Lauren Sánchez Used to Think 'Life Is Over at 50.' Now She Says 'It's Just the Beginning'

Life "just gets better and better," the philanthropist, 54, said during a recent appearance on the 'Today' show

Lauren Sánchez has so much to look forward to in the years to come.

On the Wednesday, Nov. 20 episode ofToday, the philanthropist shared that her philosophy about aging has changed a lot over the years.

"I never thought at 54 – I'm going to be 55 – I'd be an author, that I'd be getting married," Sánchez gushed to hosts Hoda Kotb and Savannah Guthrie, referencing her new children's book and her upcoming wedding to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

"I mean, life is just beginning," she continued. "When I was 20, I thought, 'Oh my gosh, life is over at 50.' Let me tell you: It is not, ladies. It is not over."

Michael Buckner/WWD/Getty Lauren Sanchez at the Diane von Furstenberg: Woman Before Fashion Exhibit on Oct. 15, 2024 in Los Angeles

Michael Buckner/WWD/Getty

Lauren Sanchez at the Diane von Furstenberg: Woman Before Fashion Exhibit on Oct. 15, 2024 in Los Angeles

The former journalist went on to say that life "just gets better and better."

"When women are like, 'Oh, What is it like turning 50?' I was like, 'It's just the beginning,' " she added.

Related: Lauren Sánchez Opens Up About Low-Key Home Life with Fiancé Jeff Bezos — and What They're Binge Watching (Exclusive)

As for her upcoming nuptials. Sánchez admitted that she's been a preoccupied with the release of her debut children's book, The Fly Who Flew to Space, and her charity work — including a $110 million contribution to 40 groups working to combat homelessness — but she is "very excited."

"[I’m] thinking about the dress," she said. "I do have a Pinterest. I'm just like every other bride."

Related: Lauren Sánchez Knows She’s 'Lucky' to 'Be Part of' Billion-Dollar Charity That’s ‘Genuinely Making a Difference' (Exclusive)

During the interview, the mom of three also discussed her upcoming trip to space which will see her on an all-female flight to space on Blue Origin.

Although she remained hush on who would be joining her for the historic flight, she did say that it's a group full of "explorers."

"When we think of women, a lot of times, we don't think of them as explorers," she said. "We think of [Ferdinand] Magellan and Jacques Cousteau, but we're explorers."

Stefanie Keenan/Getty for This Is About Humanity Lauren Sanchez at the TIAH 5th Anniversary Soiree on Aug. 26, 2023 in Los Angeles

Stefanie Keenan/Getty for This Is About Humanity

Lauren Sanchez at the TIAH 5th Anniversary Soiree on Aug. 26, 2023 in Los Angeles

She said her fiancé, who has already taken a trip to space, once used that word to describe her, which changed the way she thought about herself.

"He goes, 'You're a pilot. You like to see the world.' And I never thought of myself as an explorer," she explained. "And when he said, 'Okay, why don't you take an incredible group of women up?' I was like, I'm picking all explorers so that they could come back and tell their story about how going to space changes them."

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Earlier this year, Sánchez told PEOPLE that she learned to fly when she was 40 after having grown up around aviation due to her parents owning a flight school.

"I was always around aviation," she said. "One day I told my dad, 'I think I want to learn to fly.’ It may have been the best day of his life."

Sánchez shared that she hoped telling her story would inspire more women to get into the cockpit.

"I just think that growing up, women don't see a lot of female aviators," she said. "I hope women might see me as a pilot and say, 'Hey, I want to do that!' It's really an incredible experience, and I love it."