Is 40 Old?
I’m just asking.
You know how babies don’t come with a book of instructions? Turning 40 doesn’t either. The closest we come to knowing we’re “doing it right” is a societally praised life path that involves acquiring a solid career, a spouse, a house, and at least one kid — in that order. I have done zero of these things. Thank fuck. But as happy as I am with the things I haven’t done, there’s is in fact an untethering to reckon with. When you’re not doing the things people your age are doing, what age even are you?
I don’t feel old because I’m on TikTok. I also don’t feel young because I’m on TikTok. I am something very in-between, something previously uncharted, and I would be even if I didn’t have a social media predilection. I’m just now noticing it (Cancer sun sign, perpetually slow going). In reality, it’s been happening for quite awhile, and I think I have a ways to go still. The term “mid-life” is only ever used when followed by the word “crisis,” and I’m not in crisis. I mean…*gestures at literally every news headline* we’re all in crisis, but…whatever. I’m not in a panic about my age, I like it. Where are the mid-life people that like it? And what do they do on weekends?
Middle life is a better term, I think. And I think middle life is going to last a long goddamned time. We could call it adulthood but that covers way too much ground, too much variety, and too…
