Hi everyone, a question for you
What's the best thing about being 50 and over? I'd love to hear your views:)
@Lucy2
The most beautiful thing about reaching the half century benchmark is that I know so much more aboyt myself and the icing on the cake is that I love her fiercly!!!! Every wrinkle, every roll, every scar, every grey hair is a testimony of my ability to overcome. My smile tells my story. My eyes have seen the light. I may not be living my best life right now, but I am on my way. When I grow up, I know what I wanna be. 
Oh wow! @JolivetteListens
How lovely is that? I so wish I coujld say that, I'm sure it helps enormously when we finally love who we are for what we are, thank you so much.
Lucy2
@lucy2
Yes Lucy, agreed!!
@JolivetteListens
Awwww 
That's simply...amazing!! Thanks for your words, I like them!
@JolivetteListens
What a positive attitude! 
@amiablePeace77
It really is and what a refreshing change! Love it.
@amiablePeace77
@lucy2
@JolivetteListens I love your post. I am almost 50 and i ha e kearned alot about myself
@comfortableRiver97 isn
@JolivetteListens i find out the older I get the less I know and it becomes very uncomfortable at times. But I like being my age and I am glad to be alive and celebrating life even when it has it's down times.
One of the best things we can do after having passed the 50s (sometimes before too)
PUT A BIG SMILE ON OUR FACES and laugh about all the "stupid" mistakes we made,
because WE ARE AWESOME 
- LET's SMILE TODAY
Picking up on your post @amiablePeace77
How about we have a dedicated 'Smile to all you meet' day? Can we choose a day? all welcome to pick a day.
Lucy2 :-)
@Laura
@Monbon
@lucy2
I love that idea, what about on a Monday to start the week with smiles 
@amiablePeace77
Nice idea!
Yes, great idea @amiablePeace77 :-)
So folks, Monday starts our 'Smile to everyone you meet' and make someone happy! Please let us know in the forum, how many smiles were returned :-)
@Lucy2
@lucy2
Lucy, that's a flipping awesome way to spread kindness and happiness! Looking forward to Monday
Time to everyone! It's the beginning of a smiley week!
Lucy2
@1Marg1 @amiablePeace77 @AmusingJet302@BeyondTheInvisible @DanaMH @dapperdime @empathicForest15 @FlowerLily23 @GuardianAngel77 @GusteeMoon123 @inventivehouse2965 @JolivetteListens @Lauren63 @Lucy2 @Nova101 @pamharley003 @quietSail6485 @richyShiny39 @sincereHemlock2665 @SoulfullyAButterfly @soulsings @Tom444 @Tyedyedbutterfly
@amiablePeace77
So very true!
Hi @amiablePeace77 thank you :-)
You know, it's true that if you smile at someone they will more often than not smile back, we just have to make the effort, so from now on
I will remember my own words and :-)
@Lucy2
@lucy2
Lucy, it's always worth the effort, a smile does not cost anything. I believe most people get "triggered" by a smile and will return it either openly so that we can see or try to surpress it but somehow smile a little inside - still a smile :)
Absolutely @amiablePeace77 :-) Just thinking about that little smile inside...hmm I know that feeling :-)
Lucy2
@amiablePeace77 I like the smiling part! I have been trying not to judge those past decisions because they led me to here and I would not want to be anywhere else.
@soulsings
nice way to see it.
@amiablePeace77 thank you
Nice thing about being over 50-discounts at restaurants
@mutter3
LOL @mutter3 !!
Did not know there are discounts at restaurants based on someone's age!
Wish you to enjoy the meals then! Cheers!!
@BeyondTheInvisible
No really??? my goodness, at last a bonus for maturing yey!
Lucy2
@lucy2
LOL
@mutter3 yes I like that for sure! Works at the Chinese Buffet.
@soulsings You mean you've had my very favourite Chinese food at a reduced price? that's so unfair, I'm moving to USA 
Lucy2
Being over 50 really doesnt mean anything to me because i dont feel 52 soon to be 53 lol my mind doesnt work in numbers maybe it should lol but I just love being me and my wild imagination , my laughter and my tears also my son . I am not healthy mentally or physically and may never be but that is okay I am not one who says I AM SO BORED.. I just never feel Bored my mind never stops and thats okay!!!
