The Second Blooming - Dr. Rukhsana Saifee

Abu Road, Aug 29, 2025: Turning 50 is a golden milestone in one’s life that marks half a century of life, love, laughter, and wisdom. It symbolizes half a century of experiences, learning, and growth. It's a time when individuals often pause to reflect on their journey, cherish memories, and ponder the wisdom they've gained. This significant age represents a bridge between the youthful energy of earlier decades and the sage perspective that comes with maturity.

Hitting fifties is like a magic wand for remembering that your time here on earth has an expiration date. This isn’t a grim reminder, it’s an energizing one. It feels filled with possibility. It is basically a permission slip to try new things and add more meaning to your life in all kinds of ways. It can also give you more motivation to engage in things that have been living on your “someday” list for years. Be grateful for the time that you have had and the time that you have left to live, embrace life, challenge yourself, step out of your comfort zone and live.

A 50th birthday heralds the beginning of a new life stage. This life stage usually involves big shifts. Often, the big 5-0 coincides with children leaving the home – empty nest syndrome. And then there’s looking after ageing parents, perhaps holding down a senior position at work or becoming more financially free and working less. Physically, the body shape changes. The face one sees in the mirror becomes more mature and the pigment in hair may fade.

Many women feel that after 50 is the best time of their lives. Why? Because they find liberation, they find their voice; they find their confidence, their identity, and stop worrying about what others think.  It is important for women who are entering into this new age to have a network of friends or sisters who understand. Women need to hold each other up, unconditionally supporting each other without judgment or competition, understanding what the other is going through and sharing a good joke.

So, if you’re feeling a little down about your wrinkles, grey hair or flabby bits, try thinking about aging a little differently. Think of it as an attitude, an opportunity to throw off the shackles, break a few rules and go wild. Have an adventure.  Remember, age is just a mind-set. We must see it as an opportunity to grow, thrive, and build a different life paradigm. After fifty, some refer to the second half as the “second spring” or “second youth”. The key is to see the change with new eyes and embrace the second half of life with a new and higher spirit.  It is never too late to reclaim our identities and wear the badge of honour:  Been there, done that, learned from it and am stronger for it.

"Fifty is the youth of old age. Let the adventures begin!"

The Author of this post, Dr. Rukhsana Saifee, is Associate Professor at the Chartered Institute of Technology, Abu Road.

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