I turned 50 a few days ago. A turning of the page that I have dreaded since I initially found 40 a more difficult than expected milestone. But as I neared "the big day", I found myself unable to muster a whole lot of bluster for the event. Thanks to the roller coaster of good and bad that has been my late 40s (here's looking at you, Covid Shutdown and MF'ing Perimenopause...but also moving and kids growing up), I've found a new perspective on life. One that has little to do with numbers...be that years gone by, the force of gravity on my body's mass (aka, my weight), the amount of accomplishments and money I've accrued, or any other number we're told to worry about. So, though it's been a long time since I've used this platform, I thought I'd share a few things I've learned...Both for the camaraderie (you are not alone!) and the edification of those coming up the years-ladder behind me and who may be a little wary of the BIG 5-0 rung.
When I think "Mid-Life Crisis," I think of a 45 year old man with a new, younger wife and a sports car...for some reason, in my head, he's a dentist...because that is what my culture has taught me a mid-life is. But that's not it. When I think "Quarter-Life Crisis," I think of John Mayer's song...cuz we went through that shit together, man. Me and John. We was tight in our twenties. Personally, I have existential crises. Which is the same thing as mid-life and quarter-life crises, but I have them, like, once every year or two, so they're not tied to age or stage. I assume other people experience this too-- these moments of questioning whether our lives have purpose, meaning, and value-- since there's a term for it. Right? Do you? I wonder...How often do others question their life's purpose and their reason for being? Are you looking for meaning and purpose on the regular? Are there people out there who are stab