Darling, every single experience you’ve had (joy, sorrow, success, and struggle) has built the encyclopedia that is you. Think of it! 50+ years of living, loving, learning, and losing is stored within your mind. How marvelous it is to know that your thoughts, memories, and instincts are a one-of-a-kind collection of wisdom. Now, at this stage of life, you can finally open that treasure chest and use it.

If you’re finding yourself in a slump after 50, you’re not alone. Many women feel as though the sparkle has faded, the pace has slowed, and their purpose has grown blurry. But let me ask you this: What makes you feel truly alive? Have you taken a moment to sit with that question? Do you know how to pursue what it’s telling you?

Life Experience Is a Tapestry

Darling, life isn’t a smooth, unmarked canvas. It’s not the first page of a blank book. Your life is a richly woven tapestry: textured with patterns from your past and colored with experience. Every stitch tells a story and even the knots and tears have a purpose.

Some experiences are painful, but that pain can be the very thing that sparks new inspiration. The hard moments carve out space for the light to pour in. They show you what matters, what endures, and most of all, what you’re made of.

Are you using your life experiences to expand your world as a woman over 50? If not, why wait?

It’s Time to Reactivate Yourself

Too many women fall into passive routines after 50. They begin to see their world in shades of gray instead of technicolor. They let life shrink around them and convince themselves it’s too late to change, or that they’ve had their time.

But my darling, you are just entering a new chapter, and it’s entirely yours to write.

What keeps me going? Curiosity, joy and (quite honestly) the fear of boredom! I want my days to be drenched in color, my stories to be vibrant, and my spirit to be untamed. I refuse to dim my light and I encourage you not to dim yours, darling.

Don’t Let Age Define You

Age is a number, not a definition. I see far too many women begin to fade themselves out. They start dressing old, saying no to new adventures, turning down travel plans for fear of illness, and excusing themselves from volunteer work or new communities.

They convince themselves their days of impact and enchantment are over… but you know what? That’s the quickest way to feel invisible.

Women who define themselves as their age become their own worst enemies. But not you, not anymore!

My Mother, My Rainbow

I was blessed to have had a beautiful role model, my mother. She lived until 102 years old, and until her final years, she never let age define her. She was a doer, a dreamer, and above all, an explorer of life. She wore radiant scarves, Hollywood sunglasses, and carried herself with elegance. She was the very definition of joie de vivre.

Once, while dining out together, a young man stopped at our table to tell her she was a “stunner” and paid for her dinner. She was nearly 100 years old at the time! I’ll never forget that moment. That’s what it means to live out loud and that is what I want for you.

The Secret to Feeling Alive

Aging feels fleeting because we can’t control it, but we can control how we live. For me, good health, both mental and physical, is the foundation. Regular movement, positive thinking, meaningful work, and deep connection: these are my essentials. If I could, I would tape this saying to every woman’s mirror:

More is more. Less in life is a bore.

Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise!

Reignite the Spark That Is You

Put yourself at the top of your to-do list. Not out of selfishness, but out of self-respect.

Begin to spend time alone: real, quiet time. Use that space to reflect and reconnect with your inner compass. Ask yourself: What would bring me joy right now? What passion have I shelved that is begging to be picked up again?

Maybe it’s painting or writing. Or maybe it’s as simple as tending to a garden or learning a new language. Whatever it is, begin. Let yourself daydream again. Be receptive, reflective, authentic and above all, be fearless.

Fear Is the Killer of Dreams

Fear is sneaky. It shows up quietly and settles in as hesitation. It says, What will people think? What if I fail? What if I’m too old? Fear has derailed more dreams than failure ever has.

It creeps in when the nest empties, when retirement comes, or when we notice our first wrinkle. Suddenly, we feel adrift. We ask, Now what?

I’ll tell you what: Now is your time.

Color your hair if you want. Embrace your lines if you can. And if you can’t, darling, go see your plastic surgeon with pride! Do whatever it takes to feel like you.

Feel the Fear

Fear doesn’t disappear, but it doesn’t have to define us. I’ve learned to acknowledge my fear, breathe through it, and take the next step anyway. With every step forward, that fear begins to lose its power. In its place, creative energy flows, confidence rises and life begins to dazzle again.

Fear is often just a signal that we’re on the edge of something meaningful. It’s the flutter in your chest before a bold decision, the tightness in your throat before speaking your truth. When you feel fear, don’t run, but rather lean in. It’s often standing guard right outside the door of your next great adventure.

Freedom and Purpose

Freedom is the ability to say, I choose this, and mean it. But freedom without purpose? That’s just wandering. Purpose is what turns freedom into fulfillment. It gives your days shape and your choices meaning.

At this stage of life, your purpose can be anything you choose. It might be quiet. It might be grand. It might be deeply personal or boldly public. The only requirement? That it makes you feel alive.

Write Your Next Chapter

Your life is a book, and you, my darling, are the author. Think about your past chapters: childhood, young love, motherhood, career, loss, reinvention. Now ask: What is the title of this next chapter?

Mine is called “Enlarging My World.” Even through personal storms like my Ultimate Concierge’s illness and estrangement from my adult daughter, I continue to seek new experiences. I’m so happy to share that I’ve reconciled with one daughter and I hold space for hope.

This chapter is about courage, choosing joy and leaning into life even when it aches.

Razzle Dazzle

I love the term razzle dazzle. It’s fun, uplifting and it makes us feel alive. It’s you, when you’re being your boldest self.

Add a sparkle of razzle dazzle in your life:

• Razzle dazzle with a “yes” instead of a “no.”
• Razzle dazzle when making a new plan.
• Razzle dazzle with your passions.
• Razzle dazzle into your next project.
• Razzle dazzle through fear, setbacks, and even loneliness.

I’ve added razzle dazzle into my own life through charitable work, hunting for a charming casita near my daughter in Arizona, hosting family visits, and cherishing time with grandchildren. Even the complications feel worthwhile.

Aging Exquisitely

To age exquisitely is to know yourself fully. It means choosing to identify not with what fades, but with what remains: your wisdom, your curiosity, your humor, your sparkle.

Helen Keller once said, “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

So go ahead, darling. Make it daring. Cut out what no longer serves you, chase what excites you and trust the instincts stored in your encyclopedia of experiences. Let your curiosity lead the way and most of all…

Never stop razzle dazzling.

Amen.