YspeopleExplore tab

Ysbuys

Ysepicure

Midlifers, we're no longer invisible


About Leanne | crestingthehill

Hi I'm Leanne, medical receptionist by day and blogger by night. I blog at Cresting the Hill - where I write about how much I’m enjoying Midlife and the empty nest. To quote Maya Angelou: “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour, and some style.”


What has happened in the last few years to make the pendulum swing from invisible to full-steam ahead?

Midlife - we've moved from invisible to full-on.

Midlife - we've moved from invisible to full-on

MIDLIFE - THINGS HAVE CHANGED

One of the questions I've been asking myself lately is why has the midlife pendulum swung so far? It seems in the last decade or so we've gone from completely invisible to being gung-ho and full-speed ahead. 

Have you noticed that every midlifer seems to be on an adventure? They are traipsing all over the world, running marathons, writing blogs, starting new businesses, throwing big birthday parties and generally living life on a large scale.

WHERE HAVE THE CHANGES COME FROM?

It wasn't all that long ago that midlifers were complaining about being invisible. You can read hundreds of articles on how we disappear as we age. But over the last decade or so, we've had a resurgence and everyone seems to be out there doing interesting stuff while sharing it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram for the world to see.

Read more from Leanne: The midlife marriage fairytale

I was talking to my husband about this the other day and we came up with three simple reasons for the change that's occurred in our age demographic. I'm sure there are more factors, but these were the three we came up with.....

MONEY

Midlifers seem to have more expendable income these days. Most have worked for several decades and with the kids off their hands, they find they have quite a bit of spare cash floating around -- and are looking for ways to enjoy it. 

The temptation is to stash it away for retirement, or to leave it to the kids when we go, but I think there is a little bit of the YOLO mentality in our generation. We all want to enjoy the fruits of our labour, rather than putting it all away for a rainy day. 

It may mean that we have a regular date night, a weekend away or, better still, that trip overseas that we've been coveting all our lives. We couldn't afford to take the whole family, but with only two of us to pay for, it becomes very do-able.

HEALTH

Midlifers are probably the healthiest we've ever been for this age and stage. We eat sensibly (most of the time), we make sure we're doing some regular exercise, and we still feel like we're in our 30s. Why not make the most of this time of life before our health starts to deteriorate?

It's inevitable that the ageing process will catch up with us eventually, so we're seizing the day and doing the stuff we want before it's too late.

We've all heard stories of the person who waited to do their living when they retired and then found it was too late because their health failed them - and we don't want that to be us!

SOCIAL MEDIA

Ahhhh, that amazing invention that puts our lives on display for all to see. Most of us got our social media happening when our kids were updating their lives online. We wanted to keep an eye on them and stay connected, so we signed up for Facebook.

The interesting thing is that our adult kids seem to have moved on and don't use their social media all that often, but we are out there sharing all our experiences with our friends and loving the social side of it.

I see travel pictures, grandbaby pictures, mother-of-the-bride and wedding pictures, anniversary pictures, new pet pictures, restaurant pictures, weekend-away pictures, and the list goes on. We'd never have known how busy everyone was if it wasn't for the immediacy of social media -- and our generation is utilising it to the full.

ARE YOU INVISIBLE OR FULL ON?

I'm hoping there's a happy medium between fading into the background and having the need to be living every moment of life full-steam ahead.

I must admit, I love that midlife has become interesting, that we're doing more and experiencing more and life hasn't stopped. I'm so glad we're not invisible and we're making the most of this fantastic stage.

Do you have plans for the next few years? Are you off on a trip? Starting a new business venture? Selling the house? Taking up a gym membership? Discovering a new hobby? Isn't it a great time to be alive?!

Topic of the Week: Midlifers, We're No Longer Invisible


Banner 1
| Your rating
No ratings yet


Related stories

The Perfect Mattress According to your Star Sign - Bedworks.

The perfect mattress for your star sign. Part 2

In this second part of our 4-part series, we are here to find out which mattress is best for people born with the following signs.

Sleep Rest Beds Mattress Health
Expand
Almost 6 years ago
(Health & Beauty)
Online shopping with AR technology.

How to stop buying the wrong products online

Have you ever ordered a product online and then realized you were not satisfied with it because it was too different from your...

Eyes Vision Opticals
Expand
Almost 6 years ago
(Health & Beauty)
The Perfect Mattress Astrology.

The perfect mattress for your star sign

Part one in our four-part series on finding the perfect bed by the stars.

Beauty Relationships Health
Expand
About 6 years ago
(Health & Beauty)
Get yourself checked out men! (Image: Shutterstock).

Men and Alzheimer's: what you need to know

Men are more at risk of undiagnosed Alzheimer's than women, studies show.

Ageing Health
Expand
About 6 years ago
(Health & Beauty)
Values and thinking are so important.

Why I seek solace in solitude

I've developed a less-than-typical outlook on life. But here's why that's ok.

Family Ageing Community Health
Expand
About 6 years ago
(Health & Beauty)
Pets have a positive impact on health and well being in retirement.

How pets are great for over-50s health

No matter whether you're a dog or a cat person, having a pet can have a positive impact on life in retirement.

Fitness Animals Health
Expand
About 6 years ago
(Health & Beauty)
Euthanasia is my choice and nobody else's.

I will die with or without your help

Here's why all the arguments against euthanasia -- both ethical and religious -- are bunkum!

Relationships Social Issues Health
Expand
About 6 years ago
(Health & Beauty)
Think about and share your life motto with us! (Image: Shutterstock).

Reader mottos to live your life by

Some words of pure wisdom, straight from the mouths of our YsFriends. 

Kindness Community
Expand
About 6 years ago
(Health & Beauty)
Photo by Rodolfo Sanches Carvalho on Unsplash.

Here's how to find your happy place

In such a crazy world, it vital that find your happy place.

Relationships Ageing Health
Expand
About 6 years ago
(Health & Beauty)
Live every day like you mean it .

About the only thing separating us is luck

For most of us, a cancer diagnosis is largely luck of the draw -- and a reminder to live fully each day.

Fitness Ageing Health
Expand
About 6 years ago
(Health & Beauty)

Message board

Rachel, almost 3 years ago:
I am Sav
Rachel, almost 3 years ago:
Hello
Derek, over 5 years ago:
I am great
George, over 5 years ago:
What's up Thomas?
George, over 5 years ago:
Messages are now updated in real time on other browsers.
Thomas, over 5 years ago:
Hello
Thomas, almost 6 years ago:
Great!
DJC, almost 6 years ago:
Groovy!
George, almost 6 years ago:
Message board active from June 2018

Have your say!

Your Great Australians

Trending stories
They may be hideous, but geez, some toby jugs are valuable.

Is your toby jug worth a fortune?

Did you know that some of...

(Nostalgia) Over 5 years ago
The mistress is in control.

The mistress is in total control

In part five of this series...

(Love & Relationships) Over 6 years ago
Big leap forward for new Santa Fe.

Korean SUV takes another step forward

IT represents Korean car...

(Pastimes) Almost 6 years ago
That desperation to ''know'' and be right can cause so much unnecessary conflict.

When 'knowing' is dangerous

Nothing starts more...

(Ys Comment) About 6 years ago
Can you solve this puzzle? .

Can you guess who I am?

I'm an influential figure...

(Nostalgia) About 6 years ago
Weekly Poll
Photographic memories
Hizgg0vzzqvwc9xicknk
It's 35 years since the Ash Wednesday bushfires in South Australia and Victoria claimed 75 lives and more than 2500 buildings.