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๐…๐ข๐Ÿ๐ญ๐ฒ (๐Ÿ“๐ŸŽ, ๐Ÿ“-๐ŸŽ, ๐“๐ก๐ž ๐›๐ข๐  ๐Ÿ๐ข๐ฏ๐ž ๐ณ๐ž๐ซ๐จ): ๐€ ๐‰๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐ž๐ฒ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐‘๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ 

Writer's picture: Penny LightPenny Light

Turning 50 feels like stepping into a thresholdโ€”a moment where the past and future meet, and you stand in the middle, holding the lessons of one hand while reaching for the unknown with the other. For me, this milestone isnโ€™t just about counting years; itโ€™s about embracing who Iโ€™ve become, honoring where Iโ€™ve been, and celebrating where Iโ€™m heading.


I never thought I could or would travel the world. As a younger version of myself, the idea of traveling seemed meant for other peopleโ€”those with more confidence, courage, or freedom than I thought I could ever claim. But here I am, at 50, reflecting on a life lived across the globe. Iโ€™ve stood at Everest Base Camp, wandered the vibrant streets of Kathmandu, traced history in the ancient alleys of Istanbul, slept under the stars of the Sahara Desert, stood in awe at the Egyptian pyramids, and found peace in the spiritual heart of India and beyond. Iโ€™ve explored Europe, marvelled at its wonders, and just a few months ago, said โ€œI doโ€ to my best friend in Italy. Iโ€™ve lived six years in Costa Rica, surrounded by lush jungles and endless beaches, and a year in Botswana, immersed in the wild rhythm of life in the African bush. Iโ€™ve experienced the charm of Vermontโ€™s green mountains and the grounding simplicity of a slower pace of life. Each place has not only shaped my perspective but also taught me more about resilience, courage, and the depth of my own spirit.


Travel hasn't been about seeing new placesโ€”it has always been about breaking through my own fears, expanding what I believed was possible, and realizing that the limits Iโ€™d placed on myself were never really there at all. It taught me to lean into the unknown, to trust myself, and to find beauty not just in far-off destinations but in the life I was building along the way.


Yet, the greatest journey hasnโ€™t been about the places Iโ€™ve visited or lived; it has been the journey back to myself.


For years, like so many women, I adapted to expectationsโ€”shaping myself to fit roles and relationships, often losing sight of the woman I was meant to be. But every challenge, every heartbreak, every twist in the road was an invitation to rise. Life has been a journey of unbecoming who I thought I should be and instead stepping into who I truly am.


This decade, though, has been about more than personal growth. Itโ€™s been about creating. Iโ€™ve built businesses from scratchโ€”some that thrived and some that taught me invaluable lessons. Iโ€™ve taken on the joys and challenges of step-parenting, navigating love and boundaries in a way I never anticipated but that has profoundly enriched my life. And Iโ€™ve had the immense privilege of marrying my best friend, a man who sees me, steadies me, and makes every adventureโ€”whether around the world or in our daily lifeโ€”more meaningful.


Now, at 50, I see this time as a beginning. A return homeโ€”not just to the dreams Iโ€™ve set aside but to the unapologetic version of myself I was always meant to be. Thatโ€™s why I chose to mark this milestone in India, immersing myself in yoga teacher training. This isnโ€™t just about learning new poses or techniques; itโ€™s about resetting my heart, mind, and soul. Itโ€™s about grounding myself in the present, shedding what no longer serves me, and creating space for what comes next.


As Iโ€™ve sat and reflected on my life so far, Iโ€™ve shed tears. Tears for the losses that shaped me, for the moments of doubt that taught me resilience, and for the fleeting nature of time that makes every moment so achingly precious. But mostly, Iโ€™ve shed tears of gratitudeโ€”gratitude for the incredible, messy, and beautiful life Iโ€™ve lived so far. A life filled with adventures I never thought possible, friendships that have been my anchors, and a love that feels like coming home.


Through it all, one of the greatest gifts has been the women in my lifeโ€”the friendships that have anchored me. You donโ€™t need a room full of people; you just need a handful of true ones. The kind of women who see you, who hold space for your dreams, and who remind you of your strength when you forget. Theyโ€™ve cheered me on through the highs, lifted me through the lows, and shown me that we are stronger together.


If I could go back and whisper something to my younger self, Iโ€™d tell her this:


โ€œYou are so much stronger than you think. Donโ€™t be afraid to take risks, to fail, to love, and to lose. Keep your girlfriends close and cherish them. The world is so much biggerโ€”and so much more beautifulโ€”than you imagine. And so are you.โ€


This is what 50 feels like: a moment to pause and reflect, to celebrate how far Iโ€™ve come, and to dream of the adventures yet to unfold. If the first half of my life is any representation of the second half, then bring it on. Because not only am I ready for whatโ€™s next, but I get to spend it married to my best friend, building a life together filled with love, laughter, and endless possibilities.


Fifty is an arrival. A time to live fully, love deeply, and rise boldly. Hereโ€™s to the friendships that sustain us, the adventures that transform us, and the women we are still becoming. Because if Iโ€™ve learned anything in these years, itโ€™s that the best is always yet to come.


in friendship and adventure

Penny

XOXO

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