You Are Not Invisible After 50™
Invisibility is not a cloak to be worn
I am a woman in my late 50s.
I left my marriage in my early 50s.
I moved my children and myself to a new city in my late 50s.
I have relaunched a new business, learnt new skills and taken up exercise.
I have started a brighter, better life in a new place after 50.
I’m still taking the steps to reinvent myself as a stronger, more confident, and more empowered woman in my 50s.
Invisibility is not a cloak to be worn
Invisibility is not a cloak to be worn at any age, but certainly not as one ages.
When I was young, I saw the older generation as unmemorable, faded and a bit drab. However, times have moved on and so have I. Once I reached that pinnacle age of living for half a century, I realised that life wasn’t meant to end here. It was a time to make new decisions on what to do from here onward.
For many, reaching 50 is a time for reflection and change. However for a few, reaching this milestone is one for change. One popular change that has gone mainstream is embracing the ageing process, rather than running away from it. From Maye Musk to Iris Apfel, there are several examples of women in media who have refused to step into the invisibility cloak of becoming an ‘older woman’. But for the majority of women, greeting grey hair and wrinkles is something that we would rather not do. Our perceptions of getting older all depends on the support of family and friends, our culture and our own self-assessment of who we are.
Being a woman of colour and now of a certain age, I have chosen not to be invisible, but instead have taken the bull by the horns to make the changes that will serve me well now and also in the years to come.
I have taken the steps to show others that as an older woman, we don’t have to be unmemorable, faded and a bit drab!
Embracing the changes — and making new ones
I have embraced my ageing face — the lines of time lightly etched on my face that tell the story of my life.
I have embraced the greying hair — the silver strands that I view as shabby chic and give me a nonconformist edge.
I have embraced the changes that aging gives. But I have also made new ones.
Instead of wasting the time and expense on dying my hair, I realised that the grey hair still made me feel confident in the same way as having dark hair.
Instead of doing nothing about my fluctuating weight brought on by pregnancies, depression and busy work, I have started a rigorous work out regime to get myself stronger, fitter and healthier.
How you feel about getting older is down to how you feel. I chose to feel happier, healthier, and good all-round — whether I’m ageing or not.
Making it work
Younger people look at older people and think that our age is all there to us. We are characterised as ‘old’. But we all have a lifetime of stories and experiences that they will never realise. We have had our heartbreaks, our heartaches, our highs, and our lows. We have had the troublesome toddler years, the moody teenage years, the unsure young adult years, and the settled middle-age years. From young to old, we have dealt with everything that comes with that.
Young people have to realise that every single one of us goes through this process and learn hundreds of lessons along the way. Before you know it or realise, you have reached the milestone where you can look back on your life, see clearly where you are and where you want to go for the rest of your years.
For me, reaching 50 made me question what I wanted for the rest of my existence. I took a closer look at my life and asked myself on what it would look like going forward.
Would I remain in a difficult marriage?
Would I remain in a town that was not my own?
Would I remain connected to people who weren’t my own?
I have been brought to my knees by so many people in my lifetime. I have always made the decision that in order to survive, I had to adapt and change.
I left the past behind in order to move forward — a slow and arduous process that takes foresight, effort, perseverance and determination.
Surviving is the key. Thriving is an option.
Not only have I survived what has been thrown at me, but I have chosen to thrive.
I came to a new city of a new beginning to a new chapter of my life. I took up a new look. I have honed new skills.
And I have started a new business to help others become braver, stronger and more empowered — no matter who they are or where they come from.
Welcome to Roaring Ahead.
Having experienced several difficult and traumatic events in my life and then learning to rescue myself, I envisaged building a company helping others and sharing the lessons I learnt.
My mother called me her ‘sher’ — a lion in Hindi . A lion or lioness isn’t weak. It’s strong, powerful and loud enough to be heard. Therefore, I made the choice to rise up, to be seen and to unleash my voice.
I took hold of my life, examined where I was going and have taken the transformative steps to make those changes. On my own terms, I am leading a healthier, happier and more fulfilled life.
And so can you.
I believe that sharing my journey and experiences can support people of all ages and backgrounds who wish to transform their lives and empower themselves. Through a series of innovative training courses, workshops and a range of image consultancy services, you can become a better version of you — on the inside or out.
To learn more, visit Roaring Ahead below:
“I have learnt that you’re never too old or too late to take charge or make a change…
Kiran Kumar — Founder of Roaring Ahead
You Are Not Invisible After 50™
One of our unique services is our “You Are Not Invisible After 50™” training course.
Having been through the highs and lows of life, I believe that my story, my experiences and the lessons I have learnt can help others in their journey.
I have often wished that there were others in my life who could have helped, guided and supported me. I have wished for those who possessed the empathy, sympathy, life experiences and nuggets of wisdom.
“ There is no better gift than helping others”
Starting Roaring Ahead was an opportunity for me to help others, to share with others and empower others in becoming the person they wish to become.
