I think as we age, our so-called generational trend evolve to match our age. I don't know, but the past year and half (literally, since turning 40 in December 2024), I feel the shift. I know the current state of the country might be playing a part; but it's more like recognizing that it's okay to unmask and to advocate for myself when I know something isn't right. I departed from my job (not on my terms) last spring, and I am beginning to realize that the ideal job that I've painted for the past decades or so might not be attainable. I'm basing this image off the first job I had when I was still in high school, working at an office on campus. So right now, I'm trying to look to see what it is what I want to do with my life. I don't want to live to work, I just want to be able to live and have the ability to afford it.
Agree so much with this! I’ve also felt a shift at 40 (now almost 41) and many other women I speak to around our age are reevaluating. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I don't want to blow anything up, but I want to enjoy the life I've worked so hard to build. If that means dropping everything and moving to another country for a month than so be it. I haven't been very good in the past about balancing responsibilities and checking things off my bucket list but at midlife you realize it's now or never. A former coworker just passed away in his sleep - he was 60 with no known issues - that's only 4 years older than me. If that realization doesn't prompt us to do those things we think will fulfill us then I don't know what will. It doesn't need to be big huge changes or changes all at once but at midlife it's especially important to bring more joy into what we have.
Oh wow. I’m so sorry to hear that! I can imagine it awakens something in you, though. My condolences. I love your outlook. Focusing on what we have and adding more joy to that. So wise! I’ll keep that in mind. ❤️
I was trying to gently get at that because I think we probably all have our own challenges in different seasons of our lives, regardless of gender, but I do feel like it’s more acceptable for men to just have a crisis and get on with it. But I also wonder if I sometimes (as a woman) make things harder for myself. Or that could be completely unrelated to gender and just my personality! ;)
I also think there is the capitalist/consumer side of it, in that we are also seen as a demographic who will pay: craft brushes, bird books, red light face mask. Again, myself included, but “finding our self” often means multiple new purchases of some kind!
Not really blowing up but stepping back from many things in my life. Isolating for a time. I also started writing again this time more honestly and with vulnerability.
I think as we age, our so-called generational trend evolve to match our age. I don't know, but the past year and half (literally, since turning 40 in December 2024), I feel the shift. I know the current state of the country might be playing a part; but it's more like recognizing that it's okay to unmask and to advocate for myself when I know something isn't right. I departed from my job (not on my terms) last spring, and I am beginning to realize that the ideal job that I've painted for the past decades or so might not be attainable. I'm basing this image off the first job I had when I was still in high school, working at an office on campus. So right now, I'm trying to look to see what it is what I want to do with my life. I don't want to live to work, I just want to be able to live and have the ability to afford it.
Agree so much with this! I’ve also felt a shift at 40 (now almost 41) and many other women I speak to around our age are reevaluating. Thanks for sharing your experience!
The shift from “should” to what would actually make you happy is a serious form of self-inquiry.
I don't want to blow anything up, but I want to enjoy the life I've worked so hard to build. If that means dropping everything and moving to another country for a month than so be it. I haven't been very good in the past about balancing responsibilities and checking things off my bucket list but at midlife you realize it's now or never. A former coworker just passed away in his sleep - he was 60 with no known issues - that's only 4 years older than me. If that realization doesn't prompt us to do those things we think will fulfill us then I don't know what will. It doesn't need to be big huge changes or changes all at once but at midlife it's especially important to bring more joy into what we have.
Oh wow. I’m so sorry to hear that! I can imagine it awakens something in you, though. My condolences. I love your outlook. Focusing on what we have and adding more joy to that. So wise! I’ll keep that in mind. ❤️
The privilege of men to have a midlife crisis while we have to have a “reinvention” is so real !!
I was trying to gently get at that because I think we probably all have our own challenges in different seasons of our lives, regardless of gender, but I do feel like it’s more acceptable for men to just have a crisis and get on with it. But I also wonder if I sometimes (as a woman) make things harder for myself. Or that could be completely unrelated to gender and just my personality! ;)
I also think there is the capitalist/consumer side of it, in that we are also seen as a demographic who will pay: craft brushes, bird books, red light face mask. Again, myself included, but “finding our self” often means multiple new purchases of some kind!
Yessss. 100000%. I touched on that a bit in an essay I published last month about Botox. Here it is in case you'd like to take a peek: https://www.meramagazine.com/p/chatgpt-botox-experiment
Thanks for your comments here. :)
I am in my late 50s and the "reinvention blow up stage" had happened later for me. I became a mom later in life.
For myself I feel like it's something I couldn't stop. It wasn't a bad thing. I stopped giving time to what didn't matter.
Mine happened in menopause not perimenopause. The declining estrogen of menopause is a factor.
Thanks for sharing! What did the “blow up” look like for you? Were there big changes or many small ones? Just curious! 🧐
Not really blowing up but stepping back from many things in my life. Isolating for a time. I also started writing again this time more honestly and with vulnerability.
I think stepping back is a great way to describe it!