Come in to my forest and I may just munch on you for lunch!

 After reading the blogs of young people on mindsay  and other community spaces , I must say "It's good to be 50".
Young people seem to be so unhappy and confused. I still remember that. Searching for love and happiness, trying to become who and what I wanted to be, trying to look the way I thought I was supposed to look, raising children, raising hell,  buying first homes, first cars, first loves, loves lost, balancing school, work and a personnel life. Who am I , where am I , where the hell am I going??? The endless questions that plague the mind. It was all so draining you wanted to go to sleep and never wake! I remember when  my neighbor attempted to "proselytize" me when I was in my early teens. She said "Don't you want to go be with Jesus and live forever"? I remember my exact words to her was "Hell no. I just want to go to sleep and rest...forever."
The physical and emotional changes our bodies go through along with parent pressure,peer pressure and barometric pressure was enough to cause your brain to explode!! Too much input...brain on overload!!! Warning! Danger Will Robinson!!!ARGH!!!!!!!! Yep...I remember it well.
But now I'm 50 and loving it! I have no desire to be young again thank you very much. You can keep your youth with all it's bullshit.
I'm no longer coloring my hair, I'm letting the gray take over. I've been dying my hair since I was 13 because I wanted to be "beautiful" and brown was so generic. Now I shall look like the wise old granny I am!
I have quit struggling with my weight trying to look like someone I'm not. I am a chunky but "fit" gal...deal with it.
I am a humanist, I do not believe in any religion...period. I believe that it is up to each of us as part of humanity to strive to make the world a fair, just and better place.I am happy and satisfied with who I am.
I love to study history, philosophy,etc....and believe the day I cease to learn shall be the day I die.But I have no pressure to learn, no classes to attend, no homework to do...ah.......
My kids are grown with families of their own and I have beautiful grandchildren to play with if I feel the urge for interaction with children, other wise my nest is empty and peaceful!
I don't have to impress a boy because my guy said "I do and always will" 25 years ago and shows me everyday he means it.He is the love and focus of my life and my greatest treasure!
So young people, take heart. One day all the craziness of youth will one day be behind you. Stay fit for healths sake but don't stress over your appearance. You are an individual not a hostess twinkie, so allow yourself to be you. You can't please everyone (although I'm sure you try) so please yourself. Best make the best out of this life cause theres no guarantee  you'll have another. This one is for certain...love it, live it, cherish it.
I can honestly say be fifty is more than "nifty"..it  is frickin wonderful! I'm not afraid to live and I'm not afraid to die.
My advice to you...take life one day at a time, keep your hearts , your eyes and your minds open. Cut yourself  and others some slack and try not to be too serious. Laugh often and never get to old to "play and imagine".
Breathe in and breathe out, scream when you need to scream, laugh when you need to laugh and cry when you need to cry...then shake it off and keep on walking.