Turning 50 is a big deal. It means so much. And it looks very different to what the twenty-something version of me thought it would. At that young age, fifty seemed so old!

But much has changed in our culture and lifestyles these past few decades. These days, reaching half a century looks very different, don’t you think?

My intention for this article is to remember, re-live and record my journey of preparing for and celebrating 50 years of life — and in doing so, uncover the key to being able to look forward to turning 50, or any other milestone birthday.

What is this milestone about for you?

This milestone felt profoundly meaningful for me. There was a sense of it being like a symbolic marriage to myself, a celebration of myself — a deepening of my own sacred union with me. And I wanted this marker in my life to be very intentional and exquisite.

Eleven months prior to my birthday, I began crafting words and visions to describe what I desired this milestone to look and feel like. Here’s how I distilled my intention …

“I look and feel amazing for my 50th birthday. My skin is glowing, my hair long and healthy, my body is slender, toned and strong. My clothes feel good on my body and suit me well. My smile and presence lights up the room.”

This intention became part of my annual ‘self fulfilling prophecy’, which I recorded myself speaking and then listened to most days during my morning walk.

Having this intention opened me up to contemplating beyond the birthday celebrations with family and friends, to celebrating myself, giving to myself generously, and taking myself on a legendary travel journey.

📝 Take the time to contemplate what this milestone birthday is about for you.

Hiccups along the way and choosing ‘you’

The first hiccup for me was in relation to ‘how’ and ‘where’ I would celebrate my birthday with family and friends. I did have a clear vision about what I wanted, but when I first presented the idea, my Dad made a counter suggestion, which I assumed meant that he was not up for what I proposed (I realised later that wasn’t the case).

Nonetheless, I spent some weeks researching alternative options, and this is where things started to feel hard and frustrating. Along the way I attempted to anticipate what others might want or not want. Would this place be too far for everyone? Where would people stay? etc. etc.

Eventually I came back to my own centre of truth and created the birthday celebration I had imagined from the beginning. That vision was to have it at my family home where I grew up, with my parents’ 70s style bar being at the heart of the festivities.

The second hiccup was that I’d always imagined going on a 50th birthday adventure with my childhood bestie who was born ten days earlier than me. We had played with ideas of what we would do for a few years, but as it turned out she was not able to get away. At first I sulked, thinking that all was lost — until Jon snapped me out of that by saying, “Why don’t you just go on your own?”

Strangely I’d not even thought of that! Suddenly everything was back to being exciting and magical. I found the perfect solo travel adventure, and I couldn’t wait to experience it!

💡As you envision and curate your own celebration, remember that this is all about you, and it’s okay to have exactly what you want. And when unexpected events occur, look for the silver lining, because it’s always there!

My 50th Birthday adventure, play by play

What unfolded for this milestone birthday was beyond my wildest dreams, and I believe it happened because I was so intentional from the very beginning.

Ready for the full experience, play by play? Let’s go!

• Flew Business Class from Barcelona to Sydney with Emirates and got to experience their in-flight bar lounge.

• Sunday lunch on arriving in Australia with my parents, siblings, uncles and nephews in The Blue Mountains.

• 50th Birthday Soiree at my Dad’s house.

• Flew to the Gold Coast for a photoshoot and stayed in a 1-bedroom hotel overlooking the beach.

• Travelled to the Hunter Valley for my step-daughter’s magical wedding.

• Stayed a few nights in Sydney CDB and enjoyed lunches and dinners in and around the harbour.

• Experienced an epic rail journey on The Indian Pacific from Sydney to Perth.

• Met Jon and his best friend in Margaret River and spent a few days touring wineries.

• Flew to Singapore and stayed at Marina Bay Sands.

• Flew to Barcelona, stayed there a few days, and had my first ever Oyster Bar experience.

You can view the play by play as a slideshow ▶️ here.

What iconic memory could you create to mark this milestone?

What exquisite experience could you create for yourself to honour and celebrate your life, your journey, and the person that you have become?

It took me some time to find an experience that lit up my heart and soul, but then the perfect adventure landed! I would give myself a rail journey on a famous Australia train called The Indian Pacific.

“With its bold wedge-tailed eagle emblem symbolising the scope, range and significance of each epic journey, the Indian Pacific traverses mountain ranges, passes through arid deserts and goldfields, rocky valleys and subtropical savannahs on its transcontinental crossings.

Named for the two oceans the train encounters on its journey, the Indian Pacific travels between Perth, Adelaide and Sydney on a spectacular 4352km crossing. There's no better way to experience the interior landscape of Australia than by the romance of rail.” - Journey Beyond Rail

This train has always held so much awe and wonder for me because it passes through my hometown in Australia. It always felt very much out of reach though, because it was a “rich persons” train.

That’s why when I arrived at Central Station in Sydney to check-in for the journey, I became very emotional. I share more about these first moments and my overall experience in the following audio. Press play to listen ↓

What I want to remember most about this milestone:

• How magic it felt.

• How precious it was to give to myself so generously.

• How I celebrated ‘me’ for the whole month, and beyond!

• How creating a vision for this milestone made all the difference.

If there were a moral to this story it would be …

Milestone birthdays are a sacred celebration of our journey and the people we’ve become. It’s our responsibility to create beautiful memories that feel very ‘us’ and that will move us to tears when we look back on them.

Danielle Gardner
The Quiet Marketer
View my bio