So How Was Your Midlife Crisis?

[mattjenson]

I have my birthday coming up next week, always makes me think a little. I was made redundant at 43 and I sat in my lounge room staring at the wall for 4 hours, thinking "What the Christ am I going to do now?" My world came crashing down around my ears, and I was, for the first time, truly on my own.

Now after 20 years it still hurts. The rejection. Not being needed anymore. Not to say hello to my fellow workers and a twinge of regret each morning as I go for a walk (Yes, and a bit of jealousy, too) for all those who are rushing off to work.

Strange, isn't it? Surplus to requirements, ready for the scrap heap. Dead but you don't have the decency to lie down. You find it difficult to start again. The continual rejections. With the rejections came the inevitable breakdown in physical health.

I didn't mind getting old. We all have to accept that. But, I do resent that most employers look at me as an example of one who is totally washed up, and finished.

Is there life after work? Yes, there is. But some of us find it bloody hard to make the transition. I don't pretend to have an answer..............................

But if I was a doctor, I could say, midlife crises eh? Mmmmmm, have you thought of taking a holiday in Thailand?

[NanLaew]

You managed to stay unemployed for 20 years? Awesome!

My buddies reckon I had mine when I was around 42 although I didn't see it as such and I still don't. I had been working in the US for about 8 years and was having issues with my bosses. They all seemed to be about the same age as me but less experienced with the hands-on and practical aspects. I was being very well paid and being told that they revered my expertise and knowledge in the field. However, they were still telling me how to do my job and that was doing my head in. I reckoned they felt threatened since I knew I could do their job (office bound managers) and if I wanted an easier time and quit the field work, I could easily fly their desks for them. So I quit the 9-5 rigmarole and became an independent consultant, working when and where I like. Now I shout at myself some weeks and give myself a pay rise on others.

[villagefarang]

Wow, I sure am glad I didn’t have to go through anything like that. It sounds very depressing. I never liked work, as it got in the way of living for me, so stopped at 40 and have remained happily unemployed for the last 18 years. Different priorities I suppose.

[impulse]

So How Was Your Midlife Crisis?

Which one?

There's always something on the other side.

BTW, you weren't made redundant, your position was. It ain't about you.

Remember, the best revenge is to go out and live a better life after (fill in your rejection scenario here).

Really pisses 'em off.

[canman]

I'll let you know when I get there. The first 50 years of my childhood have been great!

[geriatrickid]

I've been having a midlife crisis since middle school........

Seriously, when are we not in crisis, only to look back a few yeaars later and say, what the blazes was I getting stressed out for? Over something that was nothing.

One thing I have learnt from some of the more stable people on this site is that something good is just around the corner, provide you get off your arse and get to the corner. And remember, if you are ever feeling down, why just give a little whistle.

[althemighty]

I'm generation Y so had a quaterlife crisis at 25. Got myself a big loan for a sports car and traveled around the world. Great idea at the time but i'm paying for it now Oh well at least I have a job to pay all this debt.

[Hedghog]

So much for loyalty to the company.

[fletchsmile]

One of the beauties of Thailand is there's no need to wait unti mid-life for your crises (plural)

You can also be a kid (in or out of a candy shop - your choice) for as long as you choose

[Hedghog]

My midlife crisis.

Saved enough money bought a couple of properties,(now rented)

Thailand

[Scully]

Had mine at 31, brother died, soon after my dad croaked and I then split with the missus.

I thought 3 months in Thailand would do me good but soon found out 5 years would be better. Back in January for my second crisis

[fareastguy]

I must have slept through mine ??

[Heng]

Right around the corner... going to have a good one.

[hotandhumid]

Can somebody tell me what the heck this is about?

Still in mourning TWENTY years after being made redundant??

Ha ha ha, has to be a troll...or at least I hope it is!

[rene123]

I don't know. I'm supposedly in it right now, but I'm having the time of my life.

