Join “Commentmania” on the Best and Worst of Midlife
May 1, 2008
Today is “commentmania” at Midlife’s A Trip. I know there are a number of you who visit regularly, even daily and I’d love to hear from you because sometimes I feel alone here on the page. So would you leave a little comment to this post– maybe your age, where you’re from, what’s been the best and worst of your midlife trip or whatever moves you. For inspiration or commiseration, I’m 56 years old, from Michigan and my midlife includes:
The Worst
- Losing my dad–my hero.
- Menopause — the hot flashes, the night sweats, the brain fog — need I say more.
- My best friend of 50 years being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at 55 years old.
The Best
- Becoming an aunt when my midlife sister adopted a beautiful 3 week old baby girl!
- Menopause - I remember the day I purged all the feminine products from the bathroom cabinet for good!
- My new career as a professional life coach.
I can’t wait to hear from you!
Comments
4 Responses to “Join “Commentmania” on the Best and Worst of Midlife”
Got something to say?
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Karen - Midlife Coach
I just read the article about you in last Sunday’s Detroit Free Press, and I felt compelled to go to your blog to learn more about you. I am 47 years old and I live in the Detroit Metro area. I am currently experiencing a major ‘transition” (I hesitate to call it crisis….although it still often feels that way), since my divorce 3.5 years ago.
My midlife worsts:
1. Divorce
2. Struggling with single parenting two daughters.
3. Feeling like I am running in circles (in slow motion) trying to figure out what to do, now that I am faced with having to be self-supporting, after having not been in the paid workforce since 1991.
My midlife bests:
1. Being able to single parent my two daughters.
2. Knowing that I have the opportunity to define the rest of my life.
3. Developing new relationships with relatives and friends who I either had lost contact with, or just recently met.
I truly believe that there are no accidents, and I am excited to see what this next chapter in my life will bring, but I am very impatient and often frustrated with my lack of direction and focus.
I also read about you in the the Detroit Free Press. I am (also) 56 and (also) from Michigan (no kidding!).
Midlife worsts:
1. Struggling with a job that consumes too much time while giving too little back (but it does pay the bills).
2. Watching my parents needing more and more help as they are able to do less and less.
3. Dealing with the inevitable aches and pains that can only increase as time passes.
Midlife bests:
1. Two terrific kids that are now adults and friends.
2. A place in life where I am now (mostly) only responsible for myself giving me the time to pursue my interests.
3. Good friends, good family.
Janet–I’m always glad to welcome another Michigander to Midlife’s A Trip. And you know, they say that 56 is the new 36! Check out http://www.aplaceformom.com, a wonderful resource for helping you help your parents. I just worked with them re my mom. That and your midlife “bests” my just help take the “sting” out of your midlife “worsts”. Come by often and visit! Karen
Linda–often transition feels like crisis. I can relate because after divorce I too was a single parent. While your midlife “worsts” may seem daunting, your “bests” include great accomplishments and a powerful vision for this next phase of life. One of the things I do in coaching is help my clients get that focus you feel the lack of. When you visit again, take a tour of the rest of Midlife’s A Trip. You’ll see more about the benefits of coaching. I have a life coach which is one of the reasons I’m doing what I’m doing. She helped me take my vision and turn it into action. Karen