During the course of one’s lifetime no one escapes adversity. We face all degrees of difficulties. We must use resiliency in times of adversity, but sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees and get bogged down in the situation. Darlings, resilient behavior is paramount to all of us overcoming adversity after 50.

I don’t make light of the word adversity. I have confronted plenty of it; widowhood, serious illness, financial problems, moving thousands of miles from home, blending two families and great hurt. I have also faced little doses of adversity that creep into my life, like we all do. Darlings, I bloomed from every bout of adversity because …

I DID NOT DWELL ON WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, I FOCUSED ON MY RESPONSE.

Here is an example: A young man and his wife are faced with an unexpected illness. He is already a writer. If I were that young man, I know what I would do. I would keep a journal, the story of my journey from the depths of darkness and despair into the light. This would enable me to release my feelings and, possibly, in the future share my story with other young people facing the same adversity.

I want you to remember that all of our adversity is more about our power to overcome, then the circumstance. 

I sit here in awe of my own ability to overcome despair; to make sweet lemonade out of lemons; to see my glass half full. I ask myself how I always hear the knock of opportunity on the door when I am in the depths of despair. I know this sounds crazy but I have come to the conclusion that it is because I think about it as my story. The story begins with adversity and ends with my ability to move the journey positively forward.

How I write my own story when faced with adversity after 50

• I collect my thoughts. 
• I know if I wallow in despair nothing will change.
• I decide on a path: This becomes my story.
• When I was ill I focused on seeing life through rose colored glasses. The sun became sunnier, the stars brighter, my life more meaningful and my gratitude deeper.
• When I blended two families I looked outside my emotions and focused on the emotions of the adult children who lost a mother on my husband’s side and a father on my side.
• When I moved across an ocean, I focused on looking forward not backward.
• I spark my creativity and motivate myself out of despair and into a hopeful future.
• I turn all of my situations into positives and I became happy.

This is the key darlings: I encourage myself to grow from the adversity …and bloom.

As we continue to age over 50, 60, 70 and beyond we can meet adversity with positivity. Take your story and build it to new heights with positivity.