[GuestHouse]

Nothing wrong with having a midlife crisis, there's a lot of research that indicates it is actually a good thing in terms of personal and gene survival.

The trick is not to turn your midlife crisis into a late life disaster.

[JimmyTheMook]

Mood altering suppositories.

[BookMan]

Wow, I sure am glad I didn’t have to go through anything like that. It sounds very depressing. I never liked work, as it got in the way of living for me, so stopped at 40 and have remained happily unemployed for the last 18 years. Different priorities I suppose.

I like your thinking VF

[BookMan]

So How Was Your Midlife Crisis?

Which one?

There's always something on the other side.

BTW, you weren't made redundant, your position was. It ain't about you.

Remember, the best revenge is to go out and live a better life after (fill in your rejection scenario here).

Really pisses 'em off.

Redundancy is just a way of life these days for everyone.

Forget about the revenge and pissing then off though.

Just move on and find something else, enjoy life, do something you want.

Why care what people or an anonymous company in your past thinks about you?

[Naam]

Wow, I sure am glad I didn’t have to go through anything like that. It sounds very depressing. I never liked work, as it got in the way of living for me, so stopped at 40 and have remained happily unemployed for the last 18 years. Different priorities I suppose.

stopped when 46 and happily unemployed since 23 years. regret that i did not stop when 40!

[Naam]

just when i decided to have a midlife crisis and enjoy it to the fullest my wife intervened and forbade it. women!

[animatic]

I started mine in my later 20's and never stopped.

So getting on in mid-life is just a continuum with more belly and less speed,

But the same itches getting scratched from time to time, with more comfort.

[thenervoussurgeon]

Luckily i have never been made redundant ,3 times in my life i have been unemployed ,as i had enough to live on ,but always been asked to work for companys and given in and gone back to "work" for a living ,at 55 i went part time and at 60 came to live here permanantly ,within 6 months was offered a job ,but this time said no and havnt done a stroke since ,wonderfull ,mind you having the money to do it does help

[MAJIC]

So you got made redundant once,and promptly collapsed!

In my working life I got made redundant six times, and 1982 was a bad year three times in one year,from three different companies,nothing to do with my abilities,companies were shedding Labour,left right and centre,it dents your Ego a bit,but I didn't take it personally,I refused to believe that I was on the Scrapheap.

I'm no hero,but I did what most others do,got up off my A** got another job,and got on with my life,with no whining "why me"the simple answer is "why not" no one is exempt from some bad luck in life,your place in the Sun needs to be earned the hard way! then you appreciate it more.

Sorry Buddy! Sympathy and Bitterness,is no help,long term,in fact they are your enemies!

[Rancid]

I first experienced Asia when I was 26, and numerous journeys ensued. By the time I got married at 38 there really wasn't anything I hadn't tried or done, maybe that is why I never had a mid life crisis, as there really wasn't anything left that I could have felt I had missed out on. I am now 54 and still have no desire for a red sports car, had that when I was 22, what is there that I haven't done in the manly way of looking at things. I've ridden bikes, windsurfers, shagged to buggery, travelled, been wasted, I think maybe my whole life was a crisis without realising it.

[payak]

I wish I had a job so great it made me emotional for 20 years, I dont think I will remember mine in 10.

[Humbugged]

I bought a fast car and a 22yo girlfriend.

Then I kept the car and got a 19yo girlfriend.

Then I kept the car again and got a 21yo girlfriend.

Then sold the car and have been unhappy ever since....and the girlfriend has gotten much older.

[tinfoilhat]

ongoing.

may it never end.

[payak]

on another note, i just missed out on twunt of the year, that thread was made for me.

[NeverSure]

Maybe I felt a twinge when I turned 30, realizing I'd never be a kid again, but after that it was smooth sailing. I never lost a job, but after 40 I was always self employed. I got to travel the world and live as I liked. I like being retired (almost) although a few old clients still want something and I oblige.

When I come to LOS I'm going to try to teach English for free in a village school. I never did like sitting on my azz.