1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: Hey, this is Annie and Samantha, and welcome to Stephane. 2 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: Never told your protection of iHeart Radio. Okay, Annie, you 3 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: and I have been talking about this for a minute, 4 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: and I have sent warning texts to all my friends 5 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 1: about the fact that I am in quite a place 6 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 1: mentally as of late, to the point that everybody's like, seriously, 7 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: are you okay? Um, And to the point my partner's like, 8 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:40,400 Speaker 1: how about how about if we go visit? How about 9 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 1: we go outside? How about we touch touch the grass? 10 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: As the new expression goes. But I didn't want to 11 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: ask you. Did you ever go through what is known 12 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: as quarter life crisis? Now I know it's it's actually 13 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: I guess it is a millennial thing because I feel 14 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 1: like John may I really push that out in his lyrics. 15 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: Did he does he have a song about quarter life crisis? 16 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 1: He literally says about having a quarter life crisis in 17 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: one of his very moody songs. Oh that's okay. Now 18 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: I'm having to wow, thanks to Metha, I'm having to 19 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:17,600 Speaker 1: reckon with the fact I'm at the quarter of my 20 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:25,039 Speaker 1: life at least WHOA. I don't think I have I've 21 00:01:25,120 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: I've definitely had moments where but they're usually fleeting. But 22 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:32,320 Speaker 1: I've had moments where I'm like, I've got to make 23 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 1: a change, and like, what am I doing with fine? 24 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: I don't, Oh I have so I don't have a 25 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: significant other, I don't have all these things. And then 26 00:01:39,080 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 1: usually like within an hour and out of it, like 27 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 1: I changed, that's fine. I think it helps that I 28 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: did travel a lot when we could travel a lot 29 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: um and I always was busy, and you know, I 30 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: was always hiking and stuff. But I don't maybe it's coming, 31 00:01:57,360 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: maybe it's on the horizon, but not that's of yet. 32 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: I don't think I've had one. Okay, So the quarter 33 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: life crisis. If your lifespan was to say, eighty, what 34 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: hit at twenty. So if your lifespan goes to a hundred, 35 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: it goes to twenty five. So that's the quarter life 36 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: And I really felt that, and for some reason in 37 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: my head I got sure I definitely going to live 38 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: to a hundred. So around twenty five, I was like 39 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: what am I doing with my life? This all was 40 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:28,920 Speaker 1: also a part of like whether or not I was 41 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,079 Speaker 1: okay with my job, whether I was not. I was 42 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:33,119 Speaker 1: trying to find my identity and trying to figure out. 43 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:35,239 Speaker 1: You know, it was during the time I was losing 44 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: a lot of my old identity as the Asian girl 45 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: wanting to be white from a small town, from going 46 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: to from conservative to oh, that doesn't make sense anymore, 47 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:49,079 Speaker 1: doing from religious to oh, yeah, I don't think this 48 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: is me anymore type of moments. So to me, that 49 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,120 Speaker 1: was a little bit of my quarter life crisis because 50 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 1: religion and Christianity was a big part of who I 51 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 1: was so losing that really did feel like I was 52 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:04,240 Speaker 1: losing myself and had to redefine myself. So that kind 53 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:08,640 Speaker 1: of what's my quarter life crisis. And at this point, 54 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:12,359 Speaker 1: I'm in my my forties forty one. I'm still young forties, 55 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 1: don't get me wrong. And I know I keep saying 56 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 1: it like I'm going to push over at any moment, 57 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: but I'm telling you, I went to work out yesterday 58 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 1: for the first time in what months, I'm in pain. 59 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 1: So I feel like this is even more defined right 60 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:32,239 Speaker 1: now because I can't stand up without literally holding onto desks, tables, 61 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: arms of chairs to push myself up. So I really 62 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: feel like this is the moment for me to talk 63 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:42,559 Speaker 1: about this because at this point I sent you and Caroline, 64 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 1: who was a good friend of mine, and there's like 65 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: I'm either going to buy a house, an RV, a 66 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: new car, go on a ridiculously expensive vacation, or a 67 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 1: new dog like that was the text on Like I 68 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: don't know what's happening, but I need to do one 69 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: