The invitations have been sent, the cake is ordered, and RSVPs are slowly rolling in. Excitement fills the air as the details of this milestone celebration come together. I can hardly believe it — I’m about to celebrate my 

50th birthday.

Fifty. What a milestone. Even saying it out loud feels surreal. When I tell people I’m turning 50, they often look at me with surprise. I’ve been told I don’t look my age, which is flattering, but it always makes me wonder: What exactly is fifty supposed to look like?

In my 20s and 30s, life revolved around becoming a wife and mother. I was raising babies, nurturing my marriage, and navigating the endless responsibilities that came with those roles. By the time I hit my 40s, my identity became “taxi mom” — shuttling kids to pageants, rehearsals, band recitals, youth groups, jobs, and everywhere in between.

Those years were a blur of organized chaos. I was exhausted — mentally, physically, emotionally — but I kept going. I became a master of managing havoc and stress, often convincing myself that everything was fine. I had a PhD in getting things done under pressure and a master’s degree in “just barely making it on time.”

And yet, in those chaotic moments, I also found fulfillment. The busyness gave me a sense of purpose. It was proof that I was needed. But somewhere along the way, I started to lose myself, running on autopilot, day after day.

Now, as I stand on the edge of a new decade, everything feels different. The once noisy, chaotic home is now quiet. The kids are grown, and I’ve become an empty nester. No one really talks about how strange that silence can be — the shift from teenage chaos to stillness. But slowly, I’ve started to embrace it. My home has become a sanctuary.

This new season of life is about reinvention. It’s about rediscovering who I am beyond being a mom, a wife, and a caretaker. It’s about finding joy in the simple things:

• Sleeping in until 9 a.m.
• Taking morning walks.
• Watching my favorite shows without interruption.
• Volunteering in my community.
• Calling a friend just to say hello.
• Singing loudly in the car at a red light with the windows down.

This is my time to breathe, heal, and grow.

I no longer feel the need to ask for permission or seek approval for how I live my life. My 50s are about embracing the wisdom earned through trials and challenges, and letting that wisdom be my guide.

I want to flourish, not flounder. I want to try new things — take a cooking class, practice Tai Chi in the park, or dive into a hobby I never had time for before. I want to face fears, push boundaries, and remind myself that age is just a number.

This is my “Me Era.” A decade of self-reflection, kindness, and unapologetic authenticity. I choose joy, peace, vitality, and grace. I choose to live boldly, fearlessly, and fully.

So here’s to turning 50 — not as an ending, but as a powerful new beginning. Watch out world, because I’m stepping into this decade stronger, wiser, and more radiant than ever.

Age is just math — and I refuse to let numbers define me.

 Happy 50th Birthday to me. The best is yet to come. - Sharnel Rackham