middle age – On Life, Hope y todo lo demás…

Why we’re surprised when we reach a certain age

As we age, we often act surprised, as if no one warned us that we would eventually get old. When we are young, we tend to believe that old age happens to other people and that we will never experience it ourselves. This is because our brains are wired to resist the idea of our […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Simple Little Pleasures at 54

I’m in that stage of life where one could say the train has left the station. It might be true for some things, but for others, it’s the perfect time to enjoy the simple little pleasures. Now, more than ever I can take advantage of truly simple things especially because I’m alone, over 50, and […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

The little box of memories

Every summer I go to Madrid. The city where I spent my childhood years and my twenties. My last trip was different from all the others. It felt like Fall had taken over my soul as Isabel Allende put it in an interview. Most of her life her soul felt like Summer, but since the […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Invisibility is sometimes simply a choice we make

They say that women of a certain age become invisible, and that seems to make women feel bad. Yet, I have wanted most of my life to be invisible, do my own thing and not be touched by life’s uncomfortable moments. We all have areas where we feel uncomfortable and would like to avoid at […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Change over time; 30’S into 50’s

At thirty we think we know it all, but at around 50 we realize how little we know and start to doubt what we used to believe. All we thought we knew and stood by, after all our setbacks and experiences, is challenged and we are sometimes left weary and disillusioned. We are less passionate […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Women of a certain age have few if no opportunities in the workforce in Spain

People ask me why I don’t move back to Spain if I have no family in San Francisco. This question was immediately asked when I got separated. Nothing was then holding me back in the US. Although I truly love Spain, unfortunately, there are no opportunities for women my age. Spain is a wonderful, friendly […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Building stronger bonds and friendships at middle age.

They say the older you get the harder it is to make new meaningful friendships, but I disagree. In my case, I have my old friendships which I treasure but also new friendships that have developed now in my 50’s that I hold very dear too. It may be due to the fact that I feel comfortable […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

Middle age; the good, the bad and the road ahead.

I never thought I’d turn 30 just as I never anticipated going through many life changes, difficulties or heartbreaks. Middle age is one of those things we simply don’t see on the horizon when we’re young. Then, reality sets in and time passes. Accepting what is, is hard, and the changes our bodies, minds and […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

The older, the more interesting people become.

The older we get, the more experiences we have to share. We are exciting books waiting to be read. Our chapters are longer, more intricate and interesting. And as we share these stories with others, we are not only enriched by them but bond with others like never before because we may share similar experiences […]

by Laura Basset Carbonell

24 things that make me happily single at fifty!

As much as I miss having a home to go back to -the perfect home I had finally found- my puppy, the “false” sense of security believing someone had my back and the companionship. After the abrupt separation, the months following made me realize the upside of being “single” again. It is different now at […]