It’s been a joy watching our little grandson grow up. We’ve been there for many of the milestones of his young life, and if we weren’t there, we got a text. Some of those moments were captured in photos or videos that we can look at over and over again. You know, at some point in our lives we stop celebrating all those important firsts, however, they don’t stop happening. We just roll them into the fabric of our lives and move on. I think we should revisit milestones so here are some things I think we should celebrate after the age of 50.

The first time you:

• realize you don’t give a flying fig what anyone else thinks
• buy the good ice cream because the house is free of never-satiated teens who can demolish a bucket of ice cream in one sitting
• wear comfortable, but flattering and attractive, clothing and shoes to an important event because you know wearing uncomfortable clothing and shoes just because they look good is stupid
• take advantage of an age-related discount or perk. (Extra celebration points if they didn’t believe you and you had to show ID to prove you’re old enough)
• eat whatever the hell you want for dinner, not worrying about whether it’s a nutritionally balanced meal
• understand, really understand, that forgiveness isn’t for the other person, it’s for you
• accept a seat that a young person has offered
• give up doing something that you were doing because it was expected of you, but it didn’t bring you joy
• said no without explaining
• realized saying nothing was far more powerful and effective than speaking in anger or frustration
• spoke up against bigotry, ignorance or hatred because you know silence is tacit agreement
• accepted that the person’s body is just the packaging, that the person inside is the real gift (Extra celebration points if that first acceptance was of your own body)
• used something to make your life better, even though you know it aged you – reading glasses, a cane, whatever (Extra celebration points if whatever it was had sparkles or was brightly coloured)
• eschewed anti-aging skin products for healthy skin products because you’re not anti-age but you are pro- healthy
• embraced your laugh lines because it means you’ve had a happy life

Things to celebrate every time they happen:

• All the above statements
• Getting up from sitting or lying on the floor without help from anyone
• Not feeling guilty when you spend the whole day doing nothing
• Having another cookie or doughnut or piece of cake, or whatever, because you feel like it and you realize the world won’t end if you do and you can just not eat one tomorrow
• Putting someone in their place so adroitly that they don’t realize what you’ve done because you’ve honed your “dealing with assholes” skills from years of practice
• Falling asleep quickly and staying asleep for more than four hours
• Finding the perfect weight sweater that keeps you warm enough but not too warm
• Doing something new
• Getting recognition for your talents, skillls, abilities and positive attributes
• Being able to do what you want, when you want because you have both the means and the time

Of course, this list is not complete. I’m sure when I turn 60 I will be able to add to both of the categories. All of my friends are clear that things change at 50, then they change more at 60 and even more at 70. While that can seem daunting and maybe even scary, I’m looking forward to all of it. As Bette Davis once said, old age is no place for sissies; but it is a privilege not afforded to everyone. Now go out there and celebrate!