Marge Nellis

What Does Your Value Mean to You?

What does your value mean to you?

It is a simple question, but not always an easy one to answer.

For a long time, value can feel like something that is decided by others—how they treat you, what they say to you, what they choose to give or withhold. And when those experiences are painful, especially at a young age, they can shape how you see yourself in ways that take years to understand.

I have come to realize that value is not something that should ever be placed in someone else’s hands.

Because when it is, it can be ignored, dismissed, or never acknowledged at all.

There were moments in my life where I learned what it felt like to not be protected, to not be heard, and to not be valued in the way every person deserves. I remember being a young girl, trying to make sense of situations no child should ever have to understand. There were dark times—times filled with confusion, silence, and pain.

But even within those moments, there were glimpses of something else. I remember being ten years old, left alone in a hotel room, not understanding where my father was or what was happening. A hotel manager came to check on me. He brought me cereal—something simple, yet meaningful. That night, he and his wife allowed me to stay with them.

They were strangers.

And yet, in that moment, they showed me kindness.

It was a small act, but it stayed with me. Because even in the middle of chaos, there was humanity. There was care. There was proof that not everyone would hurt me.

As time went on, I carried many things I did not yet understand. I carried silence. I carried pain. I carried questions that were never answered.

But something shifts over time.

You begin to see things differently. You begin to separate what was done to you from who you actually are.

And that is where understanding begins.

Just because I am 60 does not mean I have stopped living.

If anything, I have started living with more awareness.

I am experiencing joy in ways I did not always allow myself to before. Even in moments where I have no control over someone else’s accountability, I have learned something important—I do have control over how I move forward.

And that changes everything.

Because when you take the time to truly understand what matters, you begin to let go of what does not. You stop waiting for others to get it right. You stop placing your worth in situations that were never meant to define you.

Instead, you begin to create your own meaning.

Value, to me, is no longer about what I was given or what I did not receive.

It is about what I choose to believe about myself now.

It is about knowing that I am strong—not because of what I went through, but because I chose to keep going.

It is about knowing that I am worthy—not because someone told me I was, but because I understand that I always was.

It is about recognizing my own intelligence, my own voice, and my own ability to create something meaningful in my life.

And most of all, it is about resilience—not as a label, but as a lived experience.

So when I ask the question, “What does your value mean to you?”

I am not asking for a perfect answer.

I am asking you to take a moment and consider something simple, yet powerful:

Are you defining your value…

or are you still allowing others to define it for you?

Because the moment you take that back,

everything begins to change.

When I began Imagine Over 50, it started with a simple YouTube video where I shared my story.

At that point, I had spent nearly a year searching for a job. What I discovered during that time surprised me more than anything else in my career.

Finding employment when you are over fifty can be far more difficult than most people realize.

After years in broadcasting—interviewing people, researching stories, and communicating with audiences—I believed those skills would easily transfer into another position. I applied for roles that I knew I could do well. Many of them felt like perfect fits.

Yet something unexpected kept happening.

Often, when employers see someone over fifty, there can be an assumption that retirement is just around the corner. In reality, many of us are far from that stage of life. We still have energy, ideas, and decades of experience to contribute to organizations and communities.

What many people do not talk about enough is the emotional toll the job search can take.

During that time, I spent many hours reading articles from AARP, which offers wonderful information about retirement, finances, and life transitions. The resources are helpful, but I began to notice something missing:

The emotional experience of trying to rebuild your career later in life.

When applications go unanswered and interviews never come, it can quietly chip away at your confidence. Even people with strong careers and years of experience can begin to question themselves.

That realization became the foundation for Imagine Over 50.

Imagine Over 50 is built around storytelling and celebrating life’s milestones. Each stage of life brings its own lessons and challenges.

In your twenties, life is just beginning. You may be finishing college, starting your first career, getting married, or creating your first home. Everything feels new, and you are still discovering what drives you.

In your thirties, you begin to understand your career path more clearly. You learn how to build relationships, navigate challenges, and continue growing professionally.

By the time you reach your forties and fifties, something powerful happens. You gain perspective. You understand the importance of purpose, balance, and meaningful work.

Yet this is also when many people face unexpected changes—career shifts, job loss, or the need to reinvent themselves.

