BellaOnline Forums Family Midlife As you've aged, how have your priorities changed?

Hi and Welcome to the Midlife site - We tend to re-evaluate our lives as we go into the autumn years of our life - I know I have - what has changed for you? what do you do differently?

I agree! As we get older our priorities do change, and I feel in a good way. I pay much more attention to my spirit now than I used to, letting life flow, rather than always trying to seize control and make things go a certain way.

Pastiche, I think it's a lovely idea to create things and give them away! It keeps the good energy flowing through your life as well.

There is a saying "Do what you love and the rest will follow." I really believe that so I think someday you will be able to generate income from this.

Well I feel wiser than before, I take more time in making new decisions and I don't give my opinion unless I am sure of what I will say.
As the days pass I try to be more realistic than before and I always think of the consequences that may occur when trying to face a new challenge.

I began to figure out that nothing's more important than my health and my family and put them first! Babies deserve the best send off that we can give them.

I appreciate each day that I'm living! When I was a young adult I really didn't take time to smell the roses.

I am 40 and I have a 10 year old daughter. I have been a single parent from the beginning. My priorities are centered around her. I can hardly remember what it was like before I had her.

I think about how things are going to be until she can be out on her own, working out sending her to college and making sure she can make her way in the world. I have tried to raise a very indenpendent child which she is. I think thats the best gift I can give her, the knowledge that you have to have the ability to take care of yourself in this world.

I think the term Autumn years is a bit negative for me. That conjures up Auntie Em from "The Wizard of Oz!" Women and men are so much more vibrant today. My Pilates instructor just turned 60 and she has a body that can rival a 25 year old.

At forty I began doing what I wanted, learning to love myself, and to write professionally. I also became more assertive but in a nice way. I am much more spiritual.(NOT religious)

I also feel that there is nothing more important than enjoying life as much as possible with my husband.

Material things are a waste of money now and stop to smell the roses. wiser -clamer- see life in a different light.
don't let the small things get to me- We don't need material THINGS to be happy or KEEP UP with the JONES> Think about what is real and fiction. How we raise are family in TODAY'S world.

Morales and values STILL are a First in raising a child.
which is not a priority with most today. Sad

As I get older I care less and less what other people think of me.
My 40s have been the best years of my life - good health, job satisfaction, travel, financial security, valued and loved family and friends. I know myself and feel like I'm firmly in control of my life...

Hi Ladies, this is my first time on the midlife thread... gulp, are the forties considered "midlife"? I don't know if 39 and holding counts Anyhow, I just saw this latest post on the right hand column and just had to click on it.

I used to try really hard to "impress" people as if I needed others to tell me of my own worth. As I've aged, I've learned to focus on "expressing" my true self to others. As a result, I am in touch with my true passions, my purpose, and life is an amazing journey of discovery.

The bonus side effect is that people who like me actually like me for the REAL ME! Isn't that what we all want anyway? We want people to like us for who we really are. I guess as I get older, I don't want to waste time with people who don't like me anyway. My time is too precious and, well, so am I! Oh, that's the other thing. I've learned to like "me".

Can anyone else relate?