On December 22nd, I turned fifty. According to the powers that be, I am entering the final third of my life. Not sure how they are doing the math since the average age of women in the United States is 82 according to the World Health Organization, but whatever.

The final third.

This sort of blows my mind because I feel as if I’m just sort of coming into my own, you know?

 I think the first third was all about friends, boys and books. The second third was all about my husband, my children and books.

And this final third? What do I want it to be about?

Actually, I kind of want it to be about me.

I’ve discovered my own strength and my own potential in the past decade—cancer tends to do that— and I started my career late. So I have this sense that I’m just now truly picking up speed. It isn’t a selfish thing… just as a blossom isn’t selfish. It blooms because it’s time to bloom. In doing so, the blossom feeds the bees, a host of animals and occasionally brings about new life. It’s not selfish. It’s just time.

If I don’t do and accomplish the things I want now, I never will.

Somethings are a given. I want to age gracefully and be physically active. To that end, I’m following the advice of a book my endocrinologist recommended, Younger Next Year. I also want to preserve my brain to try to ward off dementia, which can severely curtail your accomplishments in the final third. To help do this, I meditate and am learning and trying new things. I’m also compiling a bucket list of things I want to do in this final third of my life.

The main thing I needed to keep in mind as I compiled my bucket list is time and money. How much time would this or that take and how much money would it cost. The other thing I have to keep in mind is that I’m a married person and I need to keep my husband in mind as I make my list.

Time is crucial because I have to continue to write and work, because I love both and both are as necessary to me as breathing. I’m also going back to school because a degree will help me live the rest of my life the way I want to.  That’s going to eat up some of my final third!

For the next month, I’ll be sharing some of the things on my final third and my strategies on how I’m going to accomplish them! Hopefully, this will not only help me, but inspire some people to start thinking about their final third.