I must have missed the memo somewhere in my distant past about only men experiencing a midlife crisis. Considering major change in midlife is a normal part of the maturing process worldwide, I can’t imagine why women wouldn’t also experience these kinds of transformations.
Unless, of course, we’re assuming women don’t mature, they just start wearing “slutty pants” and go after inappropriate younger men who ride motorcycles!
I just can’t get that image from the The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet out of my mind. The son of the “slutty pants” wearing midlife woman stated at one point: “I couldn’t believe it! I came home one day and there was a motorcycle parked in our driveway!”
Trust me kid, worse things could happen! I married a biker at age 50, after decades of stereotyping them as wild and scary types. It turns out they can be lovely human beings and very sexy!
Now a younger than midlife blogger has written up her reaction to the aforementioned TV show. Susan at “Wearing the Trousers” isn’t sure what to expect at midlife, but certainly doesn’t plan to blame all of her future ridiculous behavior on being in the age group.
I wish we could instantly get rid of all the negative stereotypes related to midlife and replace them with the facts. The facts are that millions of adults the world round do experience an increased level of depression around age 40. This is based on data analysis on 2 million people from 80 different countries.
Another fact is that the suicide rates are presently increasing among the 40-55 age group in the US. These facts don’t strike me as funny, or something to do stupid TV shows about.
Instead I think some serious education is in order. Please consider reading useful books like: Listening to Midlife: Turning Your Crisis into a Quest by Mark Gerzon or, on a lighter note, my own new book Midlife Magic: Becoming The Person You Are Inside, to begin feeling good about all the amazing, positive changes that are possible as a result of the deeper thoughts and feelings that can emerge as we age and learn more about ourselves.
It’s high time we change the public image of midlife for both men and women, and I’m doing everything I can to do just that!
To learn more about what I learned through my own transitions, please read my books: Midlife Magic: Becoming the person you are inside! and my Midife Change Workbook.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Network television programs are made to cater to the lowest common denominator.
They are not in the business of making programs with serious studies on anything in society.
And we all know “Sex sells.”
Bear((( )))
when i giddily told my friend i had pierced my belly button she blurted out disgustedly, “are you going through a mid life crisis?!” crisis, no. mid life arrival? finally! what is better than waking up & realizing, “i can if i want!”? what is better than seeing the world with fresh eyes & a sense of urgency? perhaps i’m being naive & this perspective IS deceptively fragile but i have no intention of sitting still while i find out!!
Paisley:
Thanks for this GREAT description of what midlife is all about!
I loved it when I realized that “I can if I want to!!!”
“Seeing the world with fresh eyes and a sense of urgency…”
I LOVE IT!!!
Laura Lee