All grown up and yet forgotten – Roselyn Borg Knight

You know the old saying – ‘life begins at 40’. But does it? What is life like for those so-called ‘middleaged’?

We hear so much about youths, the leaders of tomorrow, and pensioners, who have shaped our path and deserve our attention and respect in their most vulnerable years. Both groups are equally important and deserve policies that pertain directly to their needs. However, I have noticed that seldom do we hear about people in the middle-age bracket.

Being 42 myself, I know firsthand that the concerns I had in my younger years are far different than those I have today. Often, issues faced by this age group are tackled within a more generic sphere, but would it not be sensible to see to our needs more specifically?

So, what are the major challenges we face at this age?

Maintaining a work-life balance

This is a stage in life where the pressures of our job and finances are likely to mount. Loan repayments and other investments we take on to improve our current and future lives will inevitably leave an impact. At this age, job security and/or career progression rank high on our priority list for we need to sustain ourselves, and for many of us, our children too. Whether self-employed or otherwise, we have burdens to deal with. Being your own boss means handling issues of cash flow, business stability, and growth, which can be demanding, particularly in uncertain times like what we are currently experiencing. If you are in paid employment, you might be struggling to advance in your position or to deal with your responsibilities, all while attempting a healthy work-life balance.

Two decades into their career, some might debate whether it is too late to make a change and question whether that means having to start from the bottom again. Finding a way to pursue your passion while maintaining financial stability is not an easy task and high-five to those who work hard to do so.

Health

Our body and mind also need plenty of attention at this stage in our lives. With the duties we have at this age, it is no wonder that we struggle to keep our health in top form. We are often unable to exercise as much as we used to and on top of that, our body becomes less efficient at burning down food. This is a time when we need to start paying close attention to our bodies and start engaging in regular checkups and scans, no matter how scary it sounds.

Peri-menopause along with menopause is an inevitable phenomenon for us. Mid-life crisis is a reality for men and women alike, a phenomenon that can lead to depression, lack of sex drive and a feeling of helplessness. There is no shame in talking about these topics in public and discussing ways in which we can overcome them in a smooth manner.

As our bodies change, so does the way we look at ourselves. Alterations in our body shape, wrinkles, white hairs and other changes will occur, for some earlier than others, and learning to accept them is not an easy feat.

Parenthood and ageing parents

At this age, we do not only carry responsibility for ourselves but also for our loved ones. Parenthood is a phenomenon that is complex, tiresome, and wonderful at the same time. Irrespective of your children’s age, you cannot help but wonder how to be a better parent and how to shape their future in the best possible way.

Our own parents also start growing older and concerns about their health and livelihood are something we have to deal with, even if stubbornly, they think they know best.

We deserve to be focused on

One way of encouraging more discussion about these topics is for politicians to start addressing this age group specifically. Awareness campaigns and debates can lead the way to introduce policies and schemes that target this group of people. Unfortunately, for most of the issues mentioned, we couldn’t be farther away from an actual statistical picture about the reality of the situation. The last census was held in 2011 and the next one is due this year. It would definitely be interesting to see how the situation has changed in 10 years and to have more specialized research that seeks to understand the situation for 40 and 50-year-olds, concerning physical and mental health, career progression, and social responsibilities, among others. Such research can be the starting point to start giving people in this age-group undivided attention and to ultimately improve their lives.

The attention we give to ourselves at this age has a direct impact on how long we will live and more significantly, in what way, and therefore there is no question that we, and those in authority, need to give it the importance it deserves.