Just turned 50 and feeling morbid

I've just come out of my pilates class and am sitting in my car reading all your lovely positive messages.. You lovely people have inspired me no end, I have taken on board everything you've said and already feel much more sure of the future. Thank you so much

That’s good Annabelle. All birthdays with a nought are prone to make one think but 50! Wow it’s nothing at all. I am 20 years older than you and still do what I always did, though may feel a bit more tired. We walk with people in their 80 s and by walk I mean uphill and down dale and they are my inspiration.
Chins up, the world is your oyster.

I felt the same at 60 - I was fine with it until I started loosing my balance easily and had a tooth removed that distorted my speech. Everyone thought I was drunk all the time thereafter, although I don’t really drink!! I try to dwell on the positive and treat each day as if it’s my last - as one day I’ll be right. I’ve been very fortunate in life and whilst I don’t like the limitations of ageing but I’m acutely aware the alternative is no fun!! So mustn’t grumble and I must keep keeping on etc!!!

In my 50s I became very aware of my mortality, but fortunately by the time I turned 60 I had kind of come to terms with it. What helped was seeing all sorts of reasons that I'd not want to live forever. For example if non of us died of natural causes, we'd all be faced with that horrific day the sun explodes and roasts us alive or an asteroid hits us, weeks after our advanced detection systems have warned us and therefore weeks of panic. Compared with that, the idea of dying in a hospital bed is positively euthanetic.

When I was fifty I was too busy to wonder how many years I had left. It is only now at the age of 96 that I wonder how much longer I have. I have survived cancer twice and have ostearthritis in both knees and hip making walking painful but my bran and memory are still good. I live alone with some help with housework and garden.

Hi Anabelle01
Take heart lass, you're only a baby!
I remember (just) similar thoughts when I turned 50 and here I am at 83 still behaving like a hooligan on my Ninja motorbike which I will probably ride to London to collect my centenary telegram from King Charles - or King William. Of course it may be Queen Elizabeth but that would make her 110.

You've still got a lot of living to do girl - Get out and enjoy it!!!

Love each day as if it’s your last- we never know and just need to make the most of it all

I’m 50 next year and I’m SO looking forward to it!!!
I have a 14 year old who keeps me busy (and poor!) ?
I only work part time now, which is great and I have no intention of kicking the bucket anytime soon!

The bottom line is that we all have to come to terms with our own mortality. It comes to people at different times. I think that the best way to deal with it, is to ponder for a while then put to one side and make the most of life. No one knows how long they have so one day at a time.

The average life expectancy in the UK for women is 81 . . . so give yourself another 31 years, and if you take really good care of yourself (and barring an accident) you could have another 41.

I understand the panicky feeling. I just hit 56 and sometimes it really freaks me out, but there are many many people living wonderful healthy fulfilling long lives that are way older than me - so I try to focus on those. I also do a gratitude list every evening before I go to sleep and honestly I take comfort from the idea that when I get really old and infirm, as we all will if we live that long, I'll probably get to the place where I'll be ready to just go to sleep and not wake up one night.

Just scrolled up and - case in point: Bijou is 96!!! Love it

i'm almost 62 and who knows how many years i have left .i have two many medical problems.kidneys/liver/brain trauma./arthritis. dont dwell on how much time. fill it with stuff to do. go volunteer for a charity.go out ,make each day count...even if you fell like s**t...

feel .lol

I was in denial at 60. I then had a medical issue and learned that life's for living. I have pursued new hobbies, met new people and keeping touch with my friends.
Life is fun but sometimes you have to work at it.

Bijou - 96! Wow!
OP - I am same age and I think that it is easy to think of all the things we could have done, how life could be different and think that this is our life now, but really age IS just a number! I gave myself a good talking to lol and tried to figure out what my problem is. I have decided when young I did loads of new things and loved the risk and adventure of that. I was also fitter. So I have taken up running, will train for a marathon, and I have taken on a new part time job as a lecturer, to fit round my existing part time job. I also have a child at primary school. I have looked ahead and planning my future - my new part time job will keep me going until I no longer want to work, keeps my brain active, lovely workmates and the students keep me young! The running gives me a new challenge, keeps me fit and again a new social side when I join a club. The long holidays at Uni will give me time to do some new adventures, and also to see my daughter more.
I think it is good to plan ahead and see what you CAN do and what you WANT to do! I also want to learn to play the piano at some point!

Oh for goodness sake
Being alive at 49 so therefore approaching 50;sure beats the alternative
The best years of my life were the years following my 50th birthday.

I decided at 60 to live until I was 100....I have lost weight keep fit and have a healthy vegan diet...was veggie for 39 years before becoming vegan a year ago. Of course I could crash my car tomorrow and leave this planet. Smile at everyone and think positive is what I say.

Bluebelle
Me too. The best years of my life were to come at 50.
As they 'who ever they are' say, life begins at 50 .

I've often felt like this on milestone birthdays even though I am still comparatively young. Longevity isn't on my side because my parents died quite early and I feel sure my days are numbered. It's not a good feeling because it deprives you of enjoying the moment.
There are some very positive posts here and some sensible suggestions.

No! Not at 50! I'm enjoying my seventies - ( lucky to be fit and healthy, just creaking a bit) but please don't feel the end is nigh at 50. None of us know when the end is coming but if you are going to die of old age, then at 50 you needn't let that thought enter your head for at least another 25 years.

I’m not a fan of birthdays! I try to just let them pass and not focus too much on my age. It is only a number after all and I think you can be in danger of worrying about things so much, that what life is left, just passes by...I would just let that morbidity sit there and don’t give it much attention. There are lots of good things in life, after all.

Yes, I had the same feeling when I rounded that corner, but it passed.

Now I am coming up for 68 (wrote 38, some Freudian slip, eh?) and am all set to live for at least 20 years more.

Have you any reason to suspect you might not make old bones?

Try to find a new interest to take your mind off your age - the feeling will pass, but it helps to have something enjoyable to do when you are feeling blue.

50 is nothing. I suspect most GNs are over 60, and many, like me, must be in their 70s. Celebrate each year, mile stone, decade, etc, or you’ll end up wishing your life away.

I have been more aware of my own mortality since my husband died three years ago this month aged 51. I'm now 54 and since he died my osteoarthritis has got worse exacerbated by the treatment I'm on post-cancer last year. I have every reason to keep going with a mortgage, working full time and three grandchildren (2 live with me with my daughter and their dad) but it still hits me every so often.

I am also fifty , my mum did when she was sixty . So any day over my sixtith birthday will be a bonus for me .