I turn 50 in three days.

(Happy Birthday, my fellow Capricorns!)

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to age well (I suppose this is normal when you’re in your second act).

And I won’t lie: the pressure to look younger is real.

The ads promising to “turn back time.”

The algorithms showing me the “youthful” hacks.

The subtle (and not-so-subtle) messages that aging is something to fight, hide, or apologize for.

Now, let me be very clear: I’m not saying we should or shouldn’t do certain things. I’d be a hypocrite if I did. (Botox is on my calendar biannually.)

In fact, I’d prefer we stop judging women for what they choose to do and instead tend to our own gardens.

But I am thinking about how I want to age. And, more importantly, I’m asking, what does it mean to age well?

Because here’s what I’ve realized: the women I admire who are aging powerfully aren’t just doing treatments. They’re doing something deeper.

They are embracing this season of their lives.
They are expanding instead of shrinking.
They are wearing the bold outfit and booking the trip.
They are unbothered by others’ opinions.
They are taking great care of themselves (without the unhealthy obsession).
They are staying in their own business.
They are, dare I say, French Kissing Life! (some of y’all know what I’m referring to!)

As I approach this next era, I’m choosing to tell a different story about aging.

Not the one I inherited about decline and invisibility, but one about renaissance: a revival of my deepest self.

I just released a podcast episode called “What No One Tells You About Aging Well.” 

It’s the conversation I want all the women in my life to hear. Listen here.

Let’s make aging our renaissance.

With a grateful heart,

I am not declining. I am becoming.

Every year makes me wiser.
Every experience teaches me something valuable.
Each season reveals a deeper part of me.

I’ve realized that this entire journey of becoming is really about getting back to the core of who I truly am, and that, my friend, is beautiful!

NAADAM Cashmere Fair Isle Crewneck

At 50, I’ve learned something important: quality over quantity, always.

This NAADAM Cashmere Fair Isle Crewneck isn’t just a sweater – it’s a declaration.

That I don’t do “good enough.”

That I deserve softness against my skin.

That getting dressed should feel like self-care, not an afterthought.

The Fair Isle pattern feels fresh but timeless – exactly how I want to feel in my renaissance years.

3 Tiny French Secrets That Changed My Self-Image

What if the French approach to life isn’t about being French at all – but about three simple shifts anyone can make?

In this episode, I’m sharing the dinner with Madame Clément that changed everything. These secrets I walked away with aren’t just charming ideas. They’re identity shifts that change how you see yourself.

// TheEDIT

A weekly digital magazine by the School of Self-Image