I wonder how many of you landed on this page thinking you were going to see something related to the OTHER meaning of bodacious? Well, sorry to disappoint, but there is none of that here, although if you stick around a bit you might find something entertaining.
Bo·da·cious also bow·da·cious (b-dshs) or bar·da·cious (bär-) Southern & South Midland U.S.
adj.
1. Remarkable; prodigious.
2. Audacious; gutsy
It is also said that the word “bodacious” is a likely amalgam of the words” bold and audacious” with a resurgence in popularity in the ’80’s and ’90’s.
Remember the last time you did something audacious or bold? Your heart may have been racing and your palms may have been sweaty, but how good did you feel? I’m talking here about something subjectively audacious, not something that’s going to put you on the evening news for all the wrong reasons. It may be something as simple as approaching someone you revere or don’t know to ask something or wearing something you have not dared to before. And doesn’t it feel great?
I have found that midlife is THE best time to be bodacious. Possibly because midlife has helped to wake up the maverick inside me or because I don’t accept that we should necessarily stick to someone else’s script, midlife is the perfect foil to do something remarkable. A decade earlier and I would have been too self-conscious to do half the things I do today. But little by little I learned that most people do outrageous things, the world still turns for them and those that judge generally covet the ability to do something outrageous themselves without having to worry about external opinion. And the biggest empowering step? Faith. Faith in myself that I could deal with whatever consequences would follow – whether they were predictable or not. You don’t get to mid-life without acquiring a certain level of skills and smarts.
Bodaciousness accounts for those midlifers who change their career or start their own business. Whether they do so out of design or necessity, boldness and audacity are mandatory requirements.
Take a look at some of these bodacious midlifers:
- Harland Sanders, also known as “Colonel Sanders”. He opened his first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise location when he was 62
- Clint Eastwood didn’t direct his first film until the age of 41 and is the oldest person to have won an Oscar for best director
- Wally Amos opened his first Famous Amos cookie store at the age of 40
These are all noteworthy achievements, but remember that your bodacious move doesn’t have to be of this magnitude. Pushing your personal envelope, even just a little is all that it takes to be bodacious. Just take a leaf out of the book of this bodacious reader who stumbled upon my site today via the search term “frangipani google nose” .
Midlife is a great time to be bodacious. It will set you up for a lifetime of aging disgracefully!
Thanks for sticking with this post and reading it through to the end. For your patience and persistence I reward you with a bodacious
Today I give myself permission to be bodacious!
Raising the Curtain 
No truer words said hun. 🙂 To you and to frangipani google nose (wtf?) I salute you! 🙂
I’m thinking I’d like to get Frangipani Google Nose over for a drink. Would be a hoot 🙂
My dear, Do these reach you direct? Just wondering as I am wary about posting to websites.
I do enjoy your blogs, and admire your energy Sean N in Esp
My dear Sean, thanks so much for braving the internets to drop me a comment. I did indeed receive it and I’m glad you’re enjoying. Hope all is going well in Esp. May drop in to see you next year.
lol 🙂 Love it! I’m going to be bodacious today, too. For once, I won’t resort to a push-up bra, a corset, or well-place socks. 😉
You go, Ellen! Glad I could inspire you to get your bodaciousness on today.No corest or well placed socks for me either today 😉
Absolutely love this Bodacious! This is such a nice and bright word! So grateful ;-P
Thanks, it is a great word both in sound and site. I think maybe I’ll put up a sign caution: Bodacious broad ahead 🙂
I am bodacious every day, even when I am not. Haha.
Fabulous post. Love your verve. You go girl!
Woo hoo, it’s the mutual verve socity 🙂
Nice! I understand the fear and thrill of being bodacious – I became a runner at 45, after quitting a 30-year smoking habit!
What a great story, Nick and a bodacious move.Whilst I’ve never been a smoker, I also started a healthy lifestyle at the age of 45. I received my first ever high blood pressure reading and that was it. Have got my weight under control for the first time in my life and I feel very bodacious for it!
Ain’t it the truth. When I was younger I was often afraid what people might think if I tried something. Now if it ends up weird I can always attribute to getting senile or something. Well, not that I’m all that old, but younger people don’t know that.
Yes, I was thinking the same thing as I wrote this post. Action under the cover of early senility is the way to go. I think starting the Challenge was a great bodacious move on your part. I love the fact that blogging has allowed me to meet spunky people who are further along in their life journies who I can look up to. We all need positive role models no matter what stage we are at.
I love that as you get older the idea that anyone really cares about what you actually do diminishes. I used to think that I would be judged for every small thing but now I realise that most people just don’t care, as long as they’re not involved! 🙂
Yesss! Isn’t it great to reach that point? Very liberating.
I love the word bodacious….it’s very BadAss and I am happy to use it extensively today : )
Seriously BadAss and loving it. Hope it just rolls of your toungue with an ease born of the bodacious 🙂
Judy, I absolutely adore this post. If you cannot be bodacious at mid-life, when can you be? Have a bodaciously grand rest of your week. G’Day mate, BTG
You got it, midlife is a licence to be bodacious! Howdy to you you too, mate 🙂
Bravo!!! What a bold post on being bodacious! Yes, this is for the letter B…. beautiful, breath-taking, making me bravely ponder on how I can take your words and become (even briefly) bodacious!
Not to mention, brilliant for the comment you just made!
Love this. I found when I turned 40 I didn’t care anymore if people thought I was a bit strange for saying or doing something unexpected. It didn’t matter. Now that I am over 50 it matters even less. Being bodacious is very freeing. Great post. Happy A to Z. God bless, Maria from Delight Directed Living
Thanks for the visit, Maria. It sound like I have much to look forward to :). Happy A to Zing to you too.