Midlife. Generally thought to be age 40 and beyond, it’s a time of great transition that shows up in interesting ways in both men and women.
I have a friend whose mid-40s husband was upstairs on the computer. Wife asks him what he’s been up to. “Oh, you know, just poking around online.” She inquires further. Turns out it was E-Bay, and he’d just made a bid on something and actually won! “How exciting!” exclaimed she. “What did you win?” Sheepishly, he muttered something indiscernible. “Come again?” she asked. “A BMW. I won a BMW.” <Sigh.> My friend shared with me that in her midlife crisis, she’d gone a little crazy and bought… a tube of lipstick.
Midlife is a time when just about everything is in upheaval for us: how we look, how we feel, how we show up in the world, our relationships (with our spouse, children, parents, friends), our sense of purpose.
This can feel scary and a bit out of control. Sometimes the things we’ve identified ourselves by are not in place anymore: Kids grow up and leave home. Athletic prowess fades. Careers eventually come to a close. Outward beauty dims.
Today’s Western society is not much help here, either. The young are prized for their beauty and impact on pop culture. We have editing tools on our phones to make us look younger and wrinkle-free (I’ve certainly taken advantage of this). Plastic surgeons and botox docs make us look like we’re in our 20s again, kinda.
We’re left wondering who we are in the midst of all this change we’re going through.
Absolutely, take care of what you’ve got. Put healthy habits in place. Think happy and gracious thoughts. Beauty is an inside job, not a bunch of exterior procedures that leave us unsatisfied with who we are.
You and I, my midlife sister, are treasure houses of experiences and wisdom. The younger generation needs us to share this with them. Share from the fullness of your life, the trials and the triumphs. Be authentic.
When so much about your life may be in an upheaval, this can also be a time of reinvention. Who do you want to be? What do you want your relationships to look like in life’s second half? What lights you up? This may be your next big contribution to your corner of the world.
Midlife. Yeah, things might be sagging and wrinkling here and there, true. But you might actually be coming in to your finest hour. Get ready. Take care of yourself, body and soul.
What about you?
What exciting things are you looking forward to in your future?
