50th
Birthday
"The Big One" Doesn't Seem
so Big at Age 50
Before we start, I know what
it's like to have a 50th birthday (and beyond).
It's not so bad! But, how about you? Do you know
what it feels like to turn fifty? If forty marks
the “over-the-hill” point, the 50th
birthday has to be a shocker. If you're just twenty
one, someone who is turning fifty may seem as old
as Methuselah. You simply can't imagine being that
old.
Some people see the glass
half empty
Unfortunately, for those of
us who have actually reached this point, it can be
a bittersweet coming of age. Gees, you think, I
never thought I could be so old.
You start to look in the
mirror, squinting to find a new wrinkle or some
sagged skin hiding somewhere. You recently noticed
you can't read the directions and dosage of that
allergy medicine without reading glasses! Yikes.
What's the world coming to?
When winter comes and cold
sets in, you may wake up with stiffness in your
hands. These telltale clues only confirm what your
subconscious has been nagging you about for some
while now. Age is creeping up on you, and
everything's not quite as sharp as it was thirty
years ago.
The young and the
restless
When you were twenty one,
life was a long adventure that stretched into
forever. Now, twenty nine short years later, with
that 50th birthday looming, things look different.
Now you're smart enough to know that your long
adventure is getting shorter. This can be a
difficult realization. You can't understand why you
never saw this coming, but it's just the way of
life.
Find joy in your blessings
- One, you're still above the
ground!
In a crisis of this
proportion, you need to look on the bright side and
regain some of your youthful optimism! Count your
blessings if you've taken good care of yourself. If
you haven't, then there's no time like the present
to begin corrective measures.
Look
forward
Attaining a 50th birthday is
an opportunity to make an honest assessment of
where you're at and where you'd like to be a year
from now. Analyze your lifestyle, accomplishments
and interests and see how you can turn the clock
back a bit. Some parts of life just irrevocably
creep in, like those darn reading glasses,
reminding you that you can't be twenty one
again.
What you know
now
On the other hand, you've
walked the talk in terms of experience and
challenges met. You couldn't have met those
challenges thirty years ago. Your 50th birthday
should be a celebration of youthful passion
enhanced by marriage, children and perhaps
grandchildren, friends or just plain experience in
this great mystery of life.
Ideas for a 50th Birthday
Party
If you’re stuck for an
idea, go online and check out themes, one-of-a-kind
party supplies and decorations, and creative party
planning ideas.
Find T-shirts bearing witty
slogans for the “big-0” birthdays,
including 50th birthday sayings, wisecracks,
women’s humor, odd and interesting, and of
course, lots of the over the hill jokes and slogans
at www.c-boom.com.
Here are some great classics:
“Oh no, say it isn't so, not the big
5-0!”, “Fifty happens”,
“Getting old sucks, but it sure beats the
alternative”, “You're just jealous
because the voices only talk to me”, “Age
is important only if you're cheese or wine”,
“Fifty is the ultimate "F" word”,
“Once over the hill you pick up speed”,
“Old dude, made of achy breaky parts”,
and my personal favorite, “Too sexy for my
hair, that's why it isn't there!”
Don't shout too loud -
After all, he is fifty years old!
Surprise parties for a 50th
birthday are lots of fun, and you can find some
unique, funny ideas at www.stretcher.com. For the
husband who loves fishing consider using a fishing
theme and his collection of fishing stuff for
decorations.
The key is to pick something
the honoree enjoys and that everyone can have fun
with. For example, ask the guests to wear what your
husband always wears, like tan pants, plaid shirts,
and tennis shoes, if that’s what he wear, or
if your wife is a nurse, everyone comes dressed in
nurse uniforms.
Talk about funny 50th
birthday ideas! Another great party idea is to host
an "In memory of . . . party", a kind of memorial
service to the youth that's dead and gone,
including guests’ eulogies, and fun ideas for
the wake. Have a mock funeral and list the guests
as pallbearers, including accomplishments of the
deceased at the end, and the name of the funeral
home and minister presiding over the service, etc.
Lots of different approaches can be taken with this
one to make it a truly personal
“death”!
Ideas for planning a 50th
birthday party
Planning a unique and fun
50th birthday party has never been easier. If
you’re planning your own party, make it as
special as you are.
Order a cake delivered from
$27.50 plus shipping from www.bakemeawish.com, and
5% of your order is donated to the Make-a-Wish
Foundation in your recipient’s name. Try a red
velvet chocolate cake, chocolate mousse torte cake,
or café au lait cheesecake, yum!
Gift idea
For a great gift, check out
www.findgift.com, a free service dedicated to
helping people find gift ideas for any birthday or
special occasion. Check out the 50’s Classic
Candy Sampler from Groovy Candies, full of
nostalgic candy sure to bring back fond memories.
Retro candies from the
50’s through the 80’s are available, so
you can pick out a favorite for yourself too! Have
fun planning that 50th birthday party, or any
milestone birthday theme with all the great party
planning ideas, invitations, decorations, party
supplies, favors, and more!
Satisfaction with 50 years
old
All things considered, a 50th
birthday is a milestone of your journey through
life. View that glass of lemonade as more than half
full and adopt an attitude that looks forward to
all life offers.
Remember, it's likely you
have many years before you and more free time to
pursue your dreams. Live life with passion and
you'll find continued joy. Fifty isn't old! And,
besides that, the Bible states that there are
certain things we cannot change - our height - our
age?
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