What if every midlife crisis isn’t a crisis at all, but it’s a rebirth instead? Sometimes, it’s just time for a change.
So, I did something. Something a bit spontaneous, but not really all that surprising. I quit my job. I could be having a midlife crisis, but I like to think of it as a rebirth.Â
I have been entertaining the thought of doing it forever – but doesn’t everyone? I think it’s a fairly common daydream to picture yourself quitting. Maybe you imagine a feel good moment where the song “Take This Job and Shove It” is playing in the background as you tell your boss what he/she can do with the position, and then storm out while your co-workers enviously applaud and cheer you on. Okay, that’s a little extreme, but it made me laugh. Maybe you love where you work and the people you work with, but dream of having the freedom that an extra 40 hours a week will give you. Chances are, most of us fall somewhere in the middle.
The motivation behind me quitting comes from having a difficult time lately staying focused. I could focus at the office at the task at hand, but when I came home I was drained and left feeling tired and uninspired to do much else.
I became restless last year. I had a life-threatening medical emergency that left me unable to work for five months while I recovered. I did quite a bit of soul searching during that time. I came close to an unexpected death, and it made me realize how short our time is. We always believe there’s enough time to do what we want to do later on in life. But, “later” is not guaranteed.
So the seed was planted, and I knew there were other things for me. I really didn’t know what things – and I still don’t – but I am ready and willing to find out.
Perhaps my restlessness and inability to stay focused were residual effects from my recovery, or maybe it’s another part of my new struggles with menopause. I really can’t say, I just know a change is in order.
This past February, I began this blog as a creative outlet. Blogging was something I had always talked about doing. I didn’t want to put it off until “later”. With having just turned 50, and dealing with new and challenging health issues, who knows if “later” would be there for me. Thanks to the blog, I am now learning new things and meeting interesting people every day.
So what lay ahead for me? That’s a good question! I think I’ll practice what I preach and use my own Finding Your Midlife Path worksheet and see where it leads me.
I know I want to visit my adult children that both live in different cities, thousands of miles away from home. I am not good with air travel, so extended visits or maybe taking long, scenic Route 66 journeys may be in order. I’ll have time for that now.
However fun traveling sounds, this is definitely not retirement for me. I’m not one to sit still. I enjoy keeping busy, and I’ll continue to do so. I just don’t know with what yet. I’ll continue to blog and will look for other outlets. With any luck, I’ll find something I have a great passion for. I won’t be letting myself worry about it. For now, I am going to breathe deep and enjoy the journey.
I was able to turn my love of writing into a new path, and you can too. If you have a hobby you enjoy, why not see if you can turn it into a side income. It might just lead to a full-time income and allow you to quit your job, also. Have an idea already in mind? Check out my Side Hustle Planner and get the ball rolling!
Have you made a big change in your life when you reached midlife? Feel free to share your story in the comments below.
You look amazing. I never would have guessed you were 50. Kudos for you for realizing you needed a change and then making it happen. It takes a lot of courage.
I’m 46 and have gone through several “rebirths.” They typically coincide with a major life event (like the concussion that put me out of commission for months and still caused problems for over 2 years) and seasons in my life (when my kids were babies was one season, now one is in high school and that’s a whole other season).
I wish I could travel! Maybe when the kids are out of college? Hopefully sooner.
Good luck to you in finding your passion(s)!
Thank you for the kind words! My youngest is off to college in a few weeks and I’m not sure if I’ll enjoy being home in a quiet house all day, so we’ll see how it goes.
I’m sorry to hear about your concussion, I hope it’s gotten better for you…and I hope you get a chance to do some traveling soon 🙂
Thank you for this post. I stumbled upon it while searching for something, someone to tell me my feelings about working-and hating-my corporate job (of 25 years) is a normal phase that will pass. I’m handcuffed to my job for 44 more months because I cannot afford to walk out on a pension I’ve worked so many years to secure. I’m 51. I went back to school last year to restart a nursing degree I tried to complete 30 years ago. It is looking like I’ll get accepted and now I’m afraid. Terrified, in fact. I think I will be able to work and finish this degree but I’ll still have 18 months to work in my miserable career after I become an RN. Please tell me this will pass, that I will find the energy I once had.
I feel like I’m running out of time and I don’t want to waste any more of it. I’ve realized my years of chasing degrees and promotions, while earning me a comfortable life, feel wasted. I gave everything to my company and I’m still fungible and they don’t want me. I’m old and I don’t fit the diversity and inclusion picture they want to present. Any advice is welcomed.
Great post! I’m in that place now and can totally relate. I’m still working my corporate full time job while trying to start my own business on the side and I’m struggling daily with the same issues of not being able to get focused and when my day job ends it has sucked all the creativity and energy out of me. I feel completely drained at the end of the day because it takes all I have to return to a job I don’t love every single day. Love that you took the leap….I’m making that plan as well!
Thanks, Denise! It was hard for me to admit I couldn’t do it all, but once I did that, it was easy to recognize where I wanted to focus. It’s been almost a month now, and I am much less stressed and very happy. I hope you get to take the leap very soon!
Great post! Since you wrote this the whole world has changed, and I’ve experienced the fundamental shifts brought on by the loss of my husband.
As a 52 year old widow, with grown children, I’m facing changed plans and the deep knowledge of the shortness of life. I’m thinking of quitting my job.
How has your plan evolved? Looking back, are you glad you made the switch?
Be well!
Thank you, Lori! I am very sorry for your loss. My journey so far has been a blessing and I have no regrets. I’ve grown in ways that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. If there is another path you want to be on, there’s no time like now to create the map to get you there. xx
I’m definitely debating on a rebirth as I am turning 50 and working a high stress job. How do you afford to just quit though until you find yourself?
This post speaks to exactly where I am in life. I turn 50 this year, I’m deeply unhappy in my career, and I’m aching to stretch my creative legs and try something new. Luckily, I am in a unique situation that affords me to take the leap and experiment. It’s still a very difficult decision to make, to quit after 2+ decades in the workforce with no safety net. However, if timing and circumstances are right, I would advise my closest friend to take such a worthy risk.
Thanks for sharing this and I’m glad I found it. I too quit my job last month as it was utterly making me miserable. I am fortunate to have the support of my husband but I cannot stay unemployed for long – we need my income and I will lose my sanity if I don’t do something. I’m just not ready yet (I’m 55 and trying to actually begin a new career – not just a dead end job). I too like to write too…it’s therapeutic. I need to post my own blog one day (thanks for the inspiration).