo and such wise words. I loved all of your ‘R’s each with their own important message. Retiring early, I found after a few months I was lost and had no purpose in life. I also realised that we shouldn’t focus on the number (our age) but rather focus on living life with an Ageless Attitude. I’ve learned to say ‘no’ and not feel as guilty as I once did and yes I was in danger of being a ‘Road Runner’ but am finding balance now in my life at long last! At almost 61 I’m happy and fulfilled and yes I’m running on the road for exercise not to fill my time LOL:) Thanks for linking up at #MLSTL it is great to connect with you! Have a great week!
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
So glad you enjoyed it, I was nervous about it since I am a newbie blogger, just 5 weeks in! Such a big learning curve for me, I found Leanne on a Pinterest share group on Facebook, she has been wonderful to me with being supportive and encouraging. I push myself to the hilt, looking for that balance every day, it comes from my childhood and career work ethics. I visited yours as well, you are to be admired! Will visit again soon 🙂 <3
Lori Jo
What a Refreshing Read! Had to use the ‘R’ for that didn’t I? I was truly inspired by what I read there and understood exactly what you wrote as a great way to Remember how to live our best lives. I am an Australian blogger who has found your blog via #MLSTL and am glad I did! Denyse
So glad you enjoyed it, I am a newbie blogger at just 5 weeks in, yikes! I thoroughly enjoy the English language and the world of words, I don’t know where the “R”s came from, but there are a load of them, haha! Fun, isn’t it?
Thank you for stopping by, I visited yours as well – I am in Georgia, U.S.A., we are worlds apart, but not really, right? <3
Lori Jo
Hi Lori Jo, I enjoyed reading your post. I’m visiting from MLSTL. Natalie
Thank you for stopping by, Natalie! Glad you enjoyed the post, my first for MLSTL. It is good to have blogging friends, see you “out there” soon!
Lori Jo <3
Hi Lori Jo, caught your great post from #MLSTL today. I love your round-up (another “R”) of great reasons to love life! I think we have to reinvent ourselves (as women) a few times in our lives as our identities shift through our life-span. But isn’t that what life is about! Love your pic–your style is chic but casual, I dress like that, too! Enjoy your blogging journey!
Thank you for visiting, Terri! Glad you enjoy the style inspiration – it is about being put together and feeling good about that, you don’t have to be “dressed up” all of the time to be neatly presentable, as you know. I am not ready to sit and settle; like you said, there are probably a few more shifts coming, I am learning to be ebb and flow and not hold on too tightly to unnecessaries these days. Happiness and joy is key. Also just adjusted my blogging schedule from every day to Mon/Wed/Fri, much more comfortable. Thanks again, talk soon!
Lori Jo <3
Lovely to meet you Lori Jo! I can completely relate to your post and love all your R words and all that you wrote for each. I’m so happy to hear you are now cancer free. I wish you all the happiness in the world on this journey of reinvention that I too am on. Lovely photo of you at the end too! I look forward to reading more of your posts and getting to know you. From another Aussie 50+ blogger! 🙂 x
Thank you so much for visiting and for the encouragement! I have been blogging for just 5 weeks, so much to learn but it is smoothing out now. I may have questions and be in touch from time to time. I appreciate the support and press forward, it is nice to have blogging friends. Thanks again!
Lori Jo <3
This was a great read Lori – in fact I think in the future you could use each of these headings for individual posts and flesh them out more. I’ve learned so many of the same lessons over the last few years (and am still learning more as I go along!) I think Midlife is a Revelation to us all and if we handle it Right we can become the person who has been waiting all this time to emerge!
Thanks for linking up with us at #MLSTL and I’ve shared this on my SM xx
Leanne | http://www.crestingthehill.com.au
Thank you, Leanne! You have been very sweet and gracious with your support and encouragement. I appreciate it all so much – I will be sure to expand on each topic in future posts, you are correct in that each one can stand alone. I had more on my list, but the post would have been huge. Thank you again, I enjoyed the linky, talk soon!
Lori Jo <3
Hi Lori Jo,
Welcome to the blogging world and especially to this fabulous niche of women who blog about life’s second half (or final third depending on genetics and expectations!) You’ll find lots of support and encouragement here. And an abundance of head-nodding understanding, which is how I felt when reading your R’s. Reinvention is central to my life as well (I’ve read many of Claire’s books including this one and enjoyed them). I’d add just one more R to your list – Renewal. It’s the prize you’ll discover when the Roadrunner settles down and all of those other R’s kick in. But give yourself time and be patient. I’m just getting glimpses of Renewal three years post retirement. Karen #MLSTL
Glad you connect with the post, Karen! I actually did have more R’s, ha! This post could have been very, very long if I kept all of them. I had “rejuvenate” on the list, which is near “renewal”, which we all need on the inside as well as on the outside with a renewed look/fashion. Thank you for the encouragement, I want to feel significant through making the blog information significant and helpful. As Leanne commented, each word in itself could be a full blog topic on its own which I will remember and expand on in future posts. Words are my thing, never a shortage! Thank you for visiting and for the encouragement 🙂
Lori Jo <3
Good morning Lori Jo! I have another R for you and that is REFRESHING! That’s how I felt after reading this post, I totally can relate with each R, and since I retired over a year ago, I’ve found myself again…..I guess that would be the Renewal….lol…I’m trying to get back to myself, I always found that when I was working, I didn’t take enough time for myself, I guess life gets busy, but sometimes we just have to slow down alittle and enjoy the moments and forget about what we are suppose to be doing….be more spontaneous. Thank you for encouraging us all !
Hey, Kathy! My how the “R”s go on, ha! I had a huge list and had to cut back. I was told that each one could be a stand-alone post, and I believe that. So, I now have writing prompts for quite a while between outfits, right?! You and I continue to parallel each other, I have a deeply embedded work ethic that I have to tame down, it can exhaust me. We are go-go girls, aren’t we? LOL. Thanks so much for your loyal support and postive interaction <3
Lori Jo
I am 72 and reinvented myself when I became a published author last December. My friend Carol and I wrote Inn of Three graces, a story of intrigue, comedy and adventure. available on Amazon. Now working on a sequel for one of the characters.
I have always tried to live life to the fullest. I have 4 grown children and 10 grand and 4 great grands. Olive in SW FL now but most of my life I lived in Bethesda, Maryland.
You are an awesome inspiration! My next step will be becoming published, flexing my writing muscles now, ha! I am originally from Naples, Florida, you must be nearby? A beautiful place in which to grow up through my early 20s. Thank you for visiting and following <3
Lori Jo
Love your ‘R’ words…they are all meaningful! I especially related to Releasing and Rejoicing, two things that I try to practice every day. Thanks for sharing.
So happy that you enjoyed the post and found a connection with it! Thank you for visiting – feel free to share and subscribe <3
Lori Jo
Hi Lori Jo,
Another great post. I can relate to all of them. Thank you for validating my thoughts .
So glad you can relate to the post, we are in this 50+ thing together! Thank you for faithfully following me, Rosemary <3
Lori Jo
Definitely Pinning – and checking out that fabulous book!
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed the post! You will really like Claire’s reinvention book, I am going to read it again. I appreciate your interest, , feel free to subscribe <3
Lori Jo
Such wonderful thoughts, Lori Jo! Popping over from the Forever Fierce Community, and I’m so glad you joined our group!!
What an inspiration!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Hey, Jodie! I appreciate the visit, and I look forward to getting to know you and the group. So glad I found it. So much to learn, you will see me on there often, very excited to take part. See you soon <3
Lori Jo