Sure I would love to be the old me back in my 20s!! and know what I know now back then.
@Tyedyedbutterfly65 I hear you. I do not feel old either.
@soulsings Good !!! we dont have too be now do we !!! yay us!
@Tyedyedbutterfly65 there is a saying you are only as old as you feel. I am feeling pretty good tonight !
@soulsings I will never grow up I refuse too lol I want to be like a kid in my head and enjoy it while i can for as long as I can and for me everyday I stay away from scary depressing movies and tv shows I will stick with Disney and Pixar movies and funny movies.. I may look old but my heart and soul also my mind are young !! :)
@Tyedyedbutterfly65 yes what we envision ourselves to be has a big influence on how we are. We become what we imagine ourselves to be.
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
Hi butterfly, you seem to take life with love, that is what I sense from your words and that it amaaaaaaazing despite of all you face.
@amiablePeace77 Thank you for your reply and yes I do love I really do and sometimes that can not be a good thing maybe I am not really sure I just know that I would rather Love then Hate or set and dwell on things I am unable too do because of my mental and physical health. Life Happens right lol :)
We have choices and for me I choose or be wild, wacky and forgiving. I am so far from perfect but I am cool with that lol
I think so many here are just amazing people also like the ones commenting on my post!!! YOU GOTTA BE COOL TO RRPLY TO MINE LOL!!!
Peace,
TDB :)
What's the BEST thing about being 50, or over?
Well, I still get to be as young as I feel, and I'm relatively still healthy enough to enjoy my life. Only now, I've lived long enough to stand my ground, and say, NO, I don't have to make myself miserable on anyone else's account.
I can choose to do what makes me happy, and put my foot down at what doesn't. Because I'm wise enough to know that those who will judge me, don't matter much.
I'm gonna be such a happy but stubborn old lady. I can see it now...LOL!
@wittyNest2941
That's a great way to think and act and I bet you are happier for it
Lucy2
@lucy2
Thanks and, yes, it does help me keep perspective.
I'm still gonna be that old lady yelling "get off my lawn!" from her porch...lol 😎
@wittyNest2941 okay I won't walk on your lawn LOL
@soulsings
Thank you, youngster! You can smell the flowers in my garden! 👵😉🌷🌼🌻🌸🌺
@lucy2
hi @AnnaTope welcome to 50plus forum.
Hi there @AnnaTope
Come join us
Lucy2
If I said what I really feel, it would be deleted! Discounts. You get discounts when you are over 50!
You get discounts @Lauren632
Where? I have never had discounts in UK 
Lucy
At my age I have seen alot been through alot also. I spent my younger years living on a Farm with no runnung water, no inside plumbing that we could use due to no running water so I would carry one 5 gallon bucket in one hand and another 5 gallon bucket in the other go down the hill to the spring carry it back up to the house and use the water for the wringer washer and the rinse tub then have to carry water again to heat up and use for doing dishes and rinsing them then carry more to wash myself for school also carrying water for my Grandparents next door... shewwwwwwwww... I was one strong chick back then lol... YES the Beloved Outhouse was over by Grannys house so that is what we used.. :) and no toilet paper we had to use the sears and roebuck catalog to wipe with.. I also used the pages for paper dolls.
I also had to cut and carry wood for us and for my grandparents, feed the animals, work in the garden , chase cows, cook what i wanted too eat , do my homework and get a report card and signed it myself lol . WHICH WAS GOOD LOL.. :) But really not good.
I would get on my bike load up my doll house on the back and strap it down on the luggage rack and ride over 3 big hills and go stay with my best friends along with me were Farrah Fawcett, Six Million Dollar Man, Donnie and Marie lol they lived in my Tuesday Taylor Penthouse from the 70s...
I would NOT go back to those days for anything lol but I will say I learned alot and worked alot and appreciate what I did have which wasnt alot but I am thankful. I did have fun really I did but also some really bad years.
