So, I hit the big 5-0! Fifty, fabulous, and still in one piece—and yes, it absolutely deserves a blog. Let’s call this my way of feeling extra special about crossing this milestone.
It’s been a whirlwind of a month: visiting my babies on their turf, squeezing in a bit of work, and soaking up all the love from my Bournemouth family. How did I celebrate? A lovely lunch followed by a simple pyjama fondue party in the kitchen and wrapping it all up with a cosy bonfire. Absolute perfection.
They call it a milestone birthday for a reason. Turning 40 brought a new kind of confidence—the kind that nudged me to make bold decisions and follow through on them. But 50? Oh, 50 is like flipping the switch to "cruise control." It’s about being unapologetically me and, for once, putting myself first. No, it’s not a rebellion—it’s self-care.
Spending time with Vedant and Devina this month gave me a new perspective. Devina, my ever-wise daughter, was the one who gave me the final push to finish my Master’s in Fine Arts. Now, she’s teaching me new lessons in motherhood and self-discovery. It was such a pleasure staying with her for a few days. I can see her still diligently following the major rules of the "75 Hard Challenge" with incredible focus. There’s something quite surreal about visiting your kids in their homes rather than having them under your roof. It’s a different dynamic, a bittersweet shift, but one filled with pride and joy.
Watching them navigate their lives reminded me of the advice I wish I could give my 25-year-old self:
Be Independent! Start with finances. Everyone—and I mean everyone—should be financially independent. Teach this to your daughters and your sons. Let them make their mistakes young; just make sure they learn from them.
Travel. There’s no substitute for the education and perspective travel brings. Go far, go often, and go fearlessly.
Fitness. Not for the sake of being a certain size, but because moving your body is the best investment you’ll ever make. With social media both confusing and inspiring us with trends on supplements, diets, and nutrition, it’s important to find what suits you and fits your lifestyle—as long as it pushes you out of your comfort zone.
Oh, and here’s a little gem I recently came across: the concept of being a “good enough mom.” Why didn’t anyone tell me this earlier? It’s liberating to let go of the pressure to be perfect and just focus on being present. I wish I had known this when my kids were younger—but hey, it’s never too late. I often say—and hear my friends say—that "we were brought up a certain way or that our parents would have done things differently if we behaved a certain way." "And why can’t our kids be the same, or why shouldn’t we treat them the same?" But friends, the world has changed. Our kids are not us, and we are not our parents. We’re lucky to learn from both our parents and our kids, and that allows us to become the best versions of ourselves. Embrace that. As Khalil Gibran so beautifully said, "You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth."
Speaking of milestones, Vedant recently completed his Master’s in Artificial Intelligence and Tech Leadership. In his own "Vedant way," he’d shrug it off as no big deal. Though Vedant is also my sounding board, offering insights and perspectives that I cherish. But for me, as a parent, it’s a monumental achievement. Just showing up and completing something so prestigious in today’s world is a feat in itself. When he graduated from undergrad in 2021, the pandemic stole the chance to see him in a black cape. But trust me, wearing his cloak this time around for his postgrad? I did shed more than a few khushi ke asoon (tears of happiness).
So here I am, 50 and feeling fantastic. It’s not about slowing down; it’s about levelling up in ways that truly matter. To my younger self, my kids, and anyone reading this: embrace independence, pack your bags, hit the gym, and… have a fondue party once in a while.
YES!
50 and Fabulous!!! You are an inspitation to us all, I learn so much from you, when we do our unconventional crazy projects together. Thank you for being that one for me. Love you.