47.2 is the most miserable age

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For most people, 47.2 is probably the average sandwich age--working hard with kids to support, and with parents who are aging.

It was when my dad recovered from chemo and was cleared of cancer. Very happy, life was good until 47.8 the worst of my life—cancer came back aggressively, he was in and out of hospital. I watched him disappear before my eyes, hospice at home and died when I was 47.11. We were incredibly close.

Pretty much sucks at 49.11 now.

Holy crap. 47.2 was about when DH's dad started going downhill. He died when DH was roughly 47.9. And now that I think of it, I was really starting my own midlife crisis at 47.9, too. This age has been very rough for both of us (we're both 48 now and knee deep in the mire).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:47.2 -- I was unhappy with my life. I was tired all the time. My body ached. I was noticing I could not do things I used to be able to do...but....48-50 was so much worse. I had to face my own mortality with cancer and heart disease. Stage 4 cancer resulted in removal of a lung and a kidney. My diabetes went out of control. Heart disease resulted in 4 stents and a pacemaker; I went from one doctor (PCP), to a team -- PCP, cardiologist, endocrinologist, arrhythmia specialist, nephrologist, and oncologist.
Scared the crap out of me.

For about 4 years (49-53), I was certain I would not see my kid graduate HS. My low point was 50...and then, it occurred to me, we are all going to go sometime. We have little control over when it will happen (we can make it happen, but can not extend forever). And I realized if it got significantly worse, I could take care of it. But it did not. Instead of looking several years ahead, I only planned my life to the next scan. I lived for the day. And if it was a nice day, I blew off work. I enjoyed my life. I realized, at this point, each day was a bonus day; the cancer should have gotten me earlier, and if not, the blockage in the LAD artery should have.

I got out of the bad place emotionally. Today, at 56, I am good. Body does not work as well as it used to (poorly designed shoulder gave out, was repaired, and am recovering), and my plumbing does not work well anymore (I am male), but since my wife as no interest in sex, it is ok.

And this year, DD graduates HS.

Internet stranger, I am giving you a hug. You've been through a lot and I am glad that you are still here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you dig in a little further on the research:

In the U.S., there was a slightly larger gap between peak male unhappiness and that of their female counterparts. Happiness among American males reaches a minimum in their early 50s, whereas women experience peak unhappiness in their late 30s.

All you people freaking out, re-read this post.

Interesting. I'm a woman. Mine has hit hard @ 47.9. I was very happy (if exhausted and stressed) in my late 30s. Maybe because I had my first kid at 39, so I was way too overwhelmed to be disenchanted with life.