A new book just out is "The Breaking Point" by Sue Shellenbarger, about the female midlife crisis. (What??) I've just started reading it, but it's fascinating. She writes a column in the Wall Street Journal on "Work and Family." She did a column a couple years ago about having at ATV accident and lightly mentioned her midlife crisis, and she says she got more mail in response to that column than any other. I've seen a couple articles about the book, so there will probably start being more publicity--I'll bet she'll be on Oprah and Good Morning America and all that.

Basically, she says that more women than ever are going through major changes in their 40's and 50's. That's when we stop for a breath, look around, and say, "Is this all there is?" Some of us go completely off the deep end, ditch the spouse, take off for the mountains, etc. Others go through gradual changes that take years.

It seems like most of the women in these forums have gone through a crisis/renewal, with special emphasis on developing our creativity through writing.

I guess to me, renewal is not crisis. Change is not crisis unless it produces stress, which not all change does. I guess my point here is that "crisis" is not always the best word to describe this phenomena.

JulieG, thanks for telling us about this one. This is the topic I've been researching for my book. Every day I learn something new about baby boomer women and I love it. It sounds like this woman is right on target. I've got to look her up. Her name sounds vaguely familiar. I can't wait to see what I can find. Thanks!

Wow, what a thought to just give up and wait silently for death. Not me I'm going to go kicking and screaming, radio blaring Motown in one hand and a chocolate chip cookie in the other....Death wants me, its going to have to do the work... Quiet desperaion my Aunt Fanny!!!No way Josee...

If death wants you Chatty, It will, without doubt, have a fight on its hands. There is no one more full of life than you are. Looks like almost all boomers are pretty lively also.
smile

I was passionate about raising my family. Now that they are almost ready to leave the nest, I have other passions to follow. This site is one of them. God is gracious!

I was passionate about raising my family. Now that they are almost ready to leave the nest, I have other passions to follow. This site is one of them. God is gracious!

Smile, boomers are changing the way we do midlife. We don't want our mother's midlives(midlife?). Many of them didn't know how to handle the empty nest. Boomers in some respects are flying the nest with their kids and discovering all the options for what still lies ahead.

I feel like I am just now "coming into my own". I am turning the big "40" this year, and I have more hope, more passion then ever!

If I could change just one thing about my life (lol) I would have the body I had when I was 21 -- and the experience and wisdom that I have now.

I love where I am at! No crisis here! The good years are at my fingertips!

Danita

What happens if you've just totally lost all sense of any passion whatsoever and don't have a clue what brings you joy or passion? Where do you start looking?

You can say that the best things in life are free, but unfortunately, to add to the dilemma of discovering or pursuing one's passions, the reality is that many passions cost money to pursue.

I don't have to worry about that right now because I'm still trying to figure out what I'm passionate about, and not coming up with anything except just possible (and relatively free) ways to pass the time. But I can't even go out and experiment with options of interest because everything costs more than is affordable right now.

How do you know what your passions are?