At what age do you consider a person in "mid-life"?

hiaasenrocks

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:26 PM
Original message

At what age do you consider a person in "mid-life"?

Edited on Sun Jun-03-07 02:27 PM by hiaasenrocks

I guess the numbers are different for different generations, and because of medical advances, and also if you take the phrase literally as "the middle of someone's life" ;) but, I'd have to go with...40.

I realize that this is also a question of attitude and how someone approaches life.

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datasuspect

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:27 PM
Response to Original message

1. well since 40 is the new 20

i guess 80?

i dunno, 18 year olds 50 years ago were probably more mature than most 30 year olds nowadays.

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hiaasenrocks

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:30 PM
Response to Reply #1

6. Good point. I'm glad I wasn't 18 fifty years ago!

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SPKrazy

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:28 PM
Response to Original message

2. I'm 45 and I I think of anywhere from 35 to 50 is possibly mid life

but 40-45 is more likely, and traditionally has been that age that mid life questions are asked.

:hi:

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hiaasenrocks

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:29 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. I've been thinking about this lately because I will turn 36 on June 29th.

So I guess the fact that I'm starting to wonder says a lot. :)

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SPKrazy

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:35 PM
Response to Reply #3

11. Well 40 is a symbolic milestone for many

i know that it surprised me how much i reacted well after the fact of turning 40. i mean, it's just a day and not much different from 39 or 38 for that matter.

yeah, the fact that you begin to even wonder says a lot.

good luck with it! you are as young as you feel, and taking care of yourself is the best solution!

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:49 PM
Response to Reply #3

21. The 30s. Great years. Don't even worry about it but enjoy!

:toast:

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zanne

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:37 PM
Response to Reply #2

13. But that means I'm elderly!

I don't mind being called "middle aged" or "older". But elderly? Never! (I'm 55)

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:30 PM
Response to Original message

4. When your confidence is greater than your insecurity

Edited on Sun Jun-03-07 02:38 PM by sfexpat2000

that's mid-life.

:rofl:

/ack, your/you're

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BarenakedLady

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:31 PM
Response to Reply #4

8. Hey that's good

That means I still have a loooooong way to go.

:rofl:

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hiaasenrocks

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:33 PM
Response to Reply #4

9. Ha ha. Good, then I'm nowhere close to it.

Excellent news!

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:35 PM
Response to Reply #9

12. I'm there and most of the time, I LOVE it. Except for that bikini thing.

lol

:hi:

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SPKrazy

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:56 PM
Response to Reply #4

27. good description of the feeling psychologically

i think you are correct

in my case at least

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 03:00 PM
Response to Reply #27

32. We are slow learning creatures but we're teachable.

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BarenakedLady

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:30 PM
Response to Original message

5. I'd like to think

that I will take after my 102 year old maternal grandmother. So then I won't actually be at mid life until about 50 or so. Hehehe.

I hope I am that lucky. I'm only 1 1/2 from 40.

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billyskank

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:31 PM
Response to Original message

7. Some months ago somebody posted a thread asking when "middle age" is

which is pretty much the same question, and I was struck by the number of 40- and even 50- somethings saying that "middle age" was older than whatever their age was.

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:40 PM
Response to Reply #7

14. That's cause most of us 40-50 people feel exactly the same as we did

Edited on Sun Jun-03-07 02:40 PM by sfexpat2000

when we turned 30.

And some of us look mostly the same, too.

Except that neck thing. Fuck Nora Ephron. :mad:

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billyskank

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:42 PM
Response to Reply #14

15. I don't doubt it

I feel the same at 30 as I did at 18. So I don't find it hard at all to believe I will still feel the same at 40, or even 50.

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:46 PM
Response to Reply #15

19. I think I freaked my younger kid out by waking up on my 30th

birthday and yelling, "Now I can tell everyone to F#CK OFF!" He still remembers that and he was like 9 at the time. lol

Maybe we're like Jello and after a certain point, we're set. I can still do all the stuff I did 20 years ago and most of the time, I can't believe how quickly time has passed.

:rofl:

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Ptah

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:33 PM
Response to Original message

10. If I average the lifespan of my four grandparents,

then forty-six would be half way.

