Three times the angst, half the focus?

Middle Age is a concept that many people understand in theory, but is hard to define. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, middle age is defined as the period between the ages of 45 and 64. Other sources state 40-60, and one source I found stated that middle-age starts at 55! The truth is, unless you have a really good fortune teller, not many people know exactly when their journey into middle age begins. But many of us know the symptoms- new aches and pains, maybe a little (or a lot!) of weight gain, changes in hair and skin…the list goes on.

What I find fascinating is while there is so much focus on teenage angst, many of us are feeling angsty in middle age for many of the same reasons we felt it (way?) back then. Hormonal acne, feeling uncomfortable in our clothes,  outgrowing relationships of all kinds are things that we experience then now. If we spend three times the time in middle age then we do in our teenage years, so why does it seem like society spends so little time in making it less…bad?

While we may have been encouraged to hide the issues that made us angsty in our teenage years, I’m finding that many of us are done with the shame that comes with the natural aging process. When a male attendee at a work conference asked me if I was okay when I tore off my blazer, I simply looked him dead in the eyes and said, “Hot flash.” He commented on my bravery in admitting the truth. I simply went on with my perimenopausal day.

I love aging out loud, without apology. I love the irreverence of it, but more than that, I love discussing the challenges in hopes that doing so may lead to better solutions for us all.