A Midlife Crisis 25 Years in the Making
Someone recently forwarded me an article entitled “Too Young for a Midlife Crisis.” I don’t know if the article was forwarded to me in the spirit of being a joke, the way my friends sometimes forward me personal ads off of CraigsList, or as a hint, the way FaceBook always encourages me to “meet single dads in your area.” Is this friend suggesting that my life is currently similar to a midlife crisis, or simply letting me know that the option is available to me?
Really, it’s never too early for a midlife crisis. First of all, I may kick the bucket at age 50, which means I’m starting to get over the hill. After all, I have not been blessed with any genes particularly inclined towards longevity - rather my genes make me more inclined to require glasses, go grey but not bald, and become addicted to chocolate and salami. Secondly, my twenties is an age which doesn’t count for much. I can have starter marriages, become a boomerang child at my parents’ house, and have a practice midlife crisis. Really, it’s like my twenties is a decade which doesn’t even exist. I’m old enough to drink, vote, graduate from college and find a job, but real adulthood doesn’t really start until thirty. Of course once I’m thirty there’s a real chance I’ll decide to start my life over again as a flight attendant, get a real Arizona-style tan, and buy myself some flashy car on credit that I really shouldn’t have.
The disappointing thing about having a midlife crisis at 25 is that it’s not a lot of fun. I can’t date anyone much younger than myself without risking jail time, I don’t have the funds to get myself a convertible, and I can’t change careers, since I don’t really have one yet. Instead my midlife crisis is limited to posting depressed updates on my FaceBook page, commiserating with other jobless graduates, and finding myself. Currently I find myself sitting in front of a computer, in need of a swift kick in the pants to jump start myself towards even making, let alone working towards, a goal.
Really, it’s never too early for a midlife crisis. First of all, I may kick the bucket at age 50, which means I’m starting to get over the hill. After all, I have not been blessed with any genes particularly inclined towards longevity - rather my genes make me more inclined to require glasses, go grey but not bald, and become addicted to chocolate and salami. Secondly, my twenties is an age which doesn’t count for much. I can have starter marriages, become a boomerang child at my parents’ house, and have a practice midlife crisis. Really, it’s like my twenties is a decade which doesn’t even exist. I’m old enough to drink, vote, graduate from college and find a job, but real adulthood doesn’t really start until thirty. Of course once I’m thirty there’s a real chance I’ll decide to start my life over again as a flight attendant, get a real Arizona-style tan, and buy myself some flashy car on credit that I really shouldn’t have.
The disappointing thing about having a midlife crisis at 25 is that it’s not a lot of fun. I can’t date anyone much younger than myself without risking jail time, I don’t have the funds to get myself a convertible, and I can’t change careers, since I don’t really have one yet. Instead my midlife crisis is limited to posting depressed updates on my FaceBook page, commiserating with other jobless graduates, and finding myself. Currently I find myself sitting in front of a computer, in need of a swift kick in the pants to jump start myself towards even making, let alone working towards, a goal.
Views: 0
Comment
-
Comment by Mike Green on August 21, 2009 at 1:47pm
-
Here's an idea for consideration. For one month, dedicate all your energies and efforts to contributing to improving the lives of 5 people (not yourself) you know personally. Speak only words of encouragement to yourself and others. Ignore the negative and highlight the positive. Eat only healthy nutritious foods and workout vigorously at least three times a week. Spread love and joy (even when you don't feel like it) and write about each day in this online journal, so we can share in your journey of joy. Then, at the end of 30 days, you can vent. Let it all out ... or try doing it all over again for another 30 days.
Just a suggestion. If nothing else, it will bring a lot of fodder into your life to share with your fans here.
Birthdays
Ashland Daily Tidings
This Day in History
A&E Calendar
Badge
© 2012 Created by Webmaster.
You need to be a member of Connect Ashland to add comments!
Join Connect Ashland