When age is just a number

It’s an age where one wants to slow down and generally mull over the journey of the past years. This author with her new book Feisty at Fifty takes a different that path, breaking certain myths that women have about themselves when they reach 50. Sudha Menon, former journalist and author of several bestsellers like Devi, Diva or She-devil, Gifted, Virasat, Legacy and Leading Ladies, with her new book gives us hope that, life can be exciting and adventurous even after we reach this milestone. Chatting up with her, we find out more.

 Painfully shy as a child, Sudha took refuge among the pages of books to avoid making friends and eye contact. She shares, “I always wanted to be a writer and have dreamt of having my name on print. This dream was fulfilled when I became a journalist at 21.” Eight years ago, she decided to put her learning to good use — to write books that can impact people positively. “As  I approached 50, physical and emotional changes happening in my body became evident. I decided to stop whining and instead looked at the funny side of being 50-plus. I wrote Feisty At Fifty because I wanted to let other women in this age group, and even the men who read the book to know that your 50s can be a party if you let it happen,” explains Menon.     

 Ask her how she feels about sharing personal details for the world to read, she says that she found it quite daunting. “Putting them down on the laptop made the difficult phases look less difficult. I have survived to tell the tale,” she adds. Sudha is not ready to accept cliches about women of her age. “I have earned the right to feel good about myself and will not accept anyone telling me what’s appropriate,” she adds, saying that if this requires her to colour her hair brown and her lips fire engine red then she will do it.    

Feisty at Fifty Sudha Menon Publisher: Pan Macmillan Rs 350 Pp: 234

 Ask her how her life is post turning 50, and she says that she is having a blast. “I have rediscovered long lost friends, bonding with my amma, my sisters, my daughter and my husband and cooking up plans for the rest of my life,” Sudha enthuses.

 The dynamics of a mother-daughter relationship are hard to understand. Sudha feels more connected to her amma and her daughter now. “She suffered the most due to my rebellious nature as a teenager and as a young woman. From her, we three sisters have learnt all about persistence, moving forward, being kind and generous at all times,” says  Sudha who’s amma seems like a source of inspiration, judging by the conversations the author has had with her mother. “Even at 71, she is feisty. She is now learning Tai-ichi, practices yoga and hangs out with friends,” she says.

 Sudha says that her daughter is a wonderful young woman who she suspects distanced herself when Sudha was going through her manic menopausal phase. Sudha shares, “We are friends now, and I find myself turning to her for advice. I have bought myself some very nice stilettos, a few sleeveless (tops) and am more than happy to step out in my new possessions,” she concludes.