BellaOnline Forums Family Midlife When does Midlife Begin?

I just turned 40, and I don't put a huge stock in numbers or birthdays. I am always just me, living another day and doing my best. But I'm always curious when people talk about midlife. If I assume I'm going to live to be 100 (I dream big) then counting in thirds I began my "middle of my life" at age 33, going to age 66. That means I'm solidly in my midlife. I never thought of myself as being in my midlife

What does midlife mean to you guys? When does it begin? When does it end?

This is a good one. I am 41 tomorrow. That's mid life, I guess. (although I too plan to be a centurion).

But i don't feel that old. I think of myself as still pretty young, still figuring things out.

Happy Birthday Jilly!!

I agree, it is very odd to me that I am in "midlife". To me that word always goes with "crisis" but I feel rather content. I suppose if you look at life as being a child, being an adult, and being a senior, I am in that "middle part".

Midlife to me is the time when things seem to start to get a bit easier. We have acquired maybe a little wisdom, a little patience, and aging isn't the big catastrophe that the marketeers would have us believe it to be.

It seems to settle in once we've accepted our mortality and start taking care of ourselves with an eye toward longevity. Now the race goes to the tortoise.<G>

Maybe that's it, maybe this is the "mature stage"

I'm 48, a grandmother & just starting to think of myself as middle-aged!

I'm 58 and have grandchildren but still don't think of myself as old. I guess the middle aged thing only recently hit me when i look in the mirror. I feel like I've held together pretty well-lol

I guess you know when you're reaching middle age when these type of remarks from your doctor make you feel good - like "You have really good muscle tone (for someone your age) and "You're really healthy (for someone your age). They never say "for someone your age" but the implication is there.

I keep telling myself I'm only as old as I feel and most days I feel about 40!

Well, I never really thought about it either, that is until the week I turned 40 (that was nine years ago). I had a doctors appointment that week and also had an appointment to get my yearly eye exam. At the doctors visit, he warned me about all the usual things they do with over the age of 39, colestrol, calium (don't want to get hutch backed) and my blood sugar. Then at the eye doctors he gives me a new prescrition and it's says Bifocals. Yep, Bifocals. That was the day I realized I was middle age. LOL But with fifty fast approaching I really don't worry much about it, as I stay fit, who wouldn't when working on a farm, and I love life, more now than as a 20 year old. I have one daughter who has been married for seven years now and no grandkids yet. So let mid-life come on! I'll dance with it.

I dreaded my 40th birthday, I was sure that I would suddenly fall into decrepitude the minute I reached it. Big surprise! No change! I felt the same after as I did before. After that the birthdays held no fear for me. As I have said here before I am 75 now, still active, still happily creating, still fit and healthy, still enjoying every day. If this is middle age, I love it; it sure isn't old age yet!

Claybird, you go girl. My grandmother, and great grandmother were the same way. At 83 my great grandmother was still trying to mow her own yard, but Mom and I would take over and help her whenever we caught her. They taught me a great deal about living life to the fullest.