When marriages end, a lot of our friends who are still together think that we get a new beginning down a new road: A mid-life do-over.
But for us Leftat50’s, this “new beginning” starts half way down our-life-road, because we are half way through our lives. And we know it. That’s why we must get clear on what this Life-Do-Over really is.
“I don’t know about you, but I threw away my married-life-map the day I found out he was cheating.”
Unlike men who fool themselves by getting a twenty-five-year-old, and dye their hair jet black to prove to themselves that they are not nearing the end of the road, 🙈🙉🙊we women have no such illusions. Not only were we left for the young chick, but Mother nature tells us, the mirror tells us, our creaks tell us, our cholesterol tells us.
The challenge therefore, is to forge ahead within the reality of mid-life. To give ourselves and our situation the respect our shortening road deserves.
Being left, is in truth the fresh start so many people pray for at mid-life. Therein lies the profound difference between our situation and that of many others. Our “new” lives were handed to us on a rusted, run-over silver platter. We had no choice but to accept it. So accept it we did. We packed it in our overstuffed bags and knew we had to figure out a way to carry it over that life-bump on the road we now travel.
We can’t let that life-bump trip us up.Sometimes, it’s exhausting, I know. But there is no turning back for us. There is nothing left. Peak back over to the road you’ve come from. Lots of potholes and wrong turns. I don’t know about you, but I threw away my married-life-map the day I found out he was cheating. I knew there was no returning to what I thought was our shared path.
It’s sad to think about. And it’s scary to move on. 😱The only thing that makes it not so scary is the knowledge that I am older, wiser, and less inclined to take a wrong turn, or to follow someone else’s. I know what the right road feels like. That’s one of the perks of midlife.
As I travel on, I am exploring where I may to choose to stop and draw my border lines. Where I want to say this is mine. My home. The forever place. I’m not there yet. Are you? If not, it’s okay. The gift of all of this is we have a few more miles to go. Let’s make the best of them.🙌
We all go through major life transitions when relationships end… Through this website, I will share my thoughts as I walk the path of “New-Self” discovery. It doesn’t matter which side of 50 you are on. The real question is, Are you ready to live life? To forge a Path of Your Own Making (For a change!)? Then stop dwelling over the What-Might-Have-Beens and join me. Share your thoughts here, comment on mine, and let’s do this together!