When does "middle age" begin?

[Lots-o-Huggin]

This topic has come up a few times recently in other threads, and I'm often surprised at some people's definition. To limit the number of choices, I'm not including ranges, just the year you think you acheive "middle aged".

ETA: To clarify, though the options don't include ranges, people typically speak in terms of ranges (i.e. 45-60). I'm more interested in the 1st year of your range, rather than the year you think your life is halfway over. Cheery topic.

 

[NY Disney fan]

Middle age would be the half-way point to death so....if 80 then 40.

 

[Planogirl]

I think of middle age as the midpoint of adulthood. I subtract the first 20 years then and get the midpoint as being around 45-50.

 

[ILoveToRun]

I think it starts at 40. Middle age for me is 40-55.

 

[marcyinPA]

I picked 45, because I'll be 44 next month. If I choose 40, I'd be past middle age. If I choose 45, I'm not quite there yet!

 

[PrincessKsMom]

I'd say between 35-40. I think it is realistic live to be 70-80. After that, it's all gravy.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Middle age would be the half-way point to death so....if 80 then 40.

Ahah! Proof that I'm not the only one who likes to call 40 "halfway to dead"

 

[PrincessKsMom]

Ahah! Proof that I'm not the only one who likes to call 40 "halfway to dead"

I think it's realistic (at least I hope it's realistic!) I whole-heartedly disagree with anyone that says it's 50-55. I don't know many people who live to be 100-110.

 

[Christopher Robin]

Didn't it begin with the reign of Charlemagne?

And yes, I do feel that old sometimes.

 

[kimmar067]

.....all's ah know is, ah wuz hit with the Middle-Age stick, and now I've got a lump the size of DETROIT....

 

[NY Disney fan]

I picked 45, because I'll be 44 next month. If I choose 40, I'd be past middle age. If I choose 45, I'm not quite there yet!

Next year you can move middle age to: 46.

 

[NikitaZee]

I have to laugh at this thread - I've been thinking about this question all morning. One of my friends put as her fb status today '40 is the old age of youth; 50 is the youth of old age'.
As for me, I voted 35 as middle aged.

 

[MIGrandma]

I voted for middle age to begin at 40...I have not decided when it ends for ME though.

No, generally I think anyone under 40 is "young", 40-60 is "middle age" and then over 60, when one reaches retirement age they are now "elderly." Probably 60 up to age 70 would be on the "younger side of elderly" and then over 70 is "old."

 

[mercydisney]

I believe it is how you feel. I am 44 and don't feel that I am middle age. I have friends that are in their 30's and are having their middle age crisis. I also have friends that are in thier 40's and have never felt better.

I'll let my body know when it's middle age. Right now I'm telling it a young 30.

You know whta they are saying. 40 is the new 30.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

So....the yr I think I achieved "middle age"? I would say 37.

Now I am 47 and entering my next tier of "middle age". My priorities are different, my life is different, and I have a whole set of new goals.

 

[Wendy31]

I have to laugh at this thread - I've been thinking about this question all morning. One of my friends put as her fb status today '40 is the old age of youth; 50 is the youth of old age'.
As for me, I voted 35 as middle aged.

I kinda agree w/ your friend's FB status!

I used to think middle age began around age 35.

However, now that I'm 38, I think middle age begins around 45. (If I said middle age begins around 40, then that would only make me 1 1/2 years away from middle age, so I'm sticking w/ middle age beginning at 45. )

(Fun Fact - I joined the DIS when I was 31 - hence, my username "Wendy31". Now, I should be Wendy38. I'm not at all sure where the years went. )

 

[cluvsdisney]

So....the yr I think I achieved "middle age"? I would say 37.

Now I am 47 and entering my next tier of "middle age". My priorities are different, my life is different, and I have a whole set of new goals.

This is how I was looking at it. For me, middle age is more a state of mind, not so much I hope to live to 90 so 45 is the middle. My goals are different. The things I like to do are different. I react to things differently. I am coming to terms with not enjoying things I used to enjoy or that relationships have changed (some for the better, others for the worse).

My vote was for 40 years old - it's the closest number to when I started to feel this way.

 

[luvmy3]

I think middle age starts when you turn 40.

 

[JLa01844]

Ahah! Proof that I'm not the only one who likes to call 40 "halfway to dead"

That's my thinking!

 

[LBIJim]

I vote 40 for beginning of middle age.

Years ago, a friend's grandmother, who was well into her 80s, claimed she was still middle-aged.

Jim