51: Beyond the half-century mark – A look back and a leap forward

Well, here I am! Another year has rushed by, and today I find myself turning 51. It feels like just yesterday I was celebrating my entry into the quinquagenarian zone when I reset my running goals and embarked upon homeownership once again.

The last year has been amazing. Yes, lonely more often than I would have liked and a lot more stress than is probably healthy. But when I look at all the happy and positive things over the last 365 days, I can’t complain; I’ve lived a good life this year.

• I bought a new house and hosted a lovely housewarming party.
• I hosted several sets of guests and threw a couple of fun dinner parties.
• I travelled to the Homeland twice and even enjoyed a little excursion to Washington, DC with a friend.
• I became a UK citizen and applied for my first British passport and my provisional driving licence.
• I’ve had successes at work, and I’ve made progress on my goals and my dreams in my personal life.

Yes, I’ve had many wonderful experiences, and I can only hope that 51 is just as positive as 50. Of course, 51 isn’t a milestone that gets the same fanfare as 40 or 50. But in many ways, it feels even more significant. It’s the year after The Big One, the year where you settle into the (supposed) wisdom and experiences of a woman of a certain age. For me, 50 was a little exciting and filled with hope, and now I hope that 51 is a year of momentum.

I want 51 to be the year I get that driving licence. I want it to be the year I see great progress made at Castle Ryan as I work to turn it into a home of my own. I want this to be a year of continued professional success and ongoing personal improvement.

I would also like 51 to be the year that I meet someone new to share my life with; a partner to share adventures with and to plan the future with. But after nearly 16 years of widowhood, and no success in finding someone new so far, I know that this is only a dream. But I remain open to the idea of a second chance at love, and that’s the first step!

So, here’s to 51. Here’s to continuing the joys of being a lifelong learner, to self-reflection and ongoing self-improvement, here’s to embracing every moment with open arms, and here’s to hope!

Thank you, Dear Reader, for being part of this journey so far!