of these things to shake up my life. And that's 70 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: what I started thinking. Oh, it's the midlife crisis point, 71 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: like if I die eighty two, this is it, right, 72 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:10,200 Speaker 1: this is the midlife point, which by the way, is 73 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,800 Speaker 1: defined to happen around forties to sixties. And though it 74 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 1: is not an actual mental health like thing, people are 75 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 1: still acknowledge it. Don't get me wrong. There's a debate 76 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:24,279 Speaker 1: about it whether it exists in Americans apparently have reported 77 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 1: to have had one. And of course we do have 78 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: the stereotypical as I said, going on to extravagant buys, 79 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: which is what I just, you know, kind of was 80 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: a stereotype. I really do. I've been looking at each 81 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 1: one of those things BT dubs um, sending you link, 82 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,039 Speaker 1: sending my partner links, and like, somebody approved this for me, 83 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 1: and no one has yet to do so. So I 84 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 1: feel like I've been betrayed a little bit. But all 85 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 1: of these things that we know that the forty sixty 86 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 1: year old man by the Porsche all of a sudden 87 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: leaving his wife of fifteen twenty years for the twenty 88 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: year old whatever. These are all stereotypes we're talking about. 89 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: But when it comes to women, it seems to be 90 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 1: a little different. And I wanted to know what that was. 91 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: And first and foremost, let's go ahead and define what 92 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: is a midlife crisis, because you know we love to 93 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,599 Speaker 1: do that, which is a period of emotional turmoil in 94 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: middle age, characterized especially by a strong desire for change. Um. 95 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: This is Miriam Webster's definition, by the way. And yeah, 96 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:28,120 Speaker 1: I feel that I feel that. I don't know if 97 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,280 Speaker 1: it's because I'm middle age. Of course. Some of the 98 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: articles which I talked about the percent came from the 99 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 1: healthline dot com article about midlife crisis and women. Some 100 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 1: of this talks about possible menopause. And you know, I'm 101 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: not sad about menopause because there's something in me that 102 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 1: wants to have a child, So it doesn't bother me 103 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:49,599 Speaker 1: per se, of course, and I'm sure we can have 104 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: this other conversation will come back to it, we should 105 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,600 Speaker 1: come back to it. I am very worried about not 106 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:56,600 Speaker 1: wanting to have sex, which you and I have talked 107 00:05:56,640 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 1: about whether or not that it makes us normal and 108 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: whether or not that redefines us. We talked about a 109 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: sexuality as an actual sexuality and being a part of 110 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 1: the queer community, and that's important that we need to 111 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: talk about that. But as someone myself who has been 112 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 1: fairly sexual um from my twenties to my nows, which 113 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 1: is a short amount of times of course beforehand, but 114 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 1: I haven't actually hadn't engaged with a partner up until 115 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: that point. UM, I feel like, oh no, I've missed 116 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: out on so much of that and now I'm losing it. 117 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 1: It makes me sad. So again, that's a whole different 118 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,920 Speaker 1: conversation of how that defines us as being women who 119 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:39,599 Speaker 1: are aging but trying to remain what what used to 120 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:43,280 Speaker 1: be norm for us as individuals. But that's not again 121 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 1: a different conversation now. I looked back to the midlife 122 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 1: crisis because I was like, what the like, I'm not happy, 123 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:52,119 Speaker 1: I don't want to be here. But at the same time, 124 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:55,040 Speaker 1: I started looking at the different factors of my life, 125 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:59,039 Speaker 1: specifically UM and I am one of the anomalies, but 126 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: started to become more of a norm now. But I 127 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:04,159 Speaker 1: guess more of anomaly in my age group who has 128 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 1: hit the forties mark to not have a family. I 129 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: don't have children, I don't have a spouse. I have 130 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 1: a partner. But as committed as we are, we're still 131 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: very independent. I don't own a home. I'm absolutely renting 132 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 1: in a very cute little home that I've made for 133 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: myself but doesn't include neighbors in the building. Yes, do 134 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: we share a washer dryer as a unit. Yes. I 135 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: am able to afford my own car. I am now 136 