Brain Fights the Negativity of Turning the Big 5-0

I was watching some TikTok videos this weekend and I stumbled upon one that changed my entire mood. It dealt with men who were turning 50 years old. I hit that milestone later this fall. The statistics it presented were sobering, to say the least. Based on the average life expectancy of men in the U.S. of 75 years, a man turning 50 has just 25 years of life left. Nearly a third of your life is already over.

Turning 50 feels so much different than turning 40 did. I remember ten years ago looking forward to my 40th birthday. What is the saying? 40 is the new 30! Well, what the hell is 50? So far it appears it is just more gray hair in my beard and an even slower metabolism. Why was I feeling all of these negative feelings on turning 50? Author Steve Graves wrote that he once read that "As you age, you become an exaggerated version of your negative self." Boy have I ever. What can I do to turn around my feelings about turning 50? Graves offers some great advice.

You Still Have Time to Start Something New

Victor Hugo wrote, "Forty is the old age of youth. Fifty is the youth of old age." I need to print that off and hang it in my office. While it's true that my younger years have passed, I still have time, plenty in fact. I could start a new career, a new hobby, or a new lifestyle. The bottom line is, I still have time to build something from the ground up.

Fight Negativity and Bad Habits

Don't become the exaggerated version of your negative self. 50 is the age to take a serious look at things like your health and your finances. Now is the time to make the necessary changes to both. Graves writes that you need to focus energy on your positive character habits. Put in the work to grow as a person.

Keep Friends and Family Close

Relationships don't always get easier as you grow older. Graves writes that your friends might move away to be closer to their parents. Co-workers retire or move to a competitor. Mentors pass away, and your younger friends are too busy with their careers and families. Don't let this lead you into isolation. Make new friends. Spend quality time with your spouse. Make the effort to fortify your relationships.

Realize You Don't Have it All Figured Out

Bill Clinton once said, "Turning 50 gives me more yesterdays than tomorrows." Thanks, Bill. Thoughts like that, and I've had many lately, can lead you to feel like you don't have life figured out and you never will. Don't let those feelings overwhelm you. Graves writes that it can be both healthy and humbling to know that even after 50 years, we still don't fully know what we're doing. Acknowledge that you'll still make mistakes in your 50's too.

Yes, turning 50 means I have more life behind me than in front of me. But it is an opportunity to refocus on what matters most. Family. How can I be a better father and husband? What do I need to do to give my family everything they need? And what changes do I need to make to ensure I'm here as long as I can be?

Here's to the "youth of old age."