my life is becoming a cliche.
April 28, 2005 3:26 PM
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I have this embarassing problem related to being a 40 year old male.
I am a 40 year old married male with four kids. Life isn't bad. But I can feel this midlife crisis just over the horizon, and it's terribly embarassing because it's such a cliche. I want to get a motorcycle, or a miata. I sometimes notice the women at work. I have the urge to get a tacky body piercing, or a tattoo. The thing is, I love my family, don't really want to die in a fiery car accident, cheat on my wife, become a gold-medallioned swinger, join a monastery, etc.
I feel essentially selfish and emotionally retarded bringing this up, because it sounds like such a tacky joke.
So--have you felt a midlife crisis coming on? Any tips for moving past it? Is there a good book on this that I could read? Is there some sort of aversion therapy involving repeated viewings of American Beauty that I need to do? Despite my tone, I really am looking for good advice about this.
posted by anonymous to human relations (59 comments total)
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I think if I had been mature enough to do that in the beginning we might have been able to stay together. Maybe not, but it sure would have hurt a lot less.
There is nothing wrong with getting a motorcycle and appreciating the beauty around you, but be honest with your wife and let her know that you love her and want to let her know that you realize this is going on - maybe you can find a way to include her in your "crisis" by dabbling in role playing or just in general being more "youthful". Who knows, maybe she is having similar thoughts/feelings.
posted by FlamingBore at 3:34 PM on April 28, 2005