Some of these I don’t want to learn or do. Like swim. Or jump the car. Especially don’t want to do my taxes nowadays. I’d like to tell off a few people but then I think “why waste good air and energy. Just ignore them.” Some of these are funny and it would be interesting to me to see if the list is representative of women nowadays whether they are 50 or not. I’d say I was doing most of these by the 30. Now I have to go read the “30” list.
Huffington Post: No doubt many people believe that wisdom comes with age. Indeed recent research shows that people believe those in their 50s and 60s to be pretty darn capable. (Unfortunately, other research shows that wisdom starts to decline at around age 75.) But is it really true? What do you know now that you didn’t know 20 years ago?
The Huffington Post previously published an article on the “30 Things Every Woman Should Have And Should Know” by 30. We decided to take that a step further and ask our readers what every woman should know how to do by 50. Our Facebook fans offered a variety of opinions. Kim Shaw Bussey said women should know how to “date men under 40.” Melanie Springer responded “pay bills (on time).” And Brian Friesen said women should know how to “have an orgasm. If you’ve never figured it out before, now is the time.”
After much discussion, those of us at Huff/Post50 compiled our own list of 50 things we believe every woman should know how to do by the age of 50.
By 50, women should know how to:
- Say “no” without feeling guilty
- Book their own travel
- Say “I’m sorry” and mean it
- Laugh at themselves
- Change a tire
- Take themselves out to dinner and/or a movie — on their own
- Get around in a foreign country
- Program and operate their TV (this is easier said than done!)
- Mix at least a few classic cocktails
- Do their own taxes
- Invest in the stock market
- Make themselves and their own needs a priority
- Sew — at least a little
- Defend themselves against an attacker with at least one signature self-defense move
- Perform CPR
- Carve a turkey
- Choose their own wine
- Light a grill — and then cook on it
- Swim
- Order a credit report — and then be able to read it
- Examine their own breasts
- Graciously accept a compliment
- Flip their own breaker
- Plunge a toilet
- Properly hang photos and artwork
- Whip up a signature dish that’s not spaghetti or meatloaf
- Walk away from a situation or relationship when it’s not working
- Tell off at least one person who deserves it
- Say what they really want in bed
- Put together a piece of “some assembly required” furniture
- Apply makeup without a mirror
- Buy something crazy expensive just because they want it
- Ask for a raise
- Mow their own yard
- Unclog a drain
- Tell which direction they are facing
- Tell at least one really good joke
- Make small talk with just about anyone
- Know when to reveal personal information — and when not to
- Think critically and independently when hearing speeches and listening to the news
- Paint a room
- Buy the right-sized bra
- Beautifully wrap a present
- Hail a taxi
- Reach out to an old friend
- Jump a car battery
- Show love with actions and not just words
- Put together a real retirement strategy
- Look good in a photo
- Open a bottle of champagne