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,280 Speaker 1: getting to the point that I'm actually fixing my teeth 137 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: like an adult that should have been fixed twenty five 138 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: years ago apparently. But yeah, all these things. I have 139 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 1: a dog, I don't have children. I have just figured 140 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: out what the hell this four oh one k life 141 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:47,600 Speaker 1: is and savings is about. Uh that, of course, I 142 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: also has to do with me being in a job 143 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: that is woefully neglected by the government, by the economy, 144 00:07:56,200 --> 00:08:00,120 Speaker 1: by society in itself, and so getting pennies to a 145 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: job that worked me twenty hours a day. So we 146 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: know that there are those are the outside influences to that. 147 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: But all of that to say, you know, I'm not 148 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:16,239 Speaker 1: your typical in that I'm not in that housewife, wife, mother, 149 00:08:16,720 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: grandmother state of being. So my midlife prices, I feel 150 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: like it's very different from what we know of. And 151 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: I'm sure there needs to be new data and I'm 152 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: sure that it will come upon it one day. Yes, 153 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,839 Speaker 1: maybe I said this as a question into the this, 154 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:35,199 Speaker 1: but like all of these things, so I'm like, what 155 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 1: is this? Is this? What this looks like? Who am I? Um? 156 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: And it also comes down to the point like one 157 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,559 Speaker 1: of the big questions is the definitions and maybe this 158 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:49,640 Speaker 1: new crisis, what men were going through, what we have 159 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: seen men do just literally putting caution to the wind. 160 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 1: Again stereotypically, I'm not necessarily say that that's all true, 161 00:08:57,840 --> 00:08:59,959 Speaker 1: but my stereotype at what we see as a care 162 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 1: curture of well not too much of a caricature, but 163 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: like a little stretch, a little bit of a stretch 164 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 1: that men just kind of put throw caution to the 165 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 1: wind and move on. That women who are have become breadwinners, 166 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:16,240 Speaker 1: have become more likely to have less children, have become 167 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 1: less dependent on men because we earn our own money. 168 00:09:19,559 --> 00:09:22,319 Speaker 1: There's a wide gender gap. We know this gender pay gap. 169 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 1: We know this, but it's at one point in time 170 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: did seem like it was closing a bit for some 171 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: of the communities. Uh So that also means less dependency 172 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:38,439 Speaker 1: on our men if it is a heterosis relationship. So 173 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 1: that's changed all around. So I'm wondering if we are. 174 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: We haven't seen or talk about it as much for 175 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: women until recently because of those changes, which is where 176 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:54,080 Speaker 1: I am. I would probably be the face of that, 177 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 1: not necessarily, but just like the lack of having all 178 00:09:56,840 --> 00:10:00,560 Speaker 1: of those responsibilities that once was always on women. Mm hmmm, 179 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:19,959 Speaker 1: that makes sense. Yeah, I have a lot of kind 180 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,320 Speaker 1: of varying thoughts about this. When I was growing up, 181 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: my mom had a best friend who was an artist, 182 00:10:26,040 --> 00:10:30,480 Speaker 1: since she was kind of known as, like affectionately, the weirdo. 183 00:10:31,360 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: But she when she approached I guess her her she 184 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 1: had her midlife crisis. I don't know if she did, 185 00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:43,560 Speaker 1: but she bought this jeep that was bright sunburnt orange, 186 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 1: and everyone joked it was her midlife crisis car. And 187 00:10:49,559 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 1: I was a kid, and I remember hearing that thinking 188 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:58,440 Speaker 1: that's interesting. But to this day, like I do remember that. 189 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 1: I remember, and she was the one who made the 190 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: money in that particular family situation, and she did have 191 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:10,640 Speaker 1: a lot going on, difficult things going on. So I 192 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:15,720 Speaker 1: think of that. I also think, like, again, I don't 193 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 1: I haven't had a midlife crisis all. I don't think 194 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 1: I've had a quarter life crisis. But recently I've been 195 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:26,840 Speaker 1: thinking because Quarantine universary is this weekend for me, for 196 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 1: a lot of us, and I'm going to celebrate it. 197 00:11:29,920 --> 00:11:32,199 Speaker 1: But I was thinking, like, wow, this is two years. 