Has anyone here ever gone through a mid-life crisis?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. It's only a crisis if you make it one. Questions are normal. This is an opportunity, not a crisis

You can't change the past, but you can learn from it. When you review your past, do it with forgiveness and to seek some wisdom, but with no self-flagellation. Forgive yourself for any perceived "errors" or unfortunate choices. Let go of the past without losing sight of it.

Look to the future with hope and with some purpose. If there are ways in the here and now to set past "unfortunatisms" right or improve situations, without contorting yourself into knots, do some of them. But don't fret if there aren't or you've done what you can. The past is done.

There is no reason you can't shift your focus or career or line of work or your outside-of-work goals and activities, if you want to. You don't have to. Second and third careers can begin at 69, 59, 49, any time. New devotions can be acquired at any time.

It doesn't have to be dramatic. You can shift things into new directions bit by bit. You don't have to slam on the brakes, ditch the car and hike off the highway in a random direction.

Pick something you feel is important to you. Say, climate change, gerrymandering, home healthcare, mentoring, whatever, big or small. Doesn't matter. Could be tiny and could be the first of many tiny things or it might be in service of a huge societal goal. If you feel it is important, start on it in small ways. Doesn't matter how big the topic or how small the start, begin making steps. Be sure to appreciate and gain satisfaction from small steps. That keeps you going forward. A couple of years of small steps (don't have to be artificially constrained to be small) and then they start getting bigger and having more impact as you get into it. After 20 years, you will be amazed at what you have accomplished.

This is what I have begun. I had no midlife crisis, but somewhat later I have rededicated myself to a right-livelihood way that is a modification of what I have been doing. It is a way that helps me move society forward, at least a little bit, to get something done that needs doing. I have no idea what I might accomplish, but I know by choosing a good direction there will be some good come from it that doesn't simply benefit me.

Choose a forward direction, and start moving forward. A journey of a thousand kilometers begins with a single step. Focus on each step, with your head held high, looking forward. In other words, don't look at your feet, but be very aware of what they are doing.

Whatever you do, embrace the present. Find joy in the present, even if it is only a butterfly flitting by.