Passages: Midlife Crisis

Do you know someone still living like a “cool kid” even though they are not? We all know that person, middle aged, driving a fancy sports car, wearing the latest fashions. The midlife crisis is probably the most famous of all the life passages we experience. Some transition successfully to renewal; others leave with a sense of staleness which has turned into resignation. In this third post on the book Passages by Gail Sheehy, we uncover what happen during the midlife crisis.

Deadline Decade

The Deadline Decade is a crossroads in life. It is a crisis with potential for great change and turmoil. This is the halfway point of life, the infamous midlife crisis. We question the choices made to this point. We reexamine our purposes, and reevaluate how we have spent our time and money. Some of us go out and buy a shiny sports car. It is a time of danger and opportunity. For those who successfully confront this crisis, they will confirm their choices and move on to greater accomplishments. For me, the Deadline Decade had me lose a tight race for public office, but successfully land a job back in education, which was on my timeline, described in Passages, Part 1. 

Renewal or Resignation

The last crisis that Sheehy dealt with in her original book is Renewal or Resignation. In this passage, stability is regained somewhere after the mid-forties. If one had refused to budge through the midlife transition, a sense of staleness will develop and turn into resignation. On the other hand, those who confronted themselves in the previous passage will find a renewed sense of purpose. These people are eager to continue building their life. For them, these are perhaps the best years. It is at this time that we truly learn the lesson of Romans 8:28:

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

 Romans 8:28

People change and go through predictable passages of life. Making the decisions necessary to navigate these life changes successfully is important for personal growth and happiness. Supporting one another’s dreams will draw you closer together. Confronting ourselves and looking to God for direction will keep us on track as we move from one passage to another. Happy traveling!

Copyright © 2023 Chuck Locklear

Also, see Passages, Part 1.