Season 4 Premiere: What Does It Mean to Transform?

It is hard to believe, but today we launch Season 4 of Messy Middlescence with our 63rd episode! As we have done for the past few seasons, we begin by looking back at our respective summers. We describe the highlights and moments that will stay with us as we move into cooler weather and the more structured/scheduled days of fall.

We also introduce our new theme of “Transformation” for the upcoming season. We discuss how we landed on this theme, along with some of our reservations and concerns about taking on such a big topic. Much of our conversation revolves around what transformation actually means and the different ways we might explore it in future episodes.

Some of the questions we consider include:

• What is the difference between transition and transformation?
• Can a transition become a transformation?
• What are the many ways transformation can occur?
• Can transformation be negative — and what might that entail?
• Does our “essential self” change when we transform, or can transformation actually bring us closer to who we truly are?
• Can we experience an internal transformation that isn't visible to others?
• Can we transform without “blowing up” our lives?
• How does self-improvement differ from transformation?
• Does midlife make transformation easier or more difficult?

We also share examples of transformation - or what we think might qualify as transformation - from our own lives and the lives of people we know.

Transformation is a big topic to take on as a theme, and we admit we are more than a little intimidated by it. BUT we are also excited and curious to see where it takes us. We hope you will join us on our journey this season as we explore transformation in all its forms.

And for this season, at the end of each episode, one of us, or our guest, will share something that is bringing us joy right now. We hope it will encourage all of us to notice a little more of the joy present in our everyday lives.