I turned 50 in November 2012, but I started thinking about what it meant to be that age in January of that year. The milestone birthdays of 30 and 40 came and went and I did not think much about them, but turning 50 truly meant that I had likely lived more years than I had left to live. So, at the beginning of 2012, when I thought about my resolutions, I took a different approach.

As I was writing down my resolutions for 2012, I really thought about some of the goals I had on my list for several years that were not accomplished; it was then I realized that I was trying to accomplish some goals that I really did not care about. Two examples were dressing more fashionably (including accessorizing) and wearing makeup.

Here’s what I decided back then: I really don’t care about being a fashionista; I just want to wear nice, comfortable clothes that flatter my figure. I don’t care about accessorizing…I will accessorize when dressed for special occasions, but in my every day wear, my modest earrings, shoes and handbag will do fine. About makeup, well I will probably never be the woman who puts on a full face of makeup before leaving home, but at this age, I think my eyes look a little tired without some help, so I will try to define my eyebrows and wear mascara to give my eyes a lift, and I will also add a lipstick to complete the look. For now, unless it is for a special occasion, I will pass on everything else in the makeup category.

Fast forward, now that I am planning for 2015, I am much better at defining my goals and making sure that they are really meaningful to me. I also enlist my project management skills (I am a certified project manager) to help me get to my goals, and now I can look forward to checking things off my list because I have either accomplished them or have incorporated them into my life.

All the best for 2015!

My hope it that this blog will help you age healthfully and gracefully. Our bodies are amazing and have gotten us this far. I’ve heard that 50, even 60, is the new 40 and that “black don’t crack”, but to me, the biological age doesn’t lie (even if it is not as evident is our appearance). Even though I feel great and most might think I take good care of myself, after turning 50, I stopped to notice some changes in everything about me. So, I decided to check in with 20 black women I know personally who are 50+ on how they were feeling about their current state.

I asked these women to complete a survey on their physical, mental, and spiritual health and below is a summary of the feedback that I got. The information I received from these women will help me as I develop this blog and provide you with suggestions that you can use to age youthfully.

Survey Summary:

• All seem satisfied with the way they are aging and are pleased with their overall appearance
• Though some have health concerns, they manage stress well and most are happy with their lives
• Most try to maintain good health by watching their nutritional intake, participating in exercise and maintaining a spiritual connection
• Dark circles around the eyes and sagging skin are primary face concerns
• Weight gain, particularly in the abdomen, is the primary body concern
• Most have not been to a Dermatologist or Cosmetic Surgeon to address any aging concerns
• All are excited about this blog and are looking forward to the suggestions I will provide

Stay Tuned!