My birthday is (or was, depending on when you read this) on the 21st, and turning 51 feels like both a blink and a milestone. The year between 50 and 51 seemed to move on fast forward. Time accelerates as we age, and so does growth if you’re willing to look for it.
The other night I caught a rerun of Seinfeld where Jerry and Kramer were visiting Jerry’s parents at their retirement community. The residents were joking about Kramer being a ladies’ man, and the punch line was that he got a date with the “young” fitness instructor. Jerry deadpans, “She’s 50!” It made me laugh, because here I am, a 51-year-old fitness trainer. The implication that 50 isn’t young felt a little too close to home. HA! And the funny thing is, since they never showed the instructor, my mind’s eye pictured an older woman than me, not a young-ish 50-year-old.
I feel as young as I did at 30, maybe younger in some ways. Only now I feel more confident, more experienced, more outgoing, and more comfortable in my own skin. And this is not true for everyone, but I am definitely stronger at 51 than I ever was at 30.
All of this reminds me every day to keep moving forward, to keep working on my dreams, and to keep doing the hard things. The time passes anyway, so I want to spend it on what matters. I don’t claim to have life figured out. Coaching has taught me that no one really needs advice. What people need most is support and space to discover what works best for them. These are simply lessons I’ve gathered through living, working, and learning over 51 years (but mostly in the last ten, ha!).
Health and Fitness
1. Consistently good is better than occasionally perfect.
2. Strength training is the closest thing to a fountain of youth.
3. Cardio supports your heart and health, strength supports your capability.
4. Move your body to feel good and get strong, not to shrink it.
5. Eat in a way that supports energy and well-being.
6. Build your fitness routine around the life you have, not an ideal version of it.
7. Rest days are part of training, not a break from it.
8. Small changes in daily habits compound into big results.
9. The scale is only one small measure of progress, and it doesn’t tell the whole story or even an accurate one.
10. Health and fitness are built on skill power, which is stronger than willpower.
Mindset and Growth
11. Getting comfortable with discomfort builds resilience.
12. Confidence grows by doing hard things on purpose.
13. Self-talk influences outcomes more than most people realize.
14. Noticing and celebrating small wins keeps momentum alive.
15. Growth often happens quietly before it becomes visible. Keep going.
16. Identity shapes behavior. When you see yourself as capable, you act accordingly.
17. All-or-nothing thinking usually leads to nothing.
18. Quick fixes rarely create lasting change. You need to invest in the work.
19. Information is helpful, but action is what creates transformation.
20. Do what you can, when you can, with what you have. It’s always enough
Work and Leadership
21. Sales is really about human connection.
22. Networking is about relationships, not transactions.
23. Help others feel better and you’ll feel better too.
24. What you give often comes back around many times over.
25. Leadership is about example, not titles.
26. "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." — Maya Angelou
27. Listening deeply is an underrated strength.
28. You can learn from every person you meet.
29. Momentum matters more than motivation.
30. You grow more from failure than from success.
Perspective with Age
31. Time is moving faster, so do not delay.
32. You don’t have to have everything figured out to begin.
33. Gratitude changes the way you experience the day in front of you.
34. Perspective is a gift of growing older.
35. It’s never too late.
36. Approach life with curiosity and it opens new doors.
37. You win or you learn.
38. Some gifts arrive disguised as challenges.
39. Comparison steals joy, focus on your own path.
40. Caring less about opinions frees up space for what matters.
Living Well
41. Slowing down can be as productive as speeding up.
42. Fun is part of self-care.
43. Asking for help shows strength.
44. The people you surround yourself with shape your life.
45. Taking care of yourself first gives you the capacity to care for others.
46. Gratitude is powerful when practiced daily.
47. Resilience is built through practice.
48. Perfection is not the goal, progress is.
49. Confidence grows with experience.
50. The best time to start something was in the past. The next best time is now.
51. The year will pass anyway, so use it for what matters most.
Stepping into 51
Looking at this list, I see lessons that point back to resilience, growth, connection, and perspective. Growing older means more experience and more capacity to see what matters clearly.
Now that I’ve stepped into 51, I want to keep choosing progress, health, and connection. I want to notice invisible growth, celebrate small wins, and keep showing up for the long game. The year ahead will move quickly, just like the last. My reminder to myself is to keep stepping forward, to use my time wisely, and to enjoy the gift of another year. And I’m young, damnit, no matter what the 1997 version of Jerry Seinfeld thinks.
Questions? I’d love to help.
Lea
Lea Genders is a board-certified health coach, personal trainer, and workplace wellness consultant based in Fort Worth, TX. She offers corporate wellness programs for employee health and productivity, as well as in-person and virtual training / coaching for individuals worldwide. Her blog shares expert guidance on strength training, running, and sustainable nutrition @fortworth_trainer
Time feels like it’s moving faster every year. Turning 51 reminded me to keep working on my dreams, keep doing the hard things, and spend time on what matters. I put together 51 lessons from 51 years to share what I’ve learned along the way.