198 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 1: You've barely loved this apartment two years. And that made 199 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 1: me pause. That made me pause for a second, because 200 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:44,200 Speaker 1: I am somebody who's very like I want to do 201 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:46,160 Speaker 1: all the stuff, and I want to go everywhere, and 202 00:11:46,200 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 1: I want to travel, and in a lot of ways, 203 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,840 Speaker 1: staying in my apartment has been not a bad thing 204 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:55,319 Speaker 1: and interesting and I've learned a lot. But I think 205 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: in that way of what you're saying of women now 206 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: not kind of changing the roles the from what the 207 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: stereotypical traditional role was too. Now are much more like 208 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 1: late to get married or get a house or if 209 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: we do those things at all. I did have that 210 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:19,200 Speaker 1: moment of like, is not a waste of a two years, right, 211 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 1: kind only that's what it is, but that actually that's 212 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:24,679 Speaker 1: a good segue because I all thought, well, maybe it's 213 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: not this midlife crisis that I'm at. Maybe that's not 214 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: what it is. Maybe it's this existential crisis, which I've 215 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 1: always heard it seems such like a kitchy like goofy 216 00:12:35,559 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: word that people use just to be real out there, 217 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: like like kind of like the new ag level of 218 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 1: like what is this? You know, yes, I have to 219 00:12:44,200 --> 00:12:48,880 Speaker 1: use the noise for that, um and if you don't know, 220 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,920 Speaker 1: an existential crisis is a psychological episode in which a 221 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 1: person questions the meaning of their life and of existence itself. 222 00:12:56,120 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 1: And that's from dictionary dot com and y'all yeah, yeah, 223 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:04,280 Speaker 1: I think especially for so many of us in the 224 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: last two years, that has been the moment like what 225 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 1: is this life? And oh my god? What am I here? For? 226 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: Am I making a difference? And of course there's a 227 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: bigger conversation in this, because there's an intersectionality in this 228 00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:21,880 Speaker 1: conversation about this type of crisis when it comes to 229 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 1: climate change, when it comes to racial issues, when it 230 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:28,560 Speaker 1: comes to working within um war torn countries, and what 231 00:13:28,720 --> 00:13:31,320 Speaker 1: that looks like for them when we talk about feminism 232 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: in itself and feminist issues today, we know that Texas 233 00:13:35,880 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 1: has has allowed for that really overarching anti abortion law, 234 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:44,240 Speaker 1: which is really upsetting and as a whole other I know, 235 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: segue we're gonna have to get into because a lot 236 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 1: of big changes that are happening, and I hate it. 237 00:13:48,000 --> 00:13:50,200 Speaker 1: I hate it, I hate it, I hate it. But 238 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:52,880 Speaker 1: it does put you into that moment of the crisis 239 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: and also with that existential dread. Yeah, I'm talking about that. 240 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: So what is intial dread again? It's that same questioning 241 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 1: of life and death and the uncertainties that surrounds them, 242 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,840 Speaker 1: like you literally sit and dread and weight on it. 243 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:11,920 Speaker 1: It's kind of bad, Like it's the what's the meaning 244 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: of life? Why should I care about this? Oh? My god? 245 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:22,600 Speaker 1: Is are we killing humankind? There's no hope And I'm 246 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: laughing because if we don't we cry? Am I right? 247 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:34,160 Speaker 1: Am I right? One blogger from the Stop Psychological Services 248 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: says about it. It's oftentimes triggered by things like unwanted 249 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 1: life transitions, the feeling of reaching a standstill in life, 250 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 1: life altering experiences, traumatic experiences, crisis on a larger scale 251 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:51,320 Speaker 1: could be as depression and anxiety. Yes, I have both 252 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 1: those things, death of a loved one, feeling like you're 253 00:14:54,320 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 1: failing at your career, losing faith in religion y'all. Like 254 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:00,680 Speaker 1: I said, that was my quarter life crisis. Like there's 255 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:03,320 Speaker 1: so many of those things that line up with it. 256 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 1: And we talk about this on an intersectional level when 257 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: we talk about for women, for black women, for women 258 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 1: who are dealing with climate change or actually acknowledging it 259 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: and trying to make a change, Like we see this 260 00:15:15,920 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: in the deeper level of oh my god, we've failed. 261 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,480 Speaker 1: What do we do? Or no one's listening? What do 262 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 1: we do? And honestly, being a social worker, it was 263 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:32,280 Speaker 1: consistent like it's it's it's feeling like I'm constantly failing. 