I am Blessed and Thankful and so very Grateful I am alove One Year ago on August 4th I had Brain Surgery to remove a brain tumor I am so lucky to be alive today and I am better then I was but still have some rough days but what I did was after we moved Ughh and I lost my Furbaby and then my Dad all in less then a Year I thought okay i need to cheer myself up and find the old funny me so I thought i am gonna get some wigs lol and I did over 30 of them because of my hair being gone , I had really long dark hair so the new me had None... lol so I got the wigs of all colors and lengths and Love them!!!! I even got sunglasses and crazy glasses and learn to start using make up again... I took photos of myself and put them on my soclal media and INSTANT CRAZINESS lol People were saying I like that and I love this one and I dont like that one and you are so funny and we are enjoying what you are doing so I did alot lol and I still do so when you see my photos on here thats me in a Wig!! :)
Okay just a part of my Fab 50 Years and More to come!! woot woot!! :)
Thanks for your post @Tyedyedbutterfly65
My you've been through it but hey, you're here, you're well and you've beaten it! and having a very positive life too, take good care of yourself.
Lucy2
@lucy2 Thanks Lucy, We all have our own Life Stories right :) thats what makes us special and unique!!
@Tyedyedbutterfly65 oh that is a touching story. You had a really rugged youth. Sorry for the loss of dad and your furbaby. That sounds rough but you are finding new ways to get back into living. Good for you.
@soulsings Thank you Soul for your reply and yes I have picked myself back up best I can because I believe I am so used too it . I have too for myself, my son and my Hubby . I am also a firm believer in God and I want him to see me at least working on msyelf.
:)
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
nothing could stop you not even the biggest storm - my respect for your courage, strong will and motivation. You surely had a hard time.
@amiablePeace77 Thank you so much I appreciate all you said !! I do love life even in the darkest times , There is a light at the end of the tunnerl for me !! Heaven Bound :)
Being free of living with a mother that didnt love her children. I will always be grateful for my decision to move out at an early age. Now my mother has dementia and Im able to deal with her as a human being, no longer as a mother-daughter relationship. I know this is kind of heavy for this question, but its the most important difference for me being this age. Very liberating. 
Hi @Zengrl
No, not heavy at all.I imagine it must have been pretty difficult for you, but I'm so pleased you are now able to look at this painful situation in a new light and I wish you all thr very best {{{hugs}}}
Lucy2
@lucy2 ty so much and everyone
@Zengrl
Thank you, lots of threads for you to discuss this, always welcome here.
Lucy2
You had to do what you had too for you!! Sometimes our Parents just do not know how to be parents so we do have to decide what it is that we can do that will help us..
My parents did the best they could but I ended up being the parent and I will say it wore me out over the entire span of my life I ended up living my life and then being there for them through some of the craziest times ever and some very scary times , they made me grow up faster than I should have had too but I learned alot and it made me a better Parent to my son. I know they loved me by saying they did and buying me things but they hurt me so many times by their actions like drinking, drugs and staying gone for days and me getting shuffled around . Mom left one day when we were at school came home to an empty trailer she didnt say goodbye didnt see her for a year then dad went on drinking my brother went on to drugs and drinking at age 10 ...
I still loved them and did all I could for them and if they were still alive today I would do it again but it took a toll on my own Health so we do have to choose too do what we need to do and you did that !!!
We have a life story and it sure can be one bumpy ride !
You are strong!!
Forgiving them is the thing that helped me.
Take care of you!! You matter!
@Tyedyedbutterfly65
I am so proud of you and your reply!
Your life will resonate with so many who have had similar life experiences and come through it {{{hugs}}}
Lucy2
@lucy2 Thank you Lucy, I hope it does help others. :) Life is really not so easy but we are never alone .
@Tyedyedbutterfly65 ty for your story. These are the things that dont really come up with friends at dinner. 
You are so right about the forgiving. Anyway nice to meet you in this space.
@lucy2 I want to meet others who have been diagnosed with an incurable serious mental health illness, yet they have acquired enough safe copying skills that they rarely fall into the categories of crisis. In many cases the book has not been written for people who have acomplished this, yet, they are able to blend in with other people, but at any moment they can relapse, and practicing safe copying skills does not mean they do not live with a serious mental illness. Anybody else feels this way?
@Help0ver5OAnxietyorManicBiPolar I think that we all have challenges we face and are trying to cope the best we can. Coping is one of the reasons we are here.
@Help0ver5OAnxietyorManicBiPolar
Being stable puts a tremendous amount of pressure on to remain stable. I find coping skills change as I age