7 Things I Learned While Living That Golden Girl Life in My 50s

Earlier this year, I celebrated my 60th birthday, but instead of bemoaning the number, I found myself reflecting on the decade that led me here with joy and gratitude. My 50s were filled with bountiful blessings, unexpected challenges, professional and personal struggles, and more than a few surprises. But through it all, I can clearly see God’s faithfulness at every turn, even during seasons when I couldn’t understand what He was doing. Needless to say, I learned many valuable lessons along the way that continue to influence how I live, how I think, and how I approach each new day. However, out of them all, seven really resonated with me, and I figured they might for you as well. So, whether you’re in your 30s, 40s, 50s, or beyond, these could be for you.

1. You Only Live Once, So Live Intentionally

Years ago, the phrase “YOLO” (i.e., You Only Live Once) could be heard almost everywhere. Of course, mostly younger people were saying it as they explained why they were taking spontaneous and ridiculously expensive trips, buying luxury cars, or doing something wildly adventurous. Well, while I certainly enjoy trips, cars, and adventure, the phrase has taken on a deeper meaning for me now that I am 60! 😲 It is not just about things.

I say this because life has a way of reminding us that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. In fact, I’ve lost a few friends much sooner than anyone expected, including some who never even reached 30 or 40. Experiences like those have a way of changing your perspective. They remind you that life is way too short and too precious to postpone your dreams, ignore your purpose, or spend years becoming someone you never wanted to be.

As a result, I’ve become much more intentional about the choices I make. Whether it’s pursuing a new opportunity, traveling to places I’ve always wanted to visit, investing in my health and mental well-being, or creating the That Golden Girl Life platform, I act. I advocate for myself. And instead of hesitating or procrastinating, I try to make decisions that reflect the life I want to live, not the life others expect me to live.

For me, living intentionally also means becoming the woman God created me to be. I would hate to reach the end of my life and wonder what might have happened if I had taken the chance, trusted Him more, or stepped outside of my comfort zone. I would rather take the shot, pursue the dream, and leave this world knowing I made the most of the life I was given. Nothing left on the table. That’s what “You Only Live Once” means to me.

2. Let Your Light Shine ✨

There was a time when I cared far too much about what other people thought of me. Like many women, I wanted to fit in, to be accepted, and to avoid making anyone uncomfortable. But by my 50s, I finally realized that trying to shrink into a more likeable version of myself just to make other people comfortable isn’t healthy for me, and it isn’t what God wants for me. In fact Matthew 5:16 says, “… let your light shine before others…”

For years, I worried that people thought I was too bubbly, too ambitious, or simply too much. I wanted to be liked. I craved acceptance. So, at times, I would shrink or dim my light to make those around me comfortable. But somewhere along the way, I stopped caring whether people liked or approved of me. Instead, I became much more concerned with what God thought, and I focused on becoming the woman He created me to be.

That shift changed everything.

As a result, I am now comfortable in my own skin as I encourage people, share my faith, travel, wear what makes me feel beautiful, document my natural hair journey, pursue dreams that some people think are unrealistic, and continue to make my mark in the IT space as a technical writer. I know everyone won’t get or like me, but that’s okay. They don’t have to. 😂 As long as I have God and my family behind me, I’m good!

That is what letting your light shine means to me. It means living authentically, being who God made me to be. And if letting my light shine encourages someone else to shine a little brighter, then mission accomplished. 😊

3. Enjoy Your Life

For years, I was so focused on doing what needed to be done at home (e.g., cooking, cleaning, etc.) and at work that I rarely stopped to ask: What do I actually enjoy doing? Life can get so doggone busy. 🤦🏽‍♀️ But somewhere along the way, I realized that life wasn’t meant to just be endured. It was meant to be lived well and enjoyed.

Over the years, I’ve discovered that enjoying life doesn’t have to be expensive or extravagant. Some of my favorite moments have been sitting with a good book and sipping ice-cold water, taking a long walk, planning a trip, hunting for incredible bargains at TJ Maxx and Ross 😂, spending quality time with the people I love, or encouraging women. Those moments may seem ordinary, but they bring so much joy and purpose to my life.

