Turning 50: Breaking Into My Body, Not Breaking Down

In the run-up to turning 50, I’ve been reflecting on the last five decades of my life. Looking back, life feels like a book—each decade has its own chapter, shaping the person I am today. If I had to sum up my decades so far, they’d look something like this:

👧 Up to 10: A carefree, fearless child, enjoying playful adventures with my sisters.

🎢 Teens: A time of good and bad choices, valuable lessons, and learning to be independent.

💍 20s: Two of the best decisions of my life—marrying my husband and moving to the UK.

🤱 30s: Motherhood, a beautiful yet all-consuming chapter that reshaped my identity and sense of responsibility.

💪 40s: Building my business, strengthening my body and mind, and focusing on my health and well-being.

Each decade has been a stepping stone in discovering who I really am and what I truly want. And while the journey of self-discovery never really ends, one thing is certain: at 50, I feel the most confident in my body and the most content in my life. And most excited about writing the next chapter!

But it didn’t just happen. Getting to this place wasn’t a stroke of luck. It wasn’t about waking up one day and suddenly feeling empowered and at peace. It took work—a lot of it. I’ve had to learn, unlearn, and relearn. I’ve had to challenge beliefs I’d carried for decades. I’ve had to get comfortable with discomfort. And perhaps most importantly, I had to take full responsibility for how I wanted to feel—because waiting for things to change never works. Change happens when you decide to make it happen.

I also made a mindset shift that changed everything: I stopped seeing ageing as something that was happening to me and started seeing it as something I could shape. Rather than watching my body "break down with age," I started breaking into my body. Understanding it. Supporting it. Working with it, not against it.

The Game-Changers That Got Me Here

So, what helped me feel stronger, more vibrant, and more aligned at 50 than I ever did at 40?

·       Accepting my mistakes and learning from them. Growth doesn’t happen without lessons.

·       Stepping outside my comfort zone. The best things in life come from pushing past the familiar.

·       Becoming an expert of my own body. Understanding how my body works, what energises me, what drains me, and what truly makes me thrive.

·       Learning to say no. Boundaries are a form of self-respect.

·       Learning to say yes. To new opportunities, new experiences, and the things that bring me joy.

·       Identifying my values and aligning my actions with them. When you live in integrity with what truly matters to you, everything feels more purposeful.

·       Surrounding myself with the right people. Those who lift me up, challenge me, and support me.

·       Detaching my worth from external achievements. My value isn’t measured by how far or fast I run, how much I do, or how "busy" I am.

·       Reframing ageing as a gift, not a curse. Every year is a privilege, and I intend to make the most of them.

·       Prioritising my body and mind, not just others. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

·       Understanding how much control I have over my health and wellbeing. Making simple lifestyle changes that took my energy levels to a whole new level.

·       Realising that what I once considered a 'healthy diet' was actually depriving me. True nourishment comes from an abundance of real food—colours, textures, and flavours that bring both health and joy.

·       The only time that matters is NOW: regrets hold you back, worrying about the future steals your happiness.

Becoming the Coach I Wished I Had

I look back at my 40-year-old self, exhausted, stretched thin, wanting to feel stronger and more in control but not knowing where to start. I see a woman who didn’t even realise how much better she could feel, because she was caught in the cycle of just getting through the day and in the belief that it was normal to feel that way (tired, stressed, bloated to name a few).

I want to be the person she needed —the one who could have guided her, simplified the process, and shown her that small, consistent changes can transform how she feels and bring more life to each day.

That’s exactly why I became a coach. I am that person now—for anyone in their midlife who is ready to go from simply surviving every day to living more of every day.

So, if you’re feeling stuck, sluggish, or like your energy is slipping away as the years pass, let me remind you: you have so much more power than you think. And if you are feeling great, high five!

Ageing isn’t something to fear. It’s something to embrace and to be grateful for. Because turning 50 (or 40, or 60) isn’t about slowing down—it’s about stepping up to life with more energy, joy, and confidence than ever before. 

What’s one lesson you’ve learned about yourself as you’ve gotten older? Or, if you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? I’d love to hear your thoughts—drop a comment!