Judith Herbig––Women over 50: How do we do it?

Women over 50: How do we do it?

By Judith Herbig for North Valley Magazine

There is everything wonderful about women in general, but when you get to the magic age when AARP starts sending you invitations to join, things get even better.  I know.  I‘ve been getting the invites for some time now.

We get so much information telling us what we should be doing and not doing.  We’re offered diets, health warnings, clothing fads, decorating tips and advice about all aspects of our lives.  The simple truth is that when we get to this age, most of us pretty much know what we should do, individually, even if we don’t always know how we want to do it.  The trouble can lie in motivation or just a lack of time to get everything done.

What I’d like to do in future articles is talk individually with women who are in this age demographic.  Not necessarily the rich and famous, just women who “do it”, whatever it is, and do it well, or maybe not so well.  Women who have found their mojo, or muddled through a difficult time at this stage of life and may have something to say to the rest of us.

I have friends and acquaintances that have stories.  Will they tell?  Well, who else but a woman talking to the woman in front of her in the pharmacy line, can start a dialogue about lack of estrogen with each explaining their own personal experiences – right down to the most personal details. Did they help each other?  You bet they did.  Even if the help came down to just being able to articulate their feelings.  That’s what women do best; and over the age of 50 it can be even better.

Time brings more experiences to all of us.  Births, even difficult ones, deaths of loved ones, exciting travels, health issues, the work we’ve done and the love we’ve given, all add up to define us. I’d like to get to the “meat” of what we have to say, rather than concentrate on what we cook, or how we clean the house or dress ourselves, although that is important too.  Given an experience:  What did she think?  What did she do?  Who did she love? How did she make it work, or not?  How can the experience, whatever it is, help another 50 + woman, or anybody, for that fact?

Let’s talk about it!!

About Judith Herbig

I am a 67-year-old banking consultant and realtor who has had lots of good and not-so-good experiences!  I have been in the commercial real estate loan business for 35+ years, mostly in Arizona. I just became a part-time realtor.  I understand the Arizona lifestyle and share it with my husband (second marriage), children and grandchildren. At this age, I feel especially balanced in work and home. I love both, so I consider myself very fortunate.