Why the late-30s are a man's misery years

This is London ^

[CSM]

“Not sure if it’s the unmarried part or the money part, but I find myself spending a lot more time worrying about things...”

Check out www.daveramsey.com. I recently discovered this and the financial stability by just following a plan has been a very big help in my life. I’ve even been able to work through a difficult emotional time by concentrating on the stability of the financial plan.

[Doc Savage]

If you suddenly wake up at 39, you’re selling Fish & Chips at Arthur Treacher’s, both arms, one leg and your neck are tattooed, you’re sporting a pierced tongue, your main leisure time is watching football on the Telly and drinking warm beer with your mates until you vomit out your ears,...yeah, your life is misery!

[jjm2111]

I’m only 31 and engaged so I’m sure my perspective will change with time, but hopefully my Faith will grow. I’m largely very happy; but that happiness comes largely from my Faith in Jesus.

[Physicist]

I don’t know how atheists stay happy after a certain age. I know some do, but it would have to involve a whole different model for viewing life. I guess you could say “life has no purpose other than pursuing pleasure”, but that approach is a difficult way to find happiness at 20 and an almost imposssible way to find happiness at age 40.

While I'm not exactly an atheist, I'm probably close enough to answer your question. As a deist, I don't believe in any sort of metaphysical afterlife, any sort of divine judgment, any sort of purpose to life beyond what we give it.

And yet, I'm the happiest person I know.

It's no more difficult than this: I care about the things I value. I love my country. I love my family. I love my culture: science, literature, art, etc. When I die, I want to see these things in good condition, so that they will be as healthy and prosperous as possible for as long as possible after I'm gone. Because I love them, I work hard on their behalf. What has that to do with God or an afterlife? They matter to me, and that's enough.

Furthermore, it pleases my vanity that I be remembered and held in high regard after my death, and that my works and thoughts continue to exert a positive influence on the things I love and value. That legacy is the only sort of afterlife I have available to me; why wouldn't I seek to maximize it? Why doesn't everyone?

Meanwhile, I'm having a blast. The world is a beautiful place for me. I laugh hard. I live the life of the mind. I enjoy my work. I work very hard and am comfortably well compensated for it. I have a smart and gorgeous wife, and I love to take her out dancing. We have four wonderful kids. I'm healthy and reasonably fit (for my age). I have a splendid book collection and a big house to hold it. I look out my window to a lovely vista in Pennsylvania Dutch country, which I adore. I enjoy fine Scotch whisky, delicious food, great literature, and good music. How dare I not be happy?

[KC_Conspirator]

I just got divorced out of a bad marriage and I am 36. The best is yet to come.

[over3Owithabrain]

My life hit the skids right around 38 and now almost 42 I am still trying to get back on track. Some of it is mental/emotional, some a couple of bad choices, and a lot of it a lousy run of luck and circumstance.

I think when you are younger it is easier to change course as you usually have more freedom, time and vigor and less responsibility. By 40 you have made choices (or had them thrust upon you) that you have to stick with even though you wish every day you could "take a muilligan" and try something else.

[null and void]

If I were a Sasquatch that would work. I’m not. Sorry fella...

[null and void]

I’m only 31 and engaged so I’m sure my perspective will change with time, but hopefully my Faith will grow. I’m largely very happy; but that happiness comes largely from my Faith in Jesus.

Silly Christian. You could be 72 times as happy, if you'd just do this one little thing for allah...

[null and void]

table scraps,Ho-Ho’s an donuts

Ever try burnt honeycomb?

[null and void]

I don't believe in any sort of metaphysical afterlife, any sort of divine judgment, any sort of purpose to life beyond what we give it.

"Life is like a sewer, what you get out of it depends entirely on what you put into it" - Hen3ry, as related by Tom Leher...

[HitmanLV]

Thanks! And it sounds damn true! ;-)

[Minnesoootan]

burn a small tuna can of honey with a propane torch everytime I enter the stand for a quick air burst of fresh scent....the guys that hunt the BWCA can only use scents in this manner,burn bacon grease,honey,anis oil etc.

[null and void]

For us left coast city folk does BWCA=Boundary Waters Canoe Area?

[Minnesoootan]

yup,I’m 15mi south of that border for my zone

[GOP_1900AD]

My mid life crisis was when I was in my 20s. Late 30s and early 40s have been frustrating for career reasons. I got stuck by the log jam of boomers. Thankfully, the jam is breaking up just in time for me to sprint all the way to at least 65. ;)

[Darkwolf377]

I'm 41 and haven't hit the misery years yet--or else, my misery years were in my early 20's.

I think one's misery years hit when one realizes he or she made too many choices due to what other people want.