I’ve also learned that enjoying life isn’t something you postpone until life is less busy, until retirement, until your children are grown, or until everything is perfect. There will always be something else competing for your attention. If you don’t intentionally make room for what you enjoy, the cares of this life will keep you from it.

At 60, I no longer feel guilty about enjoying the life God has given me. It is a gift to be enjoyed. That’s why I make time to read the book, take the trip, try something new, and appreciate the little, fun things. Those moments aren’t distractions from life. They are all part of a life well lived. That is what enjoying life means to me. It isn’t about avoiding or neglecting my responsibilities. It is about finding a healthy work-life balance. 😊

4. Keep Your Mind Sharp

There was a time when I thought learning mostly happened in school, college or seminars, and it was usually something to help you earn a living. That is not necessarily true as learning is more than just a tool to help you earn a living or advance in your career. It is also the vehicle you use to help exercise your God-given gifts to bless the world. You do this by staying curious and trying new things, which keeps your mind sharp. Every new skill, every good book, every meaningful conversation, and every new experience stretches your mind in ways you don’t always notice right away. It also can lead to you coming up with ways to make the lives of others better. This is how I have written books, developed websites, and even created this blog. I try new things.

Just because you leave school, finish earning degrees or complete required training at work, learning never stops. There will always be another reason to learn something new. In many ways, I think it’s even more important now than it was when I was younger. Every time I learn something new, I become a little more confident, more creative, a little sharper, and better equipped to use the gifts God has given me to help others.

That willingness to keep learning has opened doors I could have never imagined. It gave me the confidence to transition from systems analysis to software engineering, then into business analysis, management, and eventually technical writing. Along the way, it also gave me the courage to write two books, build my own websites, create this blog, and more recently to even use AI to help me build the That Golden Girl Life platform. Every one of those things required me to step outside my comfort zone, but each of them helped me grow.

At 60, I’m still learning. I read books, ask questions, enjoy conversations with people of all ages, especially young ones like the thirtysomething who encouraged me to change my LinkedIn profile to Senior Technical Writer and the millennial sons who got me to finally start using ChatGPT. 😂 So, I challenge myself to try new things, which has paid off. Every new skill, every fresh perspective, and every new experience helps keep my mind active and reminds me that growth doesn’t stop with age. That is what keeping my mind sharp means to me. It isn’t about collecting degrees, getting certifications, or trying to impress people. It is about continuing to grow and using the gifts God has given me, which means age will never become an excuse to stop learning. 😊

5. You Can Always Do Something

There comes a time in life when you realize you may not be able to do everything you once could. Sometimes it’s because of age. Sometimes it’s because of an injury, illness, finances, or a new season of life. Whatever the reason, life has a way of forcing us to adapt. For me, one of those moments came after my 2023 knee surgery. There were exercises I loved that I simply couldn’t do anymore based on my surgeon’s recommendation. He wanted me to do low-impact exercises only. I literally cried when he said he didn’t want me to run anymore. 😭 But then I realized something important… Just because I couldn’t do everything I used to do didn’t mean I couldn’t do anything. I just had to stop focusing on what I couldn’t do and start focusing on what I still could do.

That lesson has stayed with me ever since. I may not be able to run anymore, but I can still ride my recumbent bike, walk on the treadmill, strength train, do Pilates, and stay active in other ways. So, instead of dwelling on what I lost, I chose to appreciate what I still have. That simple shift in mindset has made all the difference.

On my journey, I’ve discovered that this principle extends far beyond fitness. Life doesn’t always go according to plan. Sometimes a door closes, a dream changes, or a season ends. When that happens, it’s easy to focus on what’s no longer possible. But I’ve learned to ask myself: What can I still do? Almost always, the answer is “something.” So, I spend some time in prayer until I can think of some thing that I can do. Then, I do it.

