By Jessica Miller
The decades considered “middle age” can include the ages between 35 to 64. That means Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Millennials can have this label in common if they share nothing else. Some people in this range are shocked or dismayed to find that they are approaching “old”, some are amused by the circumstances they’re in that lead to this, and some take pride in making it this far.
Any stage of life where someone is “in-between” one and another is awkward. Being middle-aged is nowhere near as awkward as being a teen. But it is still a navigation of changing roles, responsibilities, and privileges. A middle-aged person may still want to go to a concert they would have liked a decade ago. While the tickets may be easier to afford, sitting down at times and leaving early to beat traffic now, seem like better ideas. It also becomes more important to bring a set of ear plugs.
These moments of shenanigans tempered with responsibility, go unnoticed the first few times they happen. But then the inevitable gasp and shock is now a regular part of the routine occur, and nights out just don’t feel the same after that. But not all moments of this revelation are troubling so much as an opportunity to refine one’s habits. People who drink get better at it; they now enjoy higher-quality products and are prepared for the next day by having drinks with electrolytes and taking aspirin and vitamins in the morning. (Oh, they take so much aspirin now.) And the people who didn’t get better at drinking, dial it back or abstain altogether if they’re wise.
Wisdom is one of the primary gifts received as time goes on. There will always be more unknown than known, but past situations and education accumulate as people grow older. Even if some lessons have to be repeated, eventually patterns end if only due to their recognition. People are now more inclined to hear what a middle-aged person has to say because they’ve clearly seen and done it before, but it wasn’t so long ago that the memory has faded.
This aspect of having one foot toward the younger days and another toward elderhood means middle-aged people are frequently caregivers to their parents and children at the same time. It’s not uncommon to also be raising grandchildren. It seems to be a natural fit to provide for multiple generations at this age, but the demands on time and energy are no small ask. Apparently, there is precisely enough energy to keep up with the demands between generations.
The older ones went through this transition themselves, and they have the tenacity to stay set in the ways; they developed in their own midseason. The younger ones are exploring and questioning, and they are seeking ways to try. Every generation is somehow trying to make sense of the world and building their perspectives—even the ones currently in the middle.