The line between the end of middle age and the beginning of the next phase of our lives is blurry. Honestly, I’m not sure exactly when I crossed over that line. But today, at age 67, I know that I am beyond middle age. My life is different in a myriad of ways. When did it change? When did I realize that I was no longer middle-aged?
I’d like to hear from you first, if you don’t mind. When and how did you realize that you had crossed over the line that marks the end of middle age? Was it a birthday? Did it creep up gradually? Did it hit you with a hammer after you were well beyond middle age? Or, possibly, do you still think you are in the middle age range?
I think we will all enjoy reading each other’s stories.
Women & Aging 
Well, I have taken a long time getting around to making my statement on ‘middle age’. I feel that middle aged came and went before I knew it was happening. I worked past 65 and felt that I still had a lot going for me. Now that I have had my 80th birthday, I know that I am way past middle age. Ten years ago I still walked a 15 minute mile and did some gardening in the flowerbeds. Miles now are taking about 22 minutes and I find that the flowerbeds often have more weeds than flowers. I read a book about a year ago the title was ‘Over the Hill, but not out to Pasture. ‘ that is the way I feel now. I still have a lot of living to do so I am not ‘Out to Pasture’ yet!
When I read the statement, “fifty is the youth of old age,” and I was already sixty.
I think it’s a gradual thing. At 70, I thought “This ain’t so bad.” At 75, I thought “Well, it ain’t gettin’ any better.” And when I first learned that my joint pain was a mild form of osteo arthritis, I thought “What did you expect?” I DO think, however, that my life is full of serendipity, especially in friendships and family. Since college I have carried a quote from an artist/nun who made a poster that reads: “To believe in God is to know that all the rules will be fair and there will be wonderful surprises.” (I know, I know, sometimes the rules DON”T seem fair, but I like the quote anyway.)
I really didn’t think about being middle aged until I was well past that point. I remember, when I was about 35, waking up one morning and realizing that I wasn’t a “girl” anymore. Obviously, I am a slow learner. Then, about two years ago, I woke up and saw all of this sagging skin dripping down my arm. It was such a shock I could barely believe it. It must have been like the book, ”Someone Stole my Cheese”. My cheese had been stolen day by day and I did not notice until it was gone! Looking back, I realize it was the year after I lost one of my sons. Whether that contributed to the aging process I don’t know. One good thing, my body part above my neck is holding up a little better (although I haven’t had cataract surgery yet) so as soon as I find a snazzy body suit I will be back in shape.
I was in a church group Sunday and we were addressed as the ”young, the middle aged the seniors, and the elderly”. So I don’t mind the term ” senior” anymore. Gads, I’m done.
Your comment about that line between middle age and the next phase being blurry, was just that to me in a most physical way. At my admitted age of 73 seeming to be “no problem; life’s great” became, literally a “knock in the head” right after I had my cataracts removed and replaced by surgery with clear viewing lenses. The “day after” on looking for the first time directly in the mirror, I basically scared my husband with my shrill scream followed by, “Where did all those wrinkles come from?”
Now, finally, I know that I have floated into “middle age and further.” I am definitely in middle age and beyond. And then, just yesterday, my “younger” neighbor came over to show me her face-life. Egad.
Final decision: Again, I am definitely over “middle age.” But, by gum, I am full of energy along with wrinkled skin (it’s all over the place) and determined to stay “young” in my head where activity is concerned. (I guess I’ll be in to the “next phase” when I can’t move any more!)
I heard recently that the new middle age is from 65 to 80! That may be a bit extreme but I certainly have trouble considering myself elderly although I do have more trouble physically than I did 10 years ago. The realization that some would consider me “older” has been a little blurry and maybe I just continue to deny it. There certainly was no hammer-dropping experience. I think of others who are just down the road ahead of me a few years as just friends who have not aged anymore than I have. However, people I have not seen in several years can pop up and seem”old” to me.
When did I realize I was no longer middle aged? Perhaps it was when my youngest son became a grandfather! The idea of being a great grandmother intrigued me, but as I’d become a grandmother at age 38, it wasn’t alarming in itself. However, being the mother of a grandfather…that’s something else again.