What Does “50 Is The New 40” Mean, Anyway?

What Is 50 Is The New 40?

It’s surprising how much emotion this phrase, ’50 is the new 40′, sometimes creates. Has it become a cliche? Perhaps. Is is inaccurate? Well, yes and no. When I met with Meredith Vieira and a few other 50-something gals on the Today Show recently, the theme was, “50 – Living it, Loving It’. The conclusion seemed to be that – surprise of surprises – being a 50-year old woman is kinda – awesome. A little bit scary, maybe, and the landscape is dotted with challenges, but overall rather wonderful.

For me, turning 50 was a big milestone. I didn’t even realize how big until I got there! My mother died of cancer when I was in high school at the age of 50. Within the span of a few short years, I had lost my mother, my father (who had left us anyway), and my grandfather. I was like a ship adrift. I never realized it until I closed in on my 50th birthday, but I had never been able to see past that point. For me, when I hit 50 life would be over. At least that was what I thought.

I wasn’t fearful of turning 50, it was just rather -well, a surprise! I didn’t have a party or a celebration – actually my best 50th birthday gift was the cake my boys made for me – a homemade chocolate sheet cake with 50 slash marks in the frosting! Once I cleared that hurdle, it was like a weight lifted off me.

For me, the phrase ‘fifty is the new forty’ is simply a reminder of how much further we have come from, say, my mother’s time. My milestone 50th birthday meant some freedom – to travel if I like, to go back to school, to change jobs or start a business. The possibilities are endless compared to what they used to be.

So, simply put…”50 it the new 40″ is just a phrase. That’s all. Maybe it describes you, maybe not. But in all honesty, I’m delighted that’s the case!