The first time I learned about a mid-life crisis was in a 1980s movie where the lead male actor emotionally breaks down in middle age and dyes his hair, buys a sports car or has an affair. Sometimes it’s the woman who has the mid-life crisis. She may have an affair of her own, get plastic surgery, or go on a shopping binge. I remember watching those movies as a young person, feeling like mid-life was eons away. Now, I’m 46-years old, around the same age as the characters in these films.
I’ve not had a mid-life crisis per se, but in the fall of 2024, I experienced a bout of existential malaise, a similar but different concept. Both propel a person to reflect upon their life choices and face mortality. The difference, in my opinion, is that a mid-life crisis is action-driven while existential malaise is more of an emotional state.
A couple of years ago, my older son transferred from our local public high school to a boarding school in Asheville. He is a talented distance runner and this school and coach are renowned for developing nationally-ranked runners and teams. The school is also academically rigorous. His transfer was exciting for all of us, and it was the best choice for him. He boards on campus during the week then comes home on the weekend.