264 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: Nothing is changing. I can't change the system from where 265 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: I'm at, but no one from the head up cares 266 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: enough to actually change it, which I feel like we've 267 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 1: seen more and more today. Maybe it's because of social 268 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:49,320 Speaker 1: media that we actually can acknowledge that fact that we 269 00:15:49,440 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 1: see the pay discrepancies. We see the amount that CEOs 270 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 1: and corporations make and how little they're willing to get 271 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,720 Speaker 1: to their own employees who are actually running the company 272 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 1: and making the profit for the company. You know again, 273 00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 1: I know I go into this spill a lot, but 274 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: there's been moments of like, how do we change this? 275 00:16:08,480 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: So because I can't figure out how to change this 276 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 1: on a massive scale, I'm like, I need to change 277 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:16,040 Speaker 1: something about my life, my surroundings right now. Annie, let's 278 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 1: go on a resort trip where it's sustainable and conscientious. 279 00:16:21,360 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: I've been trying, and he's not listening to this, she 280 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: sent me. I'm listening, but I have gotten many texts 281 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:30,560 Speaker 1: where I'm like, I'm unclear how I should respond this. 282 00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 1: I think it's a fun idea. That's a great idea. 283 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: What do you want me to do? I'm just you know, 284 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: it's like it's the motion, your approach, it tense. Dog. 285 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 1: You're like, oh, yeah, it is. It's true, y'all. I 286 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:49,240 Speaker 1: get very intense about it that we need to do 287 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 1: this right now, which makes me really over avertly passionate 288 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: about things. And honestly, this has put me into maybe 289 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:00,320 Speaker 1: this is part of again my crisis in general, put 290 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:05,600 Speaker 1: me into astrology and back into astrology and astronomy because 291 00:17:05,600 --> 00:17:07,600 Speaker 1: I'm like, what if this is exactly who I am, 292 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:09,600 Speaker 1: which also leads me back to, oh, I don't actually 293 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: know my birthdate because I was adopted. I don't know 294 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 1: if this is true. I don't know when I was born. 295 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 1: I don't actually know where I was born. Oh God, 296 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: I was wrong with me. There's so many things, so 297 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: many layers to this, and of course this is women's 298 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 1: history months. So I'm like, are we making an impact? 299 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 1: Are we okay? Y'all? I'm not okay? Can you tell 300 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:39,639 Speaker 1: someone sitting there donuts um? But you know, I have 301 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:42,520 Speaker 1: a feeling, like I said, because of the things that 302 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:45,880 Speaker 1: we've gone through in the last two years, last four 303 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:48,720 Speaker 1: years for many people, all of their lives. Again, that's 304 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:51,399 Speaker 1: that intersectional level that we really do want to talk about. 305 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:54,679 Speaker 1: This is a consistent thing like trying to live it 306 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: out and not even realizing you're in a crisis moment 307 00:17:57,359 --> 00:17:59,680 Speaker 1: and also not realized not being able to do anything 308 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: about it. I joke about the fact that I could 309 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: do these things. I'm not gonna lie. I have definitely 310 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:07,360 Speaker 1: gotten the privilege of actually being paid, still not being 311 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:10,679 Speaker 1: paid as much as our mail counterparts that I guarantee, 312 00:18:11,320 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 1: but still being paid a lot more than what I 313 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:16,119 Speaker 1: was when I was working a job that really really 314 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: had a lot of emotional mental impact. Um, not that 315 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: this doesn't it does, but not to that same level, 316 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 1: knowing that I could actually get that done, knowing that 317 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: if it came down to it, Yes, I'm finally again 318 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 1: getting to being a like be able to address my 319 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: issues with teeth because it seems to be a privilege, 320 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:39,680 Speaker 1: which it shouldn't be. It shouldn't be dental care, I care. 321 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:43,800 Speaker 1: Mental health should not be a privilege. And that's again 322 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 1: all right, cool, cool, cool. I am able to have 323 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:49,160 Speaker 1: the time to do these things because I don't have 324 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 1: children that I'm responsible for and scheduling for them as 325 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 1: well or paying for them as well. I know this. 326 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:59,280 Speaker 1: I know that this is a privilege beyond measure. And 327 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:03,119 Speaker 1: so for manyeople who are constantly into crisis adding this 328 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 1: to it, and especially again when it comes to women, 329 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 1: women of color, are marginalized people's this is a whole 330 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:12,080 Speaker 1: different level. And I joke about what it is, and 331 00:19:12,119 --> 00:19:14,199 Speaker 1: we joke about it as a stereotype because we do 332 00:19:14,320 --> 00:19:17,080 Speaker 1: see it as a middle class privilege. Having a midlife 333 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:35,520 Speaker 1: crisis is an upper middle class privilege, and it's absurd. Yeah, 334 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,320 Speaker 1: I think you touched on something that we've talked about 335 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:42,719 Speaker 1: a lot in coping with trauma and some unhealthy coping 336 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: mechanisms with trauma, which is control and like a feeling 337 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:47,840 Speaker 1: of control and that you're you feel like all of 338 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: this stuff in your life is out of your control. 