Midlife Assessment (Crisis sounds too extreme)!

Summary

A 44-year-old woman reflects on her unexpected redundancy, leading to a self-described midlife assessment where she contemplates her identity, societal expectations, and the possibility of career change.

Abstract

The author, recently unemployed due to redundancy, finds herself in a period of introspection, challenging the stereotypes of aging and the fear of change. She questions her own adaptability at 44, pondering whether to embrace a new career path or stick with her extensive corporate experience. Through personal anecdotes and observations, she concludes that self-acceptance and living in the moment are crucial, as people are too preoccupied with their own lives to judge others harshly. The author decides to rekindle her passion for writing alongside her job search, advocating for embracing one's uniqueness and not being deterred by the perceived opinions of others.

Opinions

The author feels a mix of confusion and self-doubt following her redundancy, questioning her life's purpose and her ability to learn new skills at her age.
She rejects the idea of conforming to age-related stereotypes, such as participating in activities like lawn bowls and bingo, and is considering a significant career change.
The author believes that people are generally preoccupied with their own concerns and do not pay as much attention to others as one might think, suggesting a freedom from societal expectations.
She has come to accept and be proud of her appearance, including her long hair and body shape, despite societal pressures to look a certain way.
The author advocates for embracing life's changes and personal passions, such as her renewed interest in writing, and encourages others to live authentically without fear of judgment.
She emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance and not allowing age to dictate one's choices or happiness.

Midlife Assessment (Crisis sounds too extreme)!

Author + Bing

So here I am, unemployed thanks to an unexpected redundancy. It’s like being caught in a whirlpool of confusion and self-doubt. I find myself questioning the purpose of my life, my skills and what the hell do I do now? It’s got me wondering, am I too old, at the ripe old age of 44 (and 6 months), to learn some new tricks?

Am I seriously destined for activities like lawn bowls, bingo and midday movie marathons? Have I unintentionally fulfilled all the stereotypes of old people already? But no, I’m talking about more substantial changes, like switching careers. I’ve spent a good 25 years in the corporate world. Is it time for a change, or should I accept my fate of “this is what I know”, and continue in this space?

While some of you might say, “Hey, 44 is still a few decades away from retirement!” Let me tell you, I’m going through an early midlife assessment here (not quite a crisis, but it’s knocking at my door). I’m contemplating other important matters like whether I’m too old to have long hair, if that flush was really menopause, and if it’s time to embrace the one-piece swimsuit life! While my dear husband may adore every wrinkle and roll, I suspect it might just be a case of Stockholm syndrome after having to gaze upon the same body for two decades!

One silver lining of unemployment is having the luxury of time to just be. Let me tell you, people-watching has become a favourite pastime. The epiphany that struck me like a fashion-forward lightning bolt is this: nobody really gives a shit. Sure, someone might raise an eyebrow at an eccentric fashion choice, but for the most part, 99% of people pass by without a second thought. What you fret over, someone else might even be envious of!

What I’ve realised is no one gives a shit.

I had a friend who once advised me she despised the frown line between her eyebrows. That tiny crease caused her daily distress, yet it barely registered on anyone else’s radar. It wasn’t noticeable to anyone but her. This got me thinking and talking to other women who share my age bracket and mindset. The verdict? Every time you’ve wished for larger boobs, there’s someone out there wishing for the exact opposite. For every moment you’ve longed for curly hair, someone has been admiring your straight locks, wishing they had them.

Let’s embrace the cliché that “age is just a number” and let go of what others might think. Frankly, everyone’s got their own issues to deal with and probably won’t even notice or care about yours. Personally, I still proudly rock my long hair, and as for the bikini situation, I reached a compromise and am now the proud owner of a tankini. I even dared to reveal my lily-white legs without tanning recently, and you know what? Not a single eyelid batted!

What about the career change I mentioned? Well, I have diversified my approach. I’m still on the lookout for a corporate gig, but I’ve also resurrected my old passion for writing. Who knows, maybe there’s an avenue for me to share my thoughts and make a few bucks out of it? Let me know if I should go for it!

In conclusion, here are the key takeaways from my midlife assessment:

1. Be proud of who you are, wrinkles and all.

2. Live in the moment and let go of societal expectations.

3. Don’t miss out on things based on what others might think because, honestly, they probably didn’t even notice in the first place!

So, let’s embrace what we have been blessed with and enjoy life!

If you liked this, I have some more stories on life’s musings you might enjoy:

By day, I am a Corporate Executive and Board Director with a passion for CX, EX, and AI. In my other life, I love to explore my writing passion on midlife trials and tribulations, parental journeys, and sharing my general musings on life.

Midlife Assessment (Crisis sounds too extreme)!

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