Getting Personal

                Birthday gifts to blow away the cobwebs
            
                Who on earth in their right mind wants to turn 50 – apart from someone who is 60 or 70? No matter how old we are, we all seem to have trouble coming to terms with our age, particularly if the next birthday which looms in front of us involves a zero at the end of it. We look back nostalgically at a time when we were younger, when our knee joints didn't click when we got out of bed, when we could stay up partying half the night and still get up for work in the morning…

None of us yearn to be older than we actually are. That kind of wishing stopped when we reached adulthood. The changes in physical appearance, choice of clothes we now wear, lifestyle we select, are all very different from the way we chose to live a couple of decades ago. But it's not all bad. Do you really want to be out clubbing way into the night, lose your wallet and house keys, queue for hours in the pouring rain for a taxi and get rejected by the woman or man of your dreams? Instead, you could be snuggled up in bed with a hot drink, planning tomorrow's jogging session and what kind of bread you are going to bake. I can say all this without being patronising to the over 50s as I belong to that particular club and embrace it whole heartedly. 

A big occurrence when you reach the 50ish age bracket is that your kids have more than likely flown the nest and the mortgage could well be nearly paid off, leaving you with extra disposable income and heaps more time to indulge yourself. This means you can take up that salsa class, learn a new language, take up a new hobby or sport, and take a holiday without having to take the kids' school holidays into account. You see! There are some very positive aspects to being 50.

Some of those 50 year old people could well have got into a rut with their lives over the years however, and so the perfect 50th Birthday Gifts could be those that introduce them to new and exciting elements. Experience days as 50th Birthday Gifts definitely tick all these boxes. Experience days offer the recipient the chance to have a taste of adrenalin rushing experiences, leisure experiences or pampering experiences, and with such a vast choice of ideas 50th birthday gifts are easy to find. You are never too old to bungee jump or learn to fly a plane, so why not give someone 50th Birthday Gifts that they will never forget. It is certainly not something that they would think of buying for themselves with their new found disposable income, but all the more reason to make this their 50th birthday gift. 

For a new slant on life, a 50th birthday gift that stimulates the spiritual side is a fabulous 3 day stay in a Mexican tipi, on an Eco Tipi Retreat for Two. This includes two holistic therapy treatments of Raki and meditation, as well as the opportunity to visit the Centre for Alternative Technology. If the birthday person is an old hippy from the 70s and into saving the planet, this 50th birthday gift will be so appealing and utterly inspirational. They will return home feeling relaxed and ready to take on the world. 

We've all heard of experience days at famous racing car rally tracks, but who do you know has had an experience day driving a red double decker bus, or a JCB? This imaginative 50th birthday gift will remain memorable forever and a day as it offers so much fun. For those who are having a delayed mid-life crisis a day on a Harley Davidson as a 50th birthday gift could satisfy their urge to ride off into the sunset on a motorbike. The upper age limit for this day out is 65, proving that any 50 year old can enjoy this exhilarating experience. 

At a more leisurely pace, a London hotel and West End theatre show for two is a splendid 50th birthday gift and a great way to spend your birthday with someone special. You can select the show of your choice from an extensive list, enjoy a night's stay in a hotel with continental breakfast and spend some time seeing the sights too. Truly inspirational 50th Birthday Gifts are those that offer someone the chance of developing a new skill. Alternatively, an Indian cookery day will arm you with the knowledge you require about herbs and spices to give you the confidence to create something wonderful in your own home, and they will thank you for this 50th birthday gift. 

Make the birthday person feel good about being 50. Give them 50th birthday gifts that suit them well, and let them discover something new.

Related article: Dust Down Your Tail Feathers and Take to the Skies: A 50th birthday Surprise (50th Birthday Gifts)