Hi all! A few weeks ago, my spouse sent me a YouTube short about millennials’ reactions to the idea of midlife. According to the American Psychological Association, or that’s what the YouTuber said, midlife starts at 36.
Then I read a blog post today in which the author, now retired, reflects on how she imagined retirement to be when she was still young… at 40.
I am 38. Does this mean I’m in midlife or does it mean I’m still young? It probably depends on your perspective.
After all, with respect to my daily life, since I don’t work or study and since I’m childfree, it allows me the same freedom a retiree would have. I also enjoy many things older people enjoy, such as crafting. That is, often younger women do craft, but it’s more for their kids.
With respect to my health, it’s a mixed bag. I am physically healthier than I was five years ago thanks to weight loss and moving more. I however do notice the effects of my disabilities (and probably my history of obesity too), in that I’m probably less fit than many women my age. For one thing, I do find that my knees hurt regularly.
All this being said, age is in many respects just a number for me. Sometimes, I feel like a lady in her seventies, while at other times, I feel quite childlike, both in a positive and a negative way.
Statistically speaking, I do realize I’m at midlife. This sometimes causes me to worry about aging, but then again I always had this worry that I’d die young. That’s not necessarily specific to midlife. I am pretty sure, in fact, that now that I’m physically fitter, the worry is less about myself. That doesn’t mean the worry has gone, but now it’s more of an existential dread regarding the world as a whole. I don’t think one is easier to deal with for me than the other.
I’m linking up with Talking About It Tuesday and #WWWhimsy.
A Multitude of Musings 
Yes I also feel age is just a number, sometimes I feel older then my years but often I don’t think of myself being 62, in fact I rarely think about myself as being any age I am just me no age attached
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That’s a really positive attitude, you just being you. Thanks for commenting.
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Hi, Astrid!
Thank you very much for reaching out to me at Shady’s Place! As I stated in my reply to your comment there, it is a pleasure to meet you. As I also noted, I have read your “About” section and learned about your amazing journey. Hats off to you for all you have overcome and accomplished.
I enjoyed your musings in today’s post. If it gives you any encouragement and inspiration, I can tell you that I am age 75 and that, in some respects, I feel like I’m just getting started, just now getting my act together. Through exercise and proper diet, I have actually gotten stronger than I was 20 to 30 years ago. I remain curious about the world around me, maintain a sense of humor and play my favorite songs on repeat inside my head. Memorizing lyrics to songs of the 1960s helps keep my mind sharp. Above all, I thrive on making meaningful connections with people, teaching and learning, sharing and caring. In many ways, I never grew up, and I’m not ashamed to admit it. My teenage years were the best of my life and therefore I choose to remain a teenager forever. That’s who I am.
You stated that you have lost weight and are trending healthier. That’s powerful. Don’t worry about or compare yourself to other women. Keep striving to be your personal best. Keep making progress at your own pace. Progress builds confidence and momentum.
You stated on Janet’s Smiles that you are happy to be living somewhere other than the U.S. Yessum, you certainly can be thankful for that. Tens of millions of Americans no longer recognize the country we once knew and loved. We are living a nightmare, enduring tremendous stress and loathing every single day. That is not good for one’s mental or physical health. Yet, I cannot disengage. I have a need to know what is happening in my country and my world, and so I follow the daily news. The only way to minimize the impact is to turn to my music, find humor whenever and wherever I can and form genuine friendships with good and decent people.
Thank you again for visiting me at Shady’s Place today. I hope to connect with you again soon, Astrid.
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Thanks so much for your extensive comment! I am so happy that, at 75, you still feel physically fit and young at heart. I’m so glad your teenage years were so good and you’re able to relive them in your mind. I think my mid-30s were the best years of my life.
Thanks also for your kind words regarding the things I’ve overcome.
I totally feel for those living in the United States and enduring the country’s downfall. I think that completely burying your head in the sand isn’t going to help any of us, so I too do read the news, but try not to dwell on it when it’s not something I can take action on.
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Hi Astrid, since I’m 60 I think 38 is still young and not middle-aged at all! So curiosity made me Google and this is what I found: “Middle age (or middle adulthood) is the age range of the years halfway between childhood and old age. The exact range is subject to public debate, but the term is commonly used to denote the age range from around 40 to around 65 years.” So there you go – you’re still young and not middle-aged just yet! Thanks for linking up with #WWWhimsy ! xo
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Ah, thanks! I definitely usually still feel young’ish, but in my case this is also due to my improving mobility over the past few years (though it’s still worse than my grandma’s was at nearly twice my age).
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Hi Astrid, I agree with Min asI think of middle age as being after 40! I think we can be a certain age but can also feel much different either older or younger depending on circumstances at the time. A thoughtful post! #teamwwwhimsy
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Thanks for sharing your perspective. It all depends on your definition of midlife. Like, if you take it literally, it makes sense that it starts at 35 or so. I also went to a workshop on aging with cerebral palsy (my physical disability) and, though it was aimed at over-40s and I was only 35 at the time, I could relate to some of the things being discussed.
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I think age is determined by how you feel. A person can be fit at 60 and unwell at 30. But make looking after yourself a priority
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I agree. Like, my grandma was more mobile at 70 than I am now. I also agree that taking care of one’s physical and mental health is really important.
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Indeed my friend
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Oh yes I definitely think that sometimes I feel much older than I am and other times I can still feel quite youthful too– oftentimes I find how I feel can be impacted by who is around me too!
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That makes sense. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts.
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Hi Astrid at almost 68 I’m definitely aging but whilst we might think of life as midlife and beyond, for me it is about mindset. I try to stay active and healthy so most of the time I don’t feel 68. Previous generations were old at 40 but these days we have a different view. Life is what you make it and I find there are people in their 30s who are ‘óld” and others in their 90s who are young. It’s the way we view life. #Teamwwwhimsy
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Those are some really good points you make here, thank you! And I’m so glad that you still try to stay active.
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Such an interesting topic, Astrid. I agree a lot depends on perspective. I still felt young in my 30s and probably felt more “middle aged” in my 40s and 50s. I still don’t feel old at 63, but am definitely beginning to feel some of the effects of aging…though I am quite healthy and probably more fit than I was in my younger days, due to more attention to healthy eating and regular exercise. What freaks me out a little is realizing that even if I live to a ripe old age, at least 2/3 of my life is behind me!
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Thanks so much for sharing your perspective. That realization that even in the most optimistic scenario you already have two thirds of your life behind you sounds scary indeed. I can relate in some ways, because I’ve only become at least a little happy in the last few years and it’s scary to realize that I most likely spent half my life being miserable. Then again, this does motivate me to try to cultivate a positive attitude towards the rest of my life.
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I do feel young, even though I’m turning 45 in a few weeks, It is just a number, and I believe we’re only as old as we feel!
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree and in my and probably your case too age regression/DID/whatever does keep me feeling childlike in some ways too.
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