Finding Your Passion After 50

By Susan “Honey” Good

I believe in the power of finding your passion after 50. A passionate woman lives life to her fullest. She is curious and lives outside the box. She is open to change. Her life is filled with abundance. She is able to find her passion after 50 because she has learned to be passionate about self-care, the ability to think about her needs. Passion creates energy.

I am a woman with many passions. At the top of my list of passions, as a woman after 50, is the physical world and self-care. These two passions have led me to develop other passions I never imagined possible.

My physical world is the combination of the Sea, Sun, Moon, and Stars, trees, flowers, plants, and landscapes. Nature in all forms brings clarity and calmness into my life. There are many times I prefer nature’s language to the human tongue. The sounds of the Sea and the movement of the Aspen leaves speak to me as well as the beauty of sunrises and sunsets and twinkling stars and the man in the moon and the lovely scent of flowers… each bringing a sense of peace and clarity into my busy schedule. What I find most valuable about the physical world is that it awakens strong emotions and solid thinking without the spoken word. Nature in her wondrous way speaks volumes to me as I observe in wonderment her beauty. I have found many of my answers in the stillness of our friendship.

Self-care is essential!

I am passionate about self-care. Self-care has become a late-in-life passion. I have learned it is never too late to incorporate a new philosophy into one’s life. It is unfortunate that women fifty and older were taught as little girls to be caregivers and to be seen and not heard. Many of us were blind to the importance of taking note of ‘our’ needs and desires. Without self-care, I would not be able to create.

As young women, most of us felt it was selfish to think of ourselves first. And, as older women many of us still feel guilt-ridden about saying ‘no,’ so we say ‘yes’ when we really want to say and even scream, ‘no, no, no!’ The key to finding your passion after 50 is that you must be true to you and what you need.

So, my darlings, consider the you in you. Love yourself. It is not a selfish act. You will be happy nurturing your physical needs and thoughts. You will find happiness and contentment. This attitude change creates positive energy that will be noticed and respected. You will be able to teach your grands by your example. You will find your passion after 50.

What is passion?

I would define passion as an intense desire or enthusiasm that gives off positive energy. Passion arouses energetic feelings of excitement and joy.

Think about your personal lifestyle. Do you have a passion that is lying dormant?

As women over 50, it is your time to find new creative opportunities. I know from your messages that many of you want to experience just as much passion in the second act of your life as you had in the first half.

I can attest, you can.

Therefore, It is time you invest in the form of self-care. Darlings, find your right path. It may be an untested new endeavor that arouses a passion, or you may want to reinvigorate a love from the past. My neighbor, a retired attorney, took up photography. It is a new found passion, and his photographs are amazing. I believe a part of passion is in the search. So go searching, darlings.

I realize many women over 50 are floundering. They are bored. Many are alone. Many are not alone but know they are in a rut. They are feeling sorry for themselves. They feel invisible.

I have sympathy for those of you who are reading my musings and can relate. I know it takes energy to figure out your path. We all have hidden passions. Firstly, remember, self-care. All personal journeys begin with taking stock of, the you in you.

My passionate feelings for nature and self-care lead me to joy. It took time — and practice — to realize that it is not selfish to think of my needs first. This self-respect and self-love have allowed other passions to develop that I dare say would never have blossomed. Life after 50 can be a joyful adventure; it’s up to us to bloom where we are planted. Together now…let’s grow!

Susan “Honey” Good is the founder of HoneyGood.com where this blog originally appeared. The site is a collection of lessons learned, life advice and insights from not only her, but from a fantastic group of contributing writers, each adding their own spice to the recipe. Honey Good.com representing “a family tree of women” — wives, mothers, daughters, granddaughters, mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law, sisters, aunts, cousins and girlfriends — coming together to talk about what makes them tick as well as what they have in common. Honey Good discusses life experiences with wisdom, humor and intellect, enabling all to attain a “Honey Good Style of Life.”