339 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: You can't fix all of these things, So buy a house, right, No, 340 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:00,080 Speaker 1: make you feel better like that? That makes sense to me. 341 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: It is unfortunate that we feel so out of control. 342 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 1: There's so many aspects of our lives. But it does 343 00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:12,000 Speaker 1: make sense to me that having this moment of like 344 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,399 Speaker 1: I need to do something that makes me feel like 345 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:19,719 Speaker 1: I have some modicum of control in my life. And 346 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 1: again for women, those who are in the marginalized communities, 347 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:29,080 Speaker 1: that is compounded by the responsibility that's given to you. Immediately. Yes, 348 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:33,919 Speaker 1: white men, we are saying you have you have it easier, 349 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:37,320 Speaker 1: so shut up, don't come at me when it comes 350 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 1: to basic conversations like this. Uh So, one of the 351 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:43,679 Speaker 1: things in the helpline article that I was reading, it 352 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: does say, um many other symptoms of midlife crisis overlap 353 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: with depression, anxiety disorders, and hormonal imbalances. Again, they talked 354 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,880 Speaker 1: about me in in a pausible bit and that there are 355 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 1: like things that you can do when it comes to 356 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:00,479 Speaker 1: medication and a depresses all of that at that if 357 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 1: you truly need it. Sure, I'm one of those who 358 00:21:03,280 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 1: will always say if it's something that you actually need 359 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 1: and helps you, go at it UM. As long as 360 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 1: it's not harming or you're not abusing it, great, But 361 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:14,280 Speaker 1: there are some other ways they say that you can 362 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:18,240 Speaker 1: uh offset this is what they called midlife blues, which 363 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 1: it's patronizing, but okay, it says talk to a therapist. 364 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: Once again, we've talked about this before. How that is 365 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:28,080 Speaker 1: a privilege in itself. I said it earlier. It's absurd, 366 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:31,160 Speaker 1: but it is, and I'm sorry and I hate it. 367 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:33,719 Speaker 1: But if you are able to do so, do it. 368 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 1: CONNTO therapy, life coaching group therapy might be something that 369 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 1: could help, especially when it comes to grief, managing anxiety, 370 00:21:39,880 --> 00:21:42,760 Speaker 1: UM and maybe even just future planning. Who knows. Talking 371 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:46,160 Speaker 1: to your friends, if you have really good friends, it's nice. 372 00:21:46,400 --> 00:21:48,200 Speaker 1: As in fact, they said in the same article, a 373 00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 1: two thousand twelve studies shows that what many women know 374 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:54,439 Speaker 1: from firsthand experience, midlife is easier if you're surrounded by 375 00:21:54,480 --> 00:21:57,520 Speaker 1: a circle of friends. Women with friends have a greater 376 00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:00,840 Speaker 1: sense of well being than those who don't. Not even 377 00:22:00,880 --> 00:22:04,520 Speaker 1: family members have as great an impact. And I feel like, yes, 378 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:08,879 Speaker 1: I can attest to this again, any and Caroline were 379 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:10,919 Speaker 1: two of the people I immediate oh and Dominique of 380 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:14,119 Speaker 1: course immediately texted like help, I'm going to buy one 381 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:17,639 Speaker 1: of these things, and just having them could be like okay, 382 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:22,320 Speaker 1: what it was just like coming bringing me back to 383 00:22:22,359 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 1: reality was like, okay, you are correct, Thank you very much. 384 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:27,240 Speaker 1: I needed that. But I think that's a really big 385 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:29,920 Speaker 1: part of it. And again for my parents. For my mom, 386 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 1: she didn't have friends. I told we talked about that 387 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:35,720 Speaker 1: earlier another episode. She didn't have friends until after all 388 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 1: her kids left, and her friends were her kids. So 389 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:42,800 Speaker 1: that is also a privileged thing as well, which makes 390 00:22:42,800 --> 00:22:45,159 Speaker 1: me sad. It shouldn't have to be. But I know 391 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:47,879 Speaker 1: if all you do is work, there's not not so 392 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:49,679 Speaker 1: and then you just want to come home and rest. 393 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 1: There's so little you can different about that, and that's 394 00:22:52,400 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 1: again a different conversation. Reconnect with nature. As I said, 395 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:58,399 Speaker 1: go touch to the grass. I have very muddy grass. 396 00:22:58,440 --> 00:23:02,239 Speaker 1