In this second installment of the series, Midlife Women and the Honor and Glory of Aging (you can read Part 1 HERE), the fabulous women of midlife are letting it all hang out! Like an explosion, they’re blowing apart the myths about midlife women and proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that age ain’t nothing but a number. You’ve already read what midlife is like for some, but that was only half the story.

So, you want to know what today’s midlife really looks like? Strap yourself in once more as the women of midlife take flight and soar!

We’re Living the Dream . . . 

I started to blog last year, not knowing a damn thing about it. My neighbour Heidi (she is so young) said, “Deby you need to blog about the food you cook and your baking.” I thought about it for a year, and here I am. Cookinginthejungle.com. My husband and I live in Costa Rica, retired form California. Now living the dream, Chuck surfs and I cook and bake and blog about it. I have been featured in Huffpost/50, Next Act for women, Sixty and me and the WSJ expat site on FB and I can’t even link a post yet. I learn something new almost everyday. But I am for sure having fun doing it. So I would say, well first I should say I am well past midlife, living and loving it!
(Deby Hogue, 63, Cooking In The Jungle)

I’ve always been active and outgoing but I actually feel healthier and happier than I did when I was 20 or 30 years younger. Plus I have the resources and time to do all the many things I love like blogging, writing books, traveling and spending time with my husband of 40 years. Life is GOOD!
(Kathy Gottberg, 58, SMART Living 365)

The combination of being passed over for promotions because of my age and four of my friends dying in a 10-month period led me to say “Eff it!” I took a voluntary demotion working fewer hours so that I could start doing some of the things I’ve always dreamed of doing, like finishing my novel. I’ve learned that ‘someday’ isn’t guaranteed.
(Kirby Carespodi, 56, Brandywine Cottage)

In the last year I’ve published my first book. My second book is due for November publication. I’ve done many speaking engagements, radio shows, podcasts, The Moth Story Slam, West Chester Story Slam.
(Cathy Sikorski, 59, You Just Have To Laugh…)

Just became a Yoga Teacher. Boom! Seriously, since hitting 50 I lost 55 lbs., became a best-selling author, learned to embrace being an empty-nester, lived in Australia for 5 months and became a Yoga Teacher. I feel life is just getting started and I can’t wait to see what the next 25-30 years brings.
(Heidi Sloss, 66, The Art of Living Fully)

We left our boring life in the states and moved to an exciting life in Baja California. We planned for our retirement several years before we pulled the plug. We enjoy meeting great new people and socializing frequently. We go boating, snorkeling, swimming, walking. Have gone hiking in the mountains and areas close by. We also travel up and down the peninsula. Enjoy our time in Mexico very much.
(Natalie A., 66)

Well, I bought a horse 6 months ago – haven’t had one for myself for 16 years and when we became empty nesters I got right back in the saddle. I thought I was crazy but I love love it – even did a horse show and jumped around lol – kicked some 12 year old ass in the beginner ring!
(Mary Anne Payne, 56, Forever Midlife)

After years of denial, I am honoring my Art and Writing. Promoting through social media and at local stores and galleries I am doing what I love and loving what I do!
(Barbara Hammond, 65, Zero to 60 And Beyond)

I’ve realized that as I started getting older, I worried less about what others thought as each year goes by. In turn, this inspired me to try new things and not worry about how I looked to others. Starting in my 40s and beyond I’ve taken up yoga, become a yoga teacher, learned how to cross country ski, learned (and didn’t like) downhill skiing, hiked and backpacked through the White Mountains of New Hampshire and even gone alone on vacations and retreats—something I never would have done when I was younger. I’ve challenged not only my fear of heights, but my shyness along the way. Which in turn led to me starting my own blog and sharing myself with others.
(Jennifer K, 55, Unfold And Begin)

In 2015, we sold a lot of our stuff, sold our house in town, and moved north to build our house on a lakeside property with the view of our dreams. Now that we have the house built, we’re starting to build our new work life in 2016. We know what we want and how we want to live. We’re reinventing (as opposed to the inventing we did in our 20s), only now we have the wisdom of experience … and we want to believe that will make a difference.
(T.O. Weller, 51, Never Too Late to Write)

We’re Saying To Hell With Age . . .

I’m not trying to prove anything. I’m just living my life according to Glenda. For 48 years I lived shackled by others ideas and opinions of me. Living that way got me nowhere but depressed. No more. I’ve been set free.  Constantly thinking of your age is a form of imprisonment.
(Glenda Harrison, 50, So What To Twenty!)

I have taken up biking and walking to stay in shape. I also do table top gaming. Last year, I started singing at karaoke, breaking my fear of performing in front of an audience. The big thing about beating the number is getting out and doing stuff that you find challenging. There is no need to shut the door at 50.
(Jessica N., 49)

Be active; bicycle, 5Ks, Zumba, yoga, skate, cc ski, snowshoe. Travel…mostly solo now…abroad and in the US. Widowhood nor age nor expectations define me. Work part time; attend art and writing classes, live alone in a vibrant community. Have lots of men and women friends of all ages. Love spontaneity, learning and trying new things.
(Joan Stommen, 72, Gramcracker Crumbs)

We’re Gettin’ Our Fitness On . . .

I am much more fit and active now than I was in my 20s. I started running in my 30s and keep getting faster even though the odds are against me at this point. When my son went to college, my husband got me a bike and cycling has become another new passion — we are doing a 60 mile ride in August. I also love challenging myself at Orange Theory Fitness and setting that treadmill incline higher than I thought possible and fighting the fear that I will fall on my face—and winning so far. I am so much healthier and more confident than I was in my 30s. I think I’m ready to “bring it” in my 50s!
(Courtenay B., 48, Running With Perseverance)

We’re Gettin’ Our Social On . . .

Oh wow, hmmm. I often feel like a misplaced millennial. I guess the main thing is taking on social media, like Snapchat. Love connecting with others!
(Paula K., 51, Perspicacity)

We’re Gettin’ Our Freedom On . . .

In less than a month I’ll be living with one of my daughters and her husband to care for their new baby. In 3-4 years, when they no longer need me, I’m planning on moving into a Class B or Class C motorhome so I can travel. My family members and friends live more than 100 miles away from each other, so I plan on spending the rest of my life visiting everyone I love and care about. With solar panels, a composting toilet, energy efficient batteries, generator, and a propane tank, I’ll drive around with my home on my back and I’ll have the freedom to go where I want to go when I want to get there and (my grandkids find this next part funny) I’ll be able to live in everyone’s driveways and Walmart parking lots all around the country.
(Theresa Wiza, 65, Writing Creatively)

. . . And although our bodies aren’t what they used to be, we might be moving a little slower and our health poses challenges, we still have faith. And we rise to fight another day.

We’re Fighting the Good Fight . . .

I got the bad genes.  At only 53 my body is being attacked by an unknown autoimmune disease. I really miss the dance all night, grill all seasons, camouflage every summer, love no matter how much it hurts, woman that I was. I’m having a third surgery on my spine in August. I really miss the old me.
(Melissa Lawler, 53, The Kids Are Grown, Now What?)

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: midlife women are fabulous. Like the proverbial onion, peel back our layers and you’ll uncover loads of goodness.

In case you missed it, read about more phenomenal midlife women in Part 1 of Midlife Women and the Honor and Glory of Aging. And if you’re a midlife woman who wants to have her say, take the survey and be a part of the greatness…click below.