:shrug:

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:43 PM
Response to Reply #10

17. Cr@p! Cant' you recalculate that?

lol

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Gidney N Cloyd

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:42 PM
Response to Original message

16. Julio Franco is 48. When he finally retires from baseball that'll be the

new benchmark for the start of middle age.

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:48 PM
Response to Reply #16

20. Whew!

lol

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Gidney N Cloyd

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:52 PM
Response to Reply #20

22. Well, they are the "BOYS of summer" now, aren't they?

Plus Franco's from the Dominican Republic so he might actually be in his 50's.
:-)

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:53 PM
Response to Reply #22

24. Maybe that's why I enjoy baseball more and more every year.

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The Velveteen Ocelot

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:45 PM
Response to Original message

18. Anybody who is at least 10 years older than me.

This opinion is becoming increasingly ridiculous as I get older...

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Nicole

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:52 PM
Response to Original message

23. 36

I'm past it. :(

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:55 PM
Response to Reply #23

26. 36?! 36 is a baby.

I couldn't even find my own foot until I was 38.

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Nicole

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:57 PM
Response to Reply #26

28. Baby or not, it's still middle age.

I know a lot of 35-40 year babies. :rofl:

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:59 PM
Response to Reply #28

30. LOL! Me, too.

:hi:

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Nicole

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Sun Jun-03-07 03:03 PM
Response to Reply #30

34. I'm past it

and may never grow up myself. :rofl:

BTW, this is how I figured out it was 36.

Senior citizens are defined as 65 so mid life of that is 32.5.

Life expectancy for women is 80 so mid life of that is 40.

About an 8 year difference there so add 4 to one, or take 4 from the other, it's 36.

:hi:

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 03:04 PM
Response to Reply #34

35. Growing up is highly overrated, imho.

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SPKrazy

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Sun Jun-03-07 03:10 PM
Response to Reply #34

37. It really isn't the chronological mid life I don't think

most people developmentally begin to look at their life with some level of introspection and questioning sometime between that 36 and maybe even as high as 50-55?

I think what people call a mid life "crisis" is really a normal stage of development that is handled by people differently based on their level of maturity, their handling of other developmental stages, and their resources.

A time of looking at where you are in life, vs. where you want to go.

That seems to be the developmental task, along with the idea of passing it on to the next generation as well.

:shrug:

:hi:

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 03:29 PM
Response to Reply #37

41. Mid life crisis seems to involve feeling loss or regret for stuff

you haven't tried or done yet.

And it seems to happen just about at the time when you can try it or do it.

I'm all for mid life crisis. Mine got me painting and writing as I never had the confidence to do in my 20s. Now, bailing on your family, buying a sports car and becoming a casino habituee might be more problematic.

lol

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SPKrazy

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Sun Jun-03-07 03:45 PM
Response to Reply #41

42. perhaps

bailing meaning leaving is one thing, abandoning them without resources and ignoring them is a major problem

but a lot of people realize that they got married for the wrong reasons and they come to terms with it one way or another it seems.

:shrug:

sounds like you found some positive outlets for changing

:hi:

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 03:54 PM
Response to Reply #42

44. It's a lot like revisiting adolescence, isn't it?

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SPKrazy

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Sun Jun-03-07 04:39 PM
Response to Reply #44

49. even with the

zits sometimes x(

yeah

:D

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AwakeAtLast

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Sun Jun-03-07 08:27 PM
Response to Reply #26

54. Oooh! Thank you!

I'm 37 ;)

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 10:46 PM
Response to Reply #54

55. OMG! I hope you enjoy these years! I sure did!

:toast:

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supernova

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:53 PM
Response to Original message

25. I'm planning on being 150, so

75 is middle-aged for me! ;-)

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SPKrazy

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:59 PM
Response to Reply #25

29. Sounds good to me!

150 eh?

