5 Best Things About Middle Life
Psychotherapist Frankie Picasso says’ Just like with an American Express, Age has its privileges. It was necessary for you to live through some of your life in order to gain the experience and perspective you will need to get through this next part of your life’.
Here are the five best things about mid-life:
1. You Don’t Care as much About What People Think of You
It’s easy to get bogged down in your early career and life about meeting the expectations of others. As you carry on, you learn that there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ way to go about things. You become more confident in your decisions and don’t need the approval of others. Criticism no longer feels as personal. Your career path has ultimately been fulfilling, and you don’t mind that people never agreed with it. You do Zumba at the YMCA even though you’re a terrible dancer.
2. You Have the Wisdom to Pass to Younger Generations
By mid-life, you have made some mistakes and had some steep learning curves. Was it the way you handled your finances? Was it making lifestyle choices that prevent you from leading a full life now? Was it spending too much time at work and not with family? Whatever your experience, you have enough life experience to help guide those who are just beginning their journey. Younger generations appreciate your guidance and wisdom; after all, they don’t really know what they’re doing.
3. You Have Failed Enough not to be Afraid
Failure is a good teacher. And by mid-age, you learn that failure is not to be feared. It has the power to strengthen you and to teach an invaluable lesson. Failure makes you resilient and more apt to take risks. That business idea that you spent a year creating, branding, and launched—failed. That car that you wanted to restore—not happening. The job you got fired from—not great timing. By mid-life, you are aware that the sea might not always bring smooth sailing, but you become a more skilled sailor through every storm.
4. You Know What Your Core Values Are
By this time in life, you know what is most important to you. You have lived long enough for your beliefs to be challenged and put to the test. By mid-life, you have run into enough road blocks to see if you honestly and truly walk your talk. People take a windy path through religion, family, and faith to figure out what they believe and what guides their life. By this time, most people have settled on their core values.
5. Opportunity to Explore Dreams
People think that mid-life is a time to slow down. Many of the people who are currently middle-aged, put their time, money, and energy into their families. But who are we kidding? Mid-life is a chapter to rediscover some of those dreams you tabled. Want to travel to Italy, ski in New Zealand, volunteer in India, take up a new hobby or learn a language? Mid-life is a time where many of the demands of life are slowly releasing, and you begin to take the stage again.
It’s your time! Award winning psychotherapist Dr. Rob Ludwig says, “Although we’ve been conditioned to think “middle aged” is practically a four-letter word, the realities of women in midlife today are far different than what our mothers experienced. Women in their 40s, 50s, and even 60s are living younger, vibrant lives.” That goes for all you gentlemen as well!
