I love it when a young person says something stupid like, “I’ll never make the same mistakes my parents made.” That’s basically what Elisabeth Hasselbeck, the token Republican on “The View” said yesterday. To be exact she said, “Our generation won’t have anything like a midlife crisis, because we’re smarter and we get married and have children later in life.”
I get such a kick out of those sorts of statements! First of all, she does not even see the arrogance of saying she knows her own future in such detail that she can say for certain that nothing will change. To state: “My life is perfect now, and it will never change.” is absurd. It further suggests her grand illusion that she somehow controls all life in the universe, and therefore will not allow bad things to happen to her and her family. Then she goes on to make this prediction for her entire generation!
Granted, she comes to her position of predicting our future on national TV, only because of her survival on Survivor:The Australian Outback, followed up by marriage to an NFL quarterback . These are the type of credentials I like to see in someone who has the wisdom and power to advise the rest of us on the future of our world.
You know, when I was 30 years old, I might have said something stupid like that too, but thankfully NOT on national television! Of course, the larger absurdity of her statement is even more interesting. Who wants their life to never change???
Midlife crisis has gotten some terrible PR! And I’m here to try and change that a bit!
I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to change my self, and my life in midlife!
Without my midlife crisis I would still be married to the MOST inappropriate man for me. I would also be driving 50 miles to Denver to do the job from hell, with an absolute idiot for a boss. I’m even thankful for hysterectomies, which improved my quality of life 100%.
If things hadn’t gone from bad to worse for me around age 45, I would have never met my new husband, started writing for a living (my own personal dream job) and changed in so many important and amazing ways.
Midlife has been a gigantic gift for me, a gift well camouflaged in deep layers of pain and growth. My challenges forced me to dig deep within and discover myself. I finally stopped settling for less than I deserved, and ended a pattern of compromising myself and my own needs. I discovered my own power!
That’s how terrible midlife has been to me!
The idea that the purpose of life is to have it easy, and eventually go brainless is quite offensive to me. Challenges are what help us question and grow. Without growth there is no life. Most divorces are probably caused by self-awareness. questioning and growth. Would you rather stay in a crappy marriage forever, one that stunts your growth? Not me. Brain plasticity requires constant learning and change. Pushing your own personal envelope is what it’s all about.
Thank you Elisabeth, for those frightfully unwise words on national television! It stimulated lots of thought on my part. Hope you learn to question and think also someday!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Good for you! I love, love, love, learning. In my blog post today, I said I think curiosity will be my best friend as I approach old age (and I’m with you on the hysterectomy!!!)
You have no idea how inspirational your post was to me.
Thanks. I needed that.
Hopefully my mid life crisis, which is happening right now, will turn out as well as yours.
I’m 48 and VERY in touch with my inner child.
Wish me luck!