Hello 50: A Milestone of Grace, Growth, and Gratitude

Some people say that turning 50 is over the hill - but let me tell you, the view from here is fabulous. 

I just celebrated my 50th birthday in the sunshine state - Florida - the same place where my story began. Talk about full circle! There's something poetic about dancing into a new decade where I entered this wild, beautiful, unpredictable thing called life. And let's be real: what better place to mark a milestone than where palm trees sway, drinks come with tiny umbrellas and humidity gives your hair a personality of its own? 

I'm still standing - slightly stitched, moisturized, and rocking this new decade like it's nobody's business.

Fifty has brought me clarity. It's a powerful feeling to know what you want, what you no longer need, and who you are at your core. I've released the pressure to please, and the weight of comparison. I've embraced joy, rest, boundaries, and laughter - especially the kind that makes your stomach hurt and your cheeks sore. 

In the recent months leading up to this milestone, I had an appendectomy (what does an appendix really do anyways?), hysterectomy (bye, uterus!), managing psoriasis flairs (because of course my skin wanted a say in things), dealing with those pesky hot flashes (does anyone have a fan?)  and am about to have my arm operated on. I mean, who says that you can’t be a little broken and still be a whole vibe?

Yet, through it all, I'm still standing - slightly stitched, moisturized, and rocking this new decade like it's nobody's business. I'm wiser, bolder, and less afraid to say no (or yes, depending on the day and the shoe sale). I've stopped apologizing for taking up space and instead, I'm making room for everything that sets my soul on fire. This includes my family, career, and even my newest business venture. That is perhaps the bravest part, betting on me. At 50, I am stepping into entrepreneurship, starting my own business, with nothing but faith, experience, and a fire in my belly. I refuse to wind down, I am rising up. 

To everyone wondering what 50 feels like: it feels like freedom with a side of sarcasm. It feels like loving your life - even the messy, unfiltered parts. It feels like dancing barefoot, celebrating your scars, and knowing that deep down that the best is yet to come. 

Turning 50 was the bravest that I have ever felt - standing in my truth, scars, and all, with nothing to prove and everything to embrace.