Are Your 50s a Dream or a Struggle?

You know, it's the beginning of the '50s, been good. And I wonder if this is true for most people, that as you get older, in general, does life, the decade get less tumultuous? I don't know.

I wonder. I recently had dinner with a bunch of friends from high school, girls that I don't generally get to see. They're really more like friends of friends kind of a thing, all women.

And I was like, "So '50s, what do you guys think?

You loving it or is it kicking your ass?" And half of us were loving it and half of us it was kicking our ass. Interesting. So the ones who were loving it are not yet in a position where they're taking care of elderly parents, or their parents may have both passed, or they are still independent and living well on their own, and health for themselves is still quality, and children settled or doing well. Those were like the 3 big factors.

And so let me just do the other side, the people that were not enjoying the 50s, as their own health is degrading?

Yeah, or they had health challenges that they're overcoming, basically. Okay. One friend had elderly aunts that she was caring for. And not necessarily even in her own home, it's just part of your energy expenditure daily, even if it's just, you know, mentally and emotionally, gotta check on Aunt Eileen, how's she doing, da da da da, you know, that kind of thing. I guess that's where the energy pulls are. And that's the difference for people.

That's a great point. To me, just the 20s were more tumultuous. It felt more like a roller coaster. Now it's kind of longer slides. Longer slides. And what I try to do is when you're on the up part of the roller coaster ride is try to really enjoy the views. And if you can, Tell the operator, slow it down.

Don't make any moves. And when I go down, let's go fast and get it over with.

You know, I want to go back up.