Once again, I am excited to introduce another guest to my series:

Amazing over 50’s

I am inviting and featuring ‘Mid-lifers’ who are enjoying life over 50 and who are happy to shout out about great health, fitness, lifestyles, work or their achievements etc, but more importantly who are embracing this time of their lives with pride and open arms.

Cheryl Riley is this months guest on the ‘Amazing Over 50’s series.  Cheryl writes an interesting lifestyle blog called, ‘Born in a Car’ where she covers various topics, including her travels and various places she’s lived, but by taking that initial big leap in leaving her hometown in Australia to live in Russia, Cheryl shows how ‘stepping out of her comfort zone‘ lead to an exciting future with so many more opportunities in life.

Welcome to ‘loving the fifty something’ Cheryl, and to the ‘Amazing over 50’s’ series.

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I started ‘Born in a Car’ 2 years ago.  At first I wanted to start a travel blog.  At the time I lived in Moscow, Russia, and had a lot of opportunities to travel not only in Russia, but in Europe. As an Australian, Europe was always so far from me for most of my life, and here I was now in my 50s, and Europe is right next door to me!  So at the time I decided to start a blog I’d already been to quite a lot of European cities (as well as some Asian countries) and I was planning to write about that.  

But then I realized that I didn’t really ‘travel’ as such, I just went places, ate good food and walked around these places looking at architecture and people, and taking photos.  So I decided that instead of a travel blog, it will be a blog about me, things I do, my life etc.  And I called it Born in a Car because I really was born in a car!

Born in a Car has become a way for me to share my life, not only with my family, who I left back in Australia 13 years ago, but also with others who might be interested in my lifestyle.  I like sharing my stories and my photos with people, and I feel really privileged to be able to do that.  I love getting comments, messages and emails from people who enjoy reading my blog, it gives me encouragement to write and share more with them.

Do you remember what turning 50 meant to you?

The lead-up to turning 50 was awful for me.  I never wanted to be 50.  I didn’t tell people my age after about 40 because I didn’t want to acknowledge that 50 was looming.  I didn’t want anyone to know.  I don’t look my age so it was quite easy to ‘hide’ it.  I guess it’s difficult to admit that we’re getting older and that we’ll probably never have that ‘youthful’ look about us again (jowls anyone?!).  

But actually, the day I turned 50 went well.  My husband, Olivier, and I were on holiday in Hanoi, Vietnam, at the time, and we spent the day exploring the town, eating great food and soaking up the Vietnamese atmosphere.  In the evening we had drinks with a friend, and Olivier told him that it was my birthday and that I was 50 that day.  This friend simply raised his drink to me, wished me a happy birthday, and that was it!  A very low-key celebration, if you could even call it that!  It was perfect.  

Now that I’m 53 I’ve had time to get used to my age, and I actually don’t mind telling people how old I am when they ask.  I feel comfortable in my skin, jowls and all!

How do you stay fit and healthy?

I eat good food.  I rarely eat anything made in a factory (unlike my early years), for example no cakes, biscuits, or ready-made meals (my husband is a chef!).  I try not to eat anything that comes from a packet or box.  I’m not a vegetarian, but eat meat in moderation.  Lots and lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, every day if I can.  And a few months ago I removed processed sugar and all chocolate from my diet.  I also gave up eating bread, but not completely.

I don’t do any type of sport at all.  I started doing some exercises at home in the living room this year.  My goal to be able to touch my toes, which I achieved and can still do!  But that’s taken a back seat right now because I’m doing a lot of walking around the new town I’m living in (Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria), and it’s a really hilly town, so the leg muscles are getting a good workout!

What are the things you are most proud of achieving after turning 50?

After turning 50?   I’m not sure.  I did a lot of ‘work’ on myself in my 30s and 40s.  I got married at 42 and that really changed me!  I had to learn to co-operate and be more considerate to others after being single for so long.  I guess after 50 I’ve managed to become more flexible, to accept when I can’t control things (yes, I’m a bit of a control freak), and maybe I’ve learnt not to be so quick to judge people as I used to be.  I’m working on self-improvement all the time.

Are there any messages or advice you’d like to give to people who are about to turn 50?

Look after your health.  Give up smoking.  Eat the rainbow every day.  Value and love yourself as you should.  And it’s never too late to change.

Thank you Cheryl for being another amazing guest in this series. Your bravery to take such life changing leaps in order to successfully find a more exciting future is truly inspirational.

If you’d like to stay in touch with Cheryl and follow her adventures then her links are below:

Website: https://borninacar.com/

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Borninacar/ (Private group – please join us there!)

Email: cheryl@borninacar.com

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com.au/borninacar1/

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      🤩 Would you like to be featured in this ‘Amazing over 50’s’ series? 🤩

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Are there any ‘Mid-lifers’ out there who are enjoying life over 50?  

Are you happy to shout out about great health, fitness, lifestyles, work or any achievements since turning 50?  

Do you embrace this time of your life with pride and open arms?

You don’t have to be a blogger to be featured!

If so, please contact me Here and maybe you’ll be featured as the next…

Amazing Over 50

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