That is what this lesson means to me. We may not always be able to do what we’ve always done, but we can always do something as I heard Joyce Meyer say. Sometimes it’s simply taking the next step that’s in front of you. But as long as you keep moving and don’t give up, you’re still making progress. And that’s enough. 😊

6. Your Face Isn’t the Only Skin That Ages

For years, I was diligent about taking care of my face, but I gave very little thought to the rest of my skin. Like many women, I invested in facial cleansers, serums, moisturizers, and sunscreen while barely noticing my neck, chest, hands, arms, and legs. It wasn’t until my 50s that I realized my face wasn’t the only thing aging. 🤦🏽‍♀️

I still remember leaning toward the camera one day while I was making a video. That’s when I noticed a certain crepiness on my neck. 😲 The shock of it all! I had been so focused on taking care of my face that I had overlooked everything else. Soon after that, I saw a lady that was a similar age as me, and she had wrinkles on her décolletage. 😲 That did it! I finally realized I had to stop treating skin care as if it ended at my jawline.

Because it doesn’t, I moisturize my neck, chest, arms, hands, and legs now almost as consistently as I do for my face. 😄 We can’t stop the aging process, but we can do the best we can to take good care of the skin we were given. See my 10 Lifestyle Habits and Mindsets That Help Me Stay Youthful at 60 blog for my actual skin care regimen. Years from now, your neck, hands, and chest may tell the story of how well you cared for them.

The lesson I took away is that taking care of your skin isn’t about chasing perfection or trying to look twenty-five forever. It’s about being a good steward over what God has given you, not just the part everyone sees.

7. Prioritize Rest

There was a time when I thought the more I accomplished in a day, the better. Like many working moms, I often stayed up later than I should have because there was always one more thing to do. Sometimes I was trying to get ahead on household chores or just finding time to spend with my husband and kids. Other times I was working on a book or trying to stay ahead of the demands of being a manager and a business analyst. Many nights, that meant answering emails until 2:00 a.m. I was also developing a line of hair care products, as well as chasing other dreams after everyone else went to bed. 😰 I wasn’t trying to avoid sleep. I was simply trying to get ahead of a never-ending to-do list. I couldn’t keep up. I actually wound up developing heart palpitations as I became anemic and sleep deprived because I was only getting four hours of sleep each night.

That season of my life forced me to ask myself what really mattered. My weight was creeping, I was always rushing, my husband had started calling my laptop “my boyfriend,” and our four year-old hated his school. 🤦🏽‍♀️

Something had to change. So I asked my husband one of the biggest questions I’d ever asked him. “What if we sold the home he built on the acre lot and moved back to our old townhouse so I could volunteer for a layoff and stay home with the boys for a while?” He said yes. Looking back, it was the best decision we ever made.

During those three years, I finally got the rest I desperately needed. I got my weight under control, and I never had heart palpitations again. We moved our youngest son to a school he loved, and I had the privilege of teaching him to read. Both sons learned to swim, and we spent countless hours together as a family. My husband even stopped calling my laptop “my boyfriend.” 😄 That four-year-old is a grown man now, and he is better off because his mother finally took her butt to bed. He is also the one who got me to try ChatGPT. 😂

That season taught me that there will always be more work to do, more dreams to chase, and more goals to accomplish. But if you sacrifice your health, your family, or your peace and mental well-being to achieve them, the cost is way too high. Rest isn’t a luxury. It really is one of the wisest investments you’ll ever make. 😊

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it. These are seven of the biggest lessons I learned while living That Golden Girl Life in my 50s. I’m sure I’ll learn many more in my 60s, but these are the ones that helped shape the woman I am today.

After reading these, I pray that no matter your age or the season of life you’re in, you will remember that it’s never too late to make choices that improve your health, strengthen your relationships, help you pursue your dreams, and bring you more joy. Although we can’t change yesterday, we can decide how we’ll live today. If you’d like to hear even more about these lessons, I invite you to watch my YouTube video, 7 Things I Learned While Living That Golden Girl Life in My 50s. I’d love to hear which lessons resonated with you most. 🌺