Reinventing Life After 50: 10 Rules We Wrote for Ourselves

I'm a Gen X woman, born in 1969, and we're living longer, fuller lives than any generation of women before us. We made careers in rooms that weren't built for us, and nobody handed us a map. Nobody's handing us one for this next chapter either, so we're drawing our own.

Nothing has gone wrong. This is what it feels like when one chapter closes before the next one has a title.

1. 01

   We figure it out.

   Nobody handed us instructions then. We don't need them now.

   I figure it out. I always have.

2. 02

   We say yes on our terms.

   Our yes used to be automatic. Now it's earned.

   My yes, my terms.

3. 03

   We stay steady under pressure.

   We've held it together through worse. When it gets heavy, we get steady.

   When it gets heavy, I get steady.

4. 04

   We pick our people.

   Fewer people. Better people. We choose who sits at our table.

   I pick my tribe.

5. 05

   We do it anyway.

   Scared was never a reason to stay home.

   Scared or not, I do it anyway.

6. 06

   We get older and bolder.

   Our mothers whispered about getting older. We say it out loud.

   Every year, I get better and bolder.

7. 07

   We bypass the BS.

   We trust what still works on an ordinary Tuesday. Hype never did.

   I trust my gut.

8. 08

   We bounce back.

   We've been knocked down plenty. We know the way back up.

   I bounce back. Every time.

9. 09

   We reinvent on purpose.

   Not a midlife crisis. A midlife agenda.

   I choose who I become next.

10. 10

    We go after what we want.

    We can be grateful for all of it and still want more.

    I want it. I go get it.

• You still introduce yourself by what you do, or did, for work.
• You feel quiet pressure to have this next chapter figured out already.
• You're excellent at showing up for everyone else and still learning to show up for yourself.
• You feel a little guilty for wanting more meaning when you already have so much.
• Part of you believes your most important chapter is still ahead.