The Journey of a Lifetime By Donna Ryan IΓÇÖve heard it said that to find your purpose, think of all the things you loved to do as a child. Television shows were huge past time activities for many of my friends growing up, but not for me. I used my allowance money to buy the latest copy of Tiger Beat or Teen magazine and read it out loud to my friend Maria. ┬áWe shared the latest gossip and the newest trends while saying we were going to be news reporters. As an older me, I still prefer a good magazine read over television watching.┬á Books and magazines always keep me openminded to new experiences! Some things, like that, donΓÇÖt change. And some do. I cannot believe how fast the years are going by and I have only a few days left of being 58. As I get older and begin the start of a new age the anticipation gives me the same excitement I feel when touring an old mansion.┬á┬á It feels as if I am standing in the foyer of a beautiful old house and seeing the sparkling chandeliers and paintings as well as the doors lining the huge staircase.┬á For so many years for one reason or another I stayed stuck in the foyer.┬á I would habitually do the same thing over and over. I would read the books and look at the pictures but had nothing to report because I felt afraid to try new things. ThatΓÇÖs changing: My fondness of books and reading had me join a community book club here in my neighborhood, where I met a lovely neighbor who I now call friend.┬á She is very musical, crafty and colorful–all the things I never thought I was.┬á I am conservative, but I am finding as I peek into the doors of her life that I see myself copying her from time to time.┬á She may notice I now have flowered jeans and how when we are shopping I have a bottle of $2.99 sangria in the cart because I enjoyed it so much when having wine and cheese at her house. ┬áSmall things to some, but fun changes for me! Saying yes to a playdate was much easier as a little girl. But my new friend makes it welcoming to try new things as she invites my sister and I to comedy night outings, and last Sunday we had so much fun doing water aerobics with her at our community pool.┬á Oh, how the young sun bathers looked at us like we were nuts.┬á Those old broads are making so much racket in the pool.┬á But it sure was a fun door to have opened and one I would never had even thought of when stuck in the foyer. As often happens in life, Maria and I lost touch through the years. So I am not sure if she fulfilled her dream of being a news reporter, but I will always think fondly of her.┬á Peeking through the window of my childhood home and seeing us reading books brings back the happiest times for me.┬á Deep down I am still that same girl who loves to flip through magazines.┬á Recipes, crafts, fashion, movies, books, trips, workout tips!┬á My heart is racing just thinking of all the wonderful things I can learn to do as I climb all the stairs and begin flinging open the doors. I may not have Maria to be my co-reporter but I hold her memory in my heart as I look forward to reporting everything I learn to all of you. I hope I will be around ten years from now as I end my 60s being the same girl who is excited to climb the stairs up to the attic of the mansion.┬á Oh my, can you imagine all the wonderful treasures that are hidden up there! What I once called leisure activities I now call life.┬á I am so ready to explore every single room and try something new and different each and every day. Having the courage to step out of the foyer came just in time!┬á┬á In a few days I will┬á blow out my 59th birthday cake candles but┬á I no longer need to make a wish.┬á It has already come true!┬á I will instead say with a heart filled with gratitude , ΓÇ£Thank you, God, for this incredible journey.ΓÇ¥ Donna Ryan, a frequent contrbutor to thirdAGE, is the founder and editor of the blog┬áwww.50plusstickingtogether.com.