Middle Age: Beginning of Aging or Prime of Life?
From birth, childhood, adolescence, midlife, and finally old age is a cycle of life. Middle age is the period in a person’s life between the age of 35-65 years though others argue that its between 40-60 years. A number of people argue that it is at this period that most people have it all since it’s a period identified as the secure age. In this notation secure means to have financial stability, career stability, emotional and physical prime and clear of all identity crisis since on has already discovered the person they are and work to achieve all their goals set in life. Its period when all the kids are all grown up, so your parental duties decrease by the day leaving yourself all the time for all other things. But there is a number of people that label it a crisis era even with the common notation, ‘midlife crisis’ being used a lot in the day to day living.
A research done by MacArthur Foundation Research Network revealed that middle age is the prime of life. The research that was done over a period of 10 years and with 8000 applicants showed that most people are at balance at this age as compared to their earlier ages and later years. Middle age people appear to be at good health when it comes to their taking care of their physical and mental health. From having good healthy diets and good medical record, the middle-aged people appeared to be at the peak of their lives at this age and having a great sense of well-being when it came to their emotional and mental health (Goode, New York Times).
When it comes to productivity the middle age people are at their peak, with most working extra hard so that they can provide financial stability for their families while the women mostly make accommodations in their work lives in order to take care of their children. Women at the middle age referred to as the ‘social emotional leader’ is at this point skilled as maternal guardian, house keeper and emotional pillar. there is active involvement of both men and women in their social lives from interaction with neighbors, relatives, their children and even grandchildren. On the social family, work, marriage, and community in general the middle age is the best place to be (Neugarten 56).
On the other downside of middle age, there are certain factors that make mid-life a bumpy ride. For instance, at this age especially those past 55 years it’s a period of health complications. 6% of women and 4% of men get cancer at this age. Others even experience other more serious ailments like high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, migraine headaches, back problems, memory loss and insomnia. Though some of this ailments can be attributed to the lives they lived earlier the consequences are mostly felt at this period (Mintz 329).
At the late age of middle age most people experience a lot of struggles especially when it comes to their appearance. Most start having grey hair, wrinkles on their faces, skin sags, and even slow metabolic rates that makes them slow in their activities. Women begin experiencing menopause that is not such a friendly experience to most of them. They experience great physical stress even hot plashes. This in some causes cases of depression. Men on the other hand experience andropause a period characterized by changes in their sexual functions such as impotence, problems achieving spontaneous erections which leads to them having esteem issues (Kaczmarek 275).
Most people experience what is termed as mid-life crisis. This is a period of personal upheaval and psychological turmoil. In order to deal with their fears of aging others begin to purchase things like motorcycles, or even sports cars in order to get that feeling of being young. Others even go to the extent of dumping their spouses for other younger ones. There is a decrease in competency and also downward shifts in mental abilities. Other view this period as a time of numerous obligations from all round, extra demand from work and at home, stresses and losses. When it even comes to the loss of life one of every six men and one of every eight women lose their life at this period, even a s the life expectancy rate has increased in several nations.
Generally midlife is a period that will be taken differently by different people. Others view it as a negative period while other feel at their best. From their productivity, lifestyle changes, financial security, job security, and other life ordeals, middle age can be a blessing to most people it all depends on your attitude. In negative things that cannot be changed even with our attitude for instance menopause it is importance to embrace the changes and enjoy every single moment. For things like financial problem, it is important that we work hard because it is at this period that productivity is at peak. Common myths like mid-life crisis should not be taken seriously because it does not affect everyone. So, middle age a sign of aging or prime of life: it’s all up to you.
Work cited
Mintz, Steven. The Prime of Life: A History of Modern Adulthood., 2015. Print.
Neugarten, Bernice L. Middle Age and Aging: A Reader in Social Psychology. Chicago [u.a.: Univ. of Chicago Press, 1973. Print.
Kaczmarek, Maria. "On The Doorstep to Senility: Physical Changes, Health Status And Well-Being In Midlife." Anthropological Review 78.3 (2015): 269-287. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 May 2016.
Goode, Erica. New study shows middle age is the prime of life. New York times, 1999. Retrieved from: http://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/16/health/new-study-finds-middle-age-is-prime-of-life.html?pagewanted=all
