Who says women over 50 can't have fun? She is at the peak of her influence and power. She is committed to living fully and passionately in the second half of life, despite failures and false starts. To find out, we asked WebMD readers, as well as a doctor Christiane Northrup, MD, author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom ; a clinical Nancy O'Reilly, PsyD ; and a retirement lifestyle specialist Cynthia Barnett, EdD. We also checked out what prominent authors Shirley W. Mitchell Fabulous After 50 and Sensational After 60 and Jane Ganahl Naked on the Page: The Misadventures of My Unmarried Midlife had to say about women aging, then sprinkled in a few observations from 60 Minutes' crusty humorist Andy Rooney. Women Over 50 Are Freer 1. After turning 50 I felt liberated. I felt like I could say what I wanted to say, do things I wanted to do, and wear things I wanted to wear. At 50, if you use it's for , not for avoiding. What a relief when that's not a worry anymore! We don't sweat the little things any more -- and we've learned that darn near everything is a little thing! WebMD: -- Clara38 4. The woman over 50 makes her relationship with herself No. The kids are grown. She's learned to let them go and stopped about them. I read somewhere that more women in their 40s get than in their 50s. I think it's because once you hit 50, you don't care. In their 50s, women realize they don't have to have a mate. They realize it's OK not to have a date everywhere you go. You know that the clock is the great leveler. Those 20-somethings with their perfect bodies, looking at yours with pity, will someday have their own to contend with. You get new , new clothes, to match who you want to be. You don't feel old, look old, or act old. Nobody's going to fault her for using , , getting a nip and tuck. She can be who she wants to be. She can be a redhead one week, a blonde the next. You can tell her you like or don't like it -- but that doesn't mean she's going to follow your advice. O'Reilly Women Over 50 Are Powerful 10. A world of opportunities opens up when you turn 50. Today, there are entire web sites, companies, and services devoted to the over-50 demographic. Find your niche in that market. Women over 50 are a powerful market force in today's economy. Women buy 80% of consumer goods and services, and among the 80 million baby boomers, that's power. Women over 50 are president, CEO, and the star of their own lives. If you have the attitude that life is precious, that life is grandiose, that you don't want to waste any time, you will make this quality time. The entrepreneurial spirit is booming in 50-year-old women. She's following her , starting her own business. She's forming partnerships with other women's businesses. She knows that collaboration is a valuable part of being successful. O'Reilly Women Over 50 Are Self-Assured 14. You know what you like and what you don't like. If someone is trying to talk you into wearing pink because it's trendy, you don't let them influence you. There's wonderful self-trust when you hit 50. You've learned that you can depend on yourself and you are open to new opportunities. You can accept change, tackle life, and move on. Women know themselves, what looks good on them, and dress to complement the assets they have. O'Reilly Continued Women Over 50 Are Sexy 17. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 50 is far sexier than her younger counterpart. I look better today than when I was in my 30s. I am 87 lbs. Women in their 50s make great lovers. Going through can be extremely freeing. As she ages, her sexuality becomes more important, and she is better able to enjoy it. Hopefully you've finally gotten over that! You know yourself sexually -- and if you don't, this is the time to find out. I am , shopping, traveling, and enjoying my friends more and often. I lost and my style of dressing has changed. I am now wearing hip-hugging jeans, leather -- everything. Even my life has improved. A woman over 50 looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women or drag queens. Rooney Women Over 50 Have More Fun 23. You can finally get the car you've always wanted. You can toss the minivan and really indulge yourself. We've learned that being older is the perfect excuse to get out of something we didn't want to do anyway. You've learned to appreciate spontaneous humor, for it gives life a spicy flavor. You laugh a lot, and laugh out loud. You let the child within you play. I am self-employed and having fun. I am taking classes at the local university and surprisingly made friends with students of all ages. When you're over 50, you have the freedom to date for the fun of it. It's more about do we have chemistry and am I hot for him? We've discovered that we can act like teenagers whenever we feel like it, and people think it's nifty. For some people, that is very sad. I can totally take art classes, I'm not tied to the carpool. You recognize that talent does not know age. You learn the value of taking risks, pushing your personal comfort level, reinventing yourself. At this age, almost all men are younger than you, so might as well date them. People look at you less askance for younger men. Rooney Women Over 50 Know What They Like 33. You learn to fuel your life from your inner wisdom, from your soul. Your life only works well if it's fueled from what's really true inside, not from what's current in magazines. You might participate in a current trend, but what's true must be from what's in you. Your sense of personal style comes together. After decades of experimenting, you learn what feels comfortable, what looks dazzling. If a woman over 50 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it's usually something more interesting. You really have learned who you are as a person, what your likes and dislikes are. It makes life ever so much more pleasant and joyful and simpler when you know. The downside is, it makes it hard to find people to date because you're so much more selective. Ganahl Women Over 50 Are Wise 38. At 50, you realize that life is big, much bigger than you ever knew. You see that life has this ability to be very healing, that the full implications of events aren't always evident. What you might think is awful can turn out to be a blessing. Women get psychic with age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 50. It's a time of self-reflection. You thought the glass ceiling would make you happy and fulfilled. Now you're looking for your purpose in life, looking for work you love to do. She knows the value of mentoring. There are younger women out there who want role models. A woman over 50 has wisdom to offer. You know the wisdom of surrender. You're right that your ex-husband wronged you. You can spend the rest of your life beating that drum, but that's the road to bitterness. There is wisdom in letting go of your grievances. You begin to know what's important and what isn't. You know what hill to die on. When you turn 50, mortality rears its face. Women start looking for their mission in life. The whole arena of giving back to society becomes their focus. You have more compassion, more acceptance, for yourself and other people. You are no longer shamed by your own humanity. You learn to see the humor in your own foibles. Northrup Women Over 50 Are Just Getting Started 45. I'm definitely not the same person my mother was at 50! With the knowledge we have now, the sky's the limit. I ride horses, scuba dive, zip line! There's something really bracing about being 50. You realize how young you are. And you realize how much more to life there is. At 50, you learn the value of being passionate about something -- a lover, a career, your life. Passion is what makes you jump out of bed every morning, makes you love every moment in the day. You look forward to meeting your grandchildren. When that happens, it will be the best thing of my life. A woman over 50 knows the value of celebrating life. She's sizzling, not fizzling. She's savvy, not sad. I am loving life and it's only going to get better. Christiane Northrup,MD,author, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom. Jane Ganahl, author, Naked on the Page: The Misadventures of My Unmarried Midlife. Mitchell, contributor, 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life; author, Fabulous After Fifty. Nancy O'Reilly, PsyD, psychologist and life coach. Cynthia Barnett, EdD, retirement specialist. © 2007 WebMD, Inc.