Are there any secrets to enjoying life after 50?

onlyroz

50 is not old. Seriously.

theoretica

Could you suggest your mother just stops dying her hair and goes all grey? Less bother, and no roots.

I think caring for their health is a key issue (or caring for each others, which might be easier to motivate) as it might help with energy and sense of wellbeing.

silvercar

My mother and mother-in-law are both in their 70s and you wouldn't see a grey hair on either of them! That's why hair dye was invented!

Certain advantages in being in my early 50s, kids virtually independent, no more school runs/ taxi service, more freedom to take holidays in term time. In fact, we can take holidays by ourselves. Last minute plans without having to worry about babysitters etc.

LilElvis

Torry_Quine wrote: »

A war weekend! They were born in the 60s, well after the war.

The husband was born in '58 and is 58. He was an original punk and still listens to the Ramones and The Clash. Can't really see him jumping around to Glen Miller, though it would be funny :rotfl:

ThinkingOutLoud_2

Hmm so lots of sense above.

I think there is some truth that sometimes in life we can all lose our way or lack goals we can touch.

If retirement is along way off and they have no other focus - then drifting along as you describe seems probable, if not inevitable. If you were their focus for a long time and maybe they need to replace you (not literally).

Ask them what they want to do when they retire. With luck there will be no reason they can't do some of that now: be it walk, learn to play golf, read more or whatever.

If they don't know, what are they worried about others retiring....

There are some good resources for the over-fifties online. Maybe you could use these to find things you think might fit them or even get them to look.

As to grey hair - it happens. You don't have to dye! George Clooney and Helen Mirren look OK. right?

And in the end, you can try to guide and suggest, but it up to them to drive themselves. Don't bring yourself down - show then the way is to have a focus.

Newly_retired

Good grief, in their fifties! They could have another 40 years ahead of them, if they are healthy. Or maybe not. If my children had started telling me how to live my life when I was 50, I would not have wanted to know.

trailingspouse

I'm 56. It's likely that all sorts of things are going on in their minds.

- the realisation that they're not as young as they used to be, that they probably have less time left than they've lived so far
- for your mother, coming to terms with the end of her reproductive life, and the hormonal havoc that can wreak.
- regrets that they haven't done some of the things that they wanted to do (including work-related things) but that now it may be too late to do them.
- having to accept that the 'kids' are no longer kids
- coming to terms with ageing parents or the loss of parents.
etc etc etc

What you're able to do about it, I don't know. Maybe they need to sort it out for themselves, maybe they need a bit of help. What did they use to enjoy?

Personally, I needed to work through my angst on my own. I hit 50 feeling good about myself, then spent 2-3 years unsure about the point of anything. Now, I'm back on an even keel and life is good. Oh - and I went blond. The roots don't show through nearly as badly...

Tiddlywinks

I'm in my 5th decade - it's not old.

Next month I'm off to follow Black Sabbath around on their final tour.... because I can.... and I can't wait.

I'll be one of the youngsters there no doubt - I mean Ozzy's 68 and the group first started out in the late 60s and got famous in the 70s.

How can 50 be old when a 68yo can do this:

Ozzy Link

Food for thought:

Daniel Craig is 48
Madonna is 58
George Clooney is 55

Sir Ranulph Fiennes is planning his next trip to the Antarctic... aged 72

etc, etc, etc

gettingtheresometime

Am I the only nearly 50 year old who is looking forward to the menopause ?

Once I've hit the menopause I can enjoy relations without worrying if im going to get pregnant!

Hoping - no make that wanting - son to !!!!!! off to a place of his own......

I may have 1 day left on this planet I may have many many more but I'm going to make use if the time I have to the fullest - if I get the chance to go to way off places just hand me my passport.

Only thing that makes me feel old is the fact I can't drink as much as I could in my younger days or the hangover last ps for longer!

meer53

I'm 59, work full time, love my job, love walking, shopping, eating out, meeting friends for a drink, swimming, shopping with my teenage daughter, going on holiday etc. All normal things, i even went paragliding last year ! To be honest, it's really easy to sit in the house in your PJ's, watching rubbish on TV and not going anywhere but my view is, every day you do that is a wasted day.

It must be frustrating for the OP to see their parents like this but they have to find the motivation to want to do something for themselves, the OP could try to help, maybe suggest a day out together somewhere they like or even just a regular trip to the pub for a meal ?

I can't wait to retire, i have another 6 years to go but i look on it as a new phase in my life, not something to dread.