Messy Middlescence

Like adolescence – "Middlescence" is a time of tremendous change touching most aspects of our lives. There are the physical and hormonal changes but also many of the rhythms, relationships and frameworks that have dominated our lives for decades all start to shift in ways that are unbalancing at best – seismic at worst. Our podcast will explore the challenges and opportunities of these unique “middle” years. However – ours will be different because it is one of sharing, exploring and figuring things out together. It is "messy" because we do not have answers but we hope to discover some. We hope to motivate and / or guide listeners to actively change both their perspective and day-to-day reality of this unique time. We also aim to create a supportive connected community of listeners with similar struggles and questions. We truly hope you will join us!

Latest episodes

30 April 2024

Timeless Happiness - Part 2

In this episode of Messy Middlescence, Tina and Tara share their insights from the second timeless happiness class. They share their experiences with the homeplay exercises, highlighting the challenges and eye-opening moments they encountered.

They discuss trying to design ideal weeks for retirement, including the influence of a spouse or partner, free time availability, and shifting from a Monday to Friday routine. They also emphasize the importance of adapting structures, different seasons, and being open to new possibilities in the next phase of life.

They explore the concept of ikigai and finding purpose. Additionally, they delve into the power of contribution and leveraging your knowledge. The hosts encourage listeners to think about their ideal days and use journaling to explore their visions for the future. They emphasize the significance of considering the deathbed questions and living with purpose throughout the messy middle of life.

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45:35

17 April 2024

New Beginnings with Beth Nethem

Tara and Tina continue their recent focus on retirement and retirement planning by interviewing Beth Nemeth who is right on the cusp of retirement. If the previous episode left you feeling anxious that you have not started thinking about your retirement plans, this interview with Beth will hopefully ease some of that anxiety. It is important to realize that most people for various reasons don’t plan their retirement. And often, it comes upon them unexpectedly or abruptly. It is also true that for many us, we are so busy doing and living our life, that we don’t have the time, energy or bandwidth to plan our next phase.

The interview with Beth, in which she so courageously shares so much of herself and her story, portrays an extremely realistic journey to retirement. From her dedication to her job as a school counselor to concerns about her family's health, Beth reveals the layers of complexity that impact her decision to retire. Although the specifics of her retirement years are still unknown, Beth has strong values of family, personal growth and making a positive impact that will define and shape the specifics of her next chapter. Most importantly, Beth emphasizes the importance for patience, embracing change and self-reflection which are excellent lessons for anyone contemplating a big change.

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56:34

27 March 2024

Timeless Happiness Class 1

This podcast episode revolves around a class Tara taught at the Princeton Adult School called Timeless Happiness. This class focused on how to prepare for your next phase - be it a career change, role change or retirement. Many of the most common retirement challenges are discussed including identity loss and time management. The importance of flexibility, patience, and exploration is also emphasized. Christina and Tara delve into the essential elements of a well lived life, including contribution, relationships, health, and community engagement. Specific exercises from the class are shared such as envisioning an ideal retirement week and assessing personal areas of improvement. The podcast highlights the importance of finding happiness, embracing change, and designing a fulfilling ~~retirement~~ next phase based on individual values and aspirations. Overall, it offers valuable advice and guidance for navigating through the different phases and aspects of the second half of life.

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45:24

12 March 2024

Middlescence Misery

In this episode, Tina and Tara tackle the complex issue of midlife job crisis. They discuss the pervasive job unhappiness experienced by many individuals in their forties and fifties and question its causes.

Acknowledging both the complexity and size of this topic, they begin by exploring the concepts of fluid and crystallized intelligence and the changes that occur with these in middle age. They also address the challenges and risks associated with transitioning careers and the various life aspects and pressures that can influence this.

Tackling the notion that it might be too late to start over, they encourage listeners to embrace change and identify their strengths to find fulfilling work. They promise to revisit this issue in upcoming episodes.

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25:23

26 February 2024

Always Keep Learning

In this enlightening episode we discuss retirement and aging with Kellie Walenciak based on her published article 'The Secret to Immortality: Why I Will Never Retire'. Kellie challenges the conventional notion of retirement, advocating for a shift towards working “by choice” to find purpose and meaning in one's later years.

Kelly's own experiences, as well as her inspiring stories of others, highlight the importance of staying curious, embracing change, and continually learning throughout life. She also discusses the concept of “Blue Zones”, where people live longer and healthier lives, and which emphasize the cognitive and social benefits of staying active and engaged.

Overall, this episode offers valuable insights and advice for those in middlescence looking to age intentionally and age well.

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57:27