Well I better get my butt to the gym more :shrug:

or something

:D

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supernova

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Sun Jun-03-07 03:02 PM
Response to Reply #29

33. Me too!

I've seriously fallen off that wagon the past few months. :D

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SPKrazy

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Sun Jun-03-07 03:06 PM
Response to Reply #33

36. I've been working my way back

but for some reason I can't get the rhythm going again...:shrug:

I was at the point where I felt bad if I didn't go at least every other day

Now I have to make myself go.

:D

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 03:18 PM
Response to Reply #36

40. Or do something you like more.

I used to run and memorize verse but it got so boring, it became a chore. My walks now are much more fun. I walk in Golden Gate Park or on the beach and have a great time taking note of the wildlife or just watching people or watching my pup discovering things for the first time.

The program has to engage me or it won't be a go. Life is too short to force yourself to do something that doesn't interest you, imho. :shrug:

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SPKrazy

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Sun Jun-03-07 03:50 PM
Response to Reply #40

43. Good points

I won't/can't run due to my knees.

I love to bike, but i really like to do it where i won't get run over LOL

but i do like going to the gym usually, but lately i've been to where i go and i have to drag myself to do anything, much less drag myself there.

:shrug:

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 03:56 PM
Response to Reply #43

45. You might want to consider that you're dealing with the D word.

And you know you have my thoughts and wishes. :hug:

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SPKrazy

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Sun Jun-03-07 04:38 PM
Response to Reply #45

48. ,,,

Thanks!

:hug:

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DeposeTheBoyKing

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Sun Jun-03-07 02:59 PM
Response to Original message

31. I'm 44 and I ain't there yet

I keep moving the goalposts, though. I still seem young to myself. Maybe when I'm 75 (if I live that long) I'll see things differently.

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Nikia

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Sun Jun-03-07 03:13 PM
Response to Original message

38. 40-50

I only think of "mid-life" as an insult when my mother-in-law applied it to me. Why does she think that I would die before the age of 60 when all my youngest grandparent died at over 70 (and he was a heavy smoker).

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NewWaveChick1981

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Sun Jun-03-07 03:15 PM
Response to Original message

39. It totally depends on the person.

I'm in "midlife", but it in no way means I'm on the downhill turn. :P

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Blue-Jay

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Sun Jun-03-07 03:58 PM
Response to Original message

46. I'm 40. I figure that's "mid-life".

I don't plan on living past 80, so the math works out pretty well.

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Wapsie B

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Sun Jun-03-07 04:03 PM
Response to Original message

47. I've seen people in their 80's act youthful.

And I've seen those in their 20's act like life was over. Me for one.

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EFerrari

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Sun Jun-03-07 07:58 PM
Response to Reply #47

53. My mom is mentally younger than I am and she's 75.

lol

And a huge troublemaker, at that. :evilgrin:

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graywarrior

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Sun Jun-03-07 04:40 PM
Response to Original message

50. Sometimes I feel like my life is over, other times like it's just beginning.

My mother died at 49, my dad at 52. They were way too young to go.

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bigwillq

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Sun Jun-03-07 04:45 PM
Response to Original message

51. 40s

since the average life expectancy is around 80

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Radio_Lady

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Sun Jun-03-07 04:49 PM
Response to Original message

52. I think it was Dustin Hoffman who reaches age 60 in August -- is now convinced he's past mid-life.

Edited on Sun Jun-03-07 04:52 PM by Radio_Lady

He was interviewed recently and stated something like "I'm more than halfway and know the end is much nearer now."

I just turned 68 last month, and hubby will be 73 this month. It does give someone a good dose of perspective. Even 50 is stretching it in my humble opinion.

Maybe 40 or possibly 45 would be my guess. But who knows -- for any one individual?

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S n o w b a l l

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Sun Jun-03-07 11:16 PM
Response to Original message

56. I was always a wild and crazy girl...very independent. & lived an ..

adventurous life, traveled and moved from place to place, across country to LA...no kids to make me be responsible....met the love of my life at 33, married at 37 & unfortunately divorced at 47. I'm 50 now and still feel like my life hasn't even begun, although the reality of my age is setting in fast lately. I used to not think much about it at all...dated men 20 yrs my jr and thought nothing of it. Just lately have I realized that I should probably start acting my age.

So in answer to the question, I guess I'd say 50.

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