I have never really given ageing a lot of thought, but when I turned 43 last summer, it occurred to me that I’m probably middle aged now. After a quick google search that defined middle age as 40-65, I tried to embrace middle aged as part of my identity and it just didn’t feel right. I have a bunch of ideas of what I want to accomplish before I am 50, but have given very little thought as to what comes after 50. As if it marked the edge of a cliff with a sharp drop off.
Coincidentally my creative partner Krista Gruen had just started working on a new podcast Half Betty with Andrea Rathborne. The concept of the show has completely redefined my idea of what the second half of my life might look like. Andrea the Host of Half Betty shares a birthday with the great late Betty White. The year Andrea was turning 50, would have been Betty White’s 100 Birthday, making Andrea a Half Betty. The show celebrates the fact that Betty White created more between the age of 50 to 100, then from 0 to 50.
Isn’t that a revolutionary concept? You & I can create more in the second half of our lives if we choose to keep going after it. If we take all that we have learned and apply it, of course our results could be glorious. I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but I have made A LOT of mistakes that have slowed my progress. Mostly I don’t stand in my own way as much as I used to and that is a game changer. When I think of Krista and our company Yellow Heart Pictures I am beyond excited for what we can create in the second half of our lives.
The Podcast Half Betty interviews middle aged women and shares the breakthroughs and challenges they face in mid life. I want to shine the spotlight on my friend Krista for a second as I am continuously inspired by her. Krista has been my better half creatively since 2013. As a writing partner she brings so much joy, love and levity to the work that used to feel hard and required visiting dark places to produce. Our creative relationship is open, and she has produced beautiful things with other collaborators during this time. My favourites are obviously Half Betty, which she produces and co-hosts; Re: Uniting a movie she produced with writer/director Laura Adkin; and Grand Unified Theory a movie she co-produced with writer/director David Ray. Krista is the the ultimate Half Betty, the second half is looking so bright.
While the show focuses on women, my favourite centenarian popped into my head, Mike Fremont. At the young age of 102, Mike still exercises 30 minutes a day, loves canoeing with his wife and does pull-ups before bed each night. He started running at the age of 36 when his first wife died, qualified for the Boston Marathon at age 83 for the first time and set multiple world records running in his 90’s. He became plant based at the age of 69 after a cancer scare, showing that habits can change at any age. I first heard Mike on the Rich Roll Podcast and instantly fell in love with him.
I have no idea what mid life and old age has in store for me, but I am so excited to find out!!! I want to keep going after things till the the day I die. I heard Dr. Brett Jones say once that at his funeral he wants people to say: He had no potential left!
Dear Reader, let’s make a pact. Let us use up all our potential and regardless of gender let’s all be Half Betty’s and create more in the second part of our lives.