Imagine Over 50 was created to remind people that those transitions do not mean the end of their story.

In many ways, they are the beginning of a new chapter.

But one thing became clear as the community started to grow: Imagine Over 50 is not really about me.

It is about you.

It is about how we support one another during times when confidence feels fragile and the future seems uncertain.

That is why a private online community was created, where people could share their experiences and encourage one another.

Many people are hesitant to speak. The fear that employers may see their comments or know they are struggling is very real. Instead of sharing their experiences openly, they often remain silent, carrying those concerns quietly while continuing their search for work.

But silence can make the journey even harder.

Imagine Over 50 exists to remind people that they are not alone. When we share our experiences honestly—both the challenges and the victories—we create a sense of connection and support.

Life does not stop at fifty.

In many ways, it becomes the stage when we carry the most wisdom, resilience, and perspective. Our experiences, our struggles, and our achievements all become part of the story we continue to write.

Receiving recognition as one of the Influential Women reminded me of something meaningful:

Influence does not always come from titles or achievements.

Sometimes it comes from simply telling the truth about your journey and encouraging others along the way.

If there is one message I hope people take from my story, it is this:

Your voice still matters.

Your experiences matter.

And no matter what stage of life you are in, there is always another chapter waiting to be written.

Author Bio

Marge Nellis is the founder of Imagine Over 50, a storytelling platform dedicated to helping people rediscover their voice and purpose after major life transitions. With a background in radio and television broadcasting, she encourages others to celebrate their milestones, share their stories, and embrace new opportunities in life’s next chapter. She is also the founder of MC Nellis Travel.

There comes a time in life when reality hits you in the face.

Losing a job is more than losing a role. It is the loss of identity, routine, and the confidence built over years of showing up and doing the work. When that happens later in life—without a plan to start over—it forces you to confront questions you never expected to ask.

One of them is this:

Can I depend on myself?

That question is what led to the creation of Imagine Over 50.

Loss as a Turning Point

Starting over after 50 is not something most people prepare for. You cry. You grieve. You feel angry, frustrated, and at times, invisible. Those emotions are real—and they matter.

Emotions matter. When we ignore them, they can affect our mental health.

What many people don’t realize is that loss also demands courage. The courage to find your voice when the structure is gone. The courage to stop staying silent. The courage to show up anyway.

Finding your voice means no longer shrinking yourself to fit expectations.

It means standing in your truth—without apology.

Trusting Intuition and Inner Wisdom

I often remind my listeners and readers that they already have the power to empower themselves. Recently, I had to take my own advice.

In moments of doubt, I returned to the words that have become my anchor:

• I am strong.
• I am worthy.
• I am intelligent.
• I am resilient.

Wisdom has a way of showing up when we least expect it—not loudly, but quietly. In still moments, you begin to trust that God has your back. That your prayers are heard. That you are not walking this path alone.

Sometimes guidance comes as faith.

Sometimes it comes as intuition.

Sometimes it arrives as a whisper—call it a muse, call it inner knowing.

What matters is that you acknowledge it.

Reclaiming the Power of Your Voice

All of my life, I worked in broadcasting—telling stories, shaping messages, and often being told what to say and what not to say. That was the job.

But when the job ended, the script did too.

Starting over later in life forces you to rely on your inner compass. There is no approval process anymore. No producer. No rules. Just you—and what you know to be true.

Through Imagine Over 50 and my travel agency, I see this need everywhere. People over 50 are not asking to be rescued. They are asking to be heard. They are asking for peace—without judgment, stereotypes, or nasty innuendos.

As I listen to women from all walks of life, one truth becomes clear:

Women have worked hard—often without recognition.

Too many have been told they are not good enough.

For years, I heard that too.

And now I say this clearly:

That narrative is false.

Influence After 50

Influence doesn’t disappear with age. It deepens.

When you share your voice honestly—your fears, your faith, your resilience—you give others permission to do the same. Someone reading your words realizes they are not alone, and that recognition can be life-changing.

Finding your voice doesn’t mean having all the answers.

It means trusting yourself enough to speak.

That is empowerment.

That is influence.

And that is what this stage of life is truly about.