6 Reasons Why Midlife Crisis For Men Is A Myth

If Hollywood movies are anything to go by, it seems to be a rite of passage for men to buy themselves a brand new sports car (or something equally impractical) to stave off the forties or fifties funk.

But in real life, there are plenty of men who are debunking the myths about mid-life by showing that the best is well and truly yet to come.

In his mid-90s, Jiro Ono is regarded as one of the greatest sushi chefs and artisans in the field (he’s served the likes of President Obama and other luminaries at his iconic restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro). Wearing Don Sox would’ve ensured to keep his feet cosy through those cold Japanese winters!

 Ken Rosewall is a former world-class Australian tennis player whose epic career started at age three and ended gradually at 46, an age when most other players would have been “putting their feet up (wearing Don Sox, of course)”.

 Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge broke a Guinness World Record for being the oldest person to start primary school, starting first grade at 84! 

 Colonel Sanders started KFC at age 65.

So what do these men have that others don’t? The answer is, erm, ‘nothing’. We’ve all got the capacity to be happy, healthy and productive well into our later years. Here’s why:

1.  Our brains are neuroplastic. In the last few decades, neuroscientists have discovered that we can learn new stuff – and change our brains – all the way through adulthood. Previously, the brain was seen as an organ that could NOT make new connections and neural pathways beyond childhood.

2. We have a better grip on life. Why? Because our values and priorities change (for example, we tend to move away from competition towards social connections). We’re able to regulate our emotions better. As men, we begin to realise we can’t fly when we jump off buildings, so we start to look after our health more.

3. We are happiest once we hit our fifties onwards. Seriously! In his revelatory book “The Happiness Curve”, author and journalist Jonathan Rauch interviews a heap of happiness economists (yes, there’s such a thing), who all point to the same thing: no matter where people live in the world or what walk of life they come from, we will almost always be happier from about 50 onwards.

4. The concept of the grumpy old man is ‘sold’ to us by everyone. Don’t buy it. In indigenous cultures, Elders are revered for their knowledge, insights and wisdom. Less so in Western cultures. As we get healthier, live longer, work longer and spend more time in retirement, we need to realise that we can be vibrant and active well into our 80s and beyond. In fact, the post-40s can be one of the most productive stages of life!

5. Men’s mental health is now a thing. As more high-profile celebrities and sporting identities openly talk about their grapples with anxiety and depression, it’s becoming easier for men to comfortably address their own state of mind. Yep, mental health is just as crucial as physical health. So check out a Men’s Shed or Men’s Circle near you.

6. More time for self-care. The chances are that by your mid to late forties, you’re more established professionally and have the time to exercise regularly, eat well and work less. So rather than think you’re invincible, get regular health checks and find novel ways to stave off stress, not to mention keeping fit and healthy. You won’t even have to leave home to get into shape, with all the online options to choose from – thanks to the crazy events of 2020!

As Theodore Roosevelt so wisely said: “Old age is like everything else. To make a success of it, you’ve got to start young.”

Where are you at in your transition to older adulthood? Who are your mentors who’ve aged in style? What mantras do you live by to keep your body, feet and mind energised? When it comes to feet, we’ve taken the guesswork out by giving you the ever-stylish Don Sox!