Wisdom & Audacity: When Age Becomes Advantage

Sitting in the chair, the hairdresser asked "No color?"

To which I replied "That's right, my grey is MY color, my natural highlights!"

She's asked me the same question on at least my past five visits and every time I give the same answer, her eyebrow goes up - just a little but I see it!

I'm constantly reminded that I'm aging, I hear it when the store clerk calls me Ma'am or the helpful pump attendant calls me "Mammy" or when my friends' children call me Auntie. (And let's not discuss how my body reminds me!)

This year I’m celebrating a milestone birthday - 60 and I couldn't be any happier. And one thing I am cognizant of is that when I look in the mirror, the image I see looking back is not the one I imagined when I thought of this age in my teens.

My 60 is not my Momma's 60!

Just like my hairdresser, society likes to paint a specific picture of what a woman over 50 should be: auntie, mom, maybe even grandma. We should be settled, reserved, maybe even a little frumpy. But for many Black women, this image couldn't be further from the truth. We've spent our lives navigating a world that seeks to diminish us, and by the time we reach our fifties, we're done playing by anyone else's rules.

In a recent podcast episode , I spoke about ditching those expectations and leaning into our well earned rebellion.

Being a rebellious 50+ Black woman is a beautiful juxtaposition. It's the clash of wisdom and fire, the understanding of your place in the world alongside the unwavering insistence on making your own way. It's about claiming your agency, defying expectations, and living life on your own terms. And for those of us in that bracket, that rebellion can take many forms.

It's the courage to speak our minds, even when our voices shake. We've been told to be quiet for far too long. Now, we're using our voices to advocate for ourselves, our communities, and the causes we care about.

It's the freedom to travel the world (or our own city!), because who says adventure has an age limit? We've spent years taking care of everyone else. Now, it's time to explore, to learn, and to grow.

It's the right to say no. We've spent years sacrificing our needs for others. Now, we're setting boundaries and prioritizing our well-being.

There's a powerful truth embedded in the statement: "if you lean into the societal narrative then that's what you become." As mature Black women, we've seen firsthand the constricting nature of those narratives. We've been told to be strong, but not too strong. Opinionated, but not disruptive. We're supposed to age gracefully, which often translates to fading silently into the background.

But we (me included), refuse to be defined by these limitations and choose a different path, creating one that celebrates our strength and wisdom.

So, yes, society may have a narrative for us, but we have a counter-narrative. A narrative that celebrates our resilience, our power, and our unwavering spirit. It's a narrative that says Black women, at any age, can rewrite the rules, redefine success, and rise triumphant.

This is our rebellion. This is our legacy. And it's only just begun.

Feeling stuck and undervalued at work?

Download my FREE guide, "Reimagine Your Success: 5 Signs It's Time to Quit the BS and Reimagine Your Success ," specifically designed for Black women over 50.

This guide will help you identify:

• Signs that your current role is no longer fulfilling
• Strategies to advocate for your expertise and value
• Tips for creating a healthy work-life balance
• How to prioritize your wants and redefine success on your own terms

Don't settle for "BS" any longer! Download your free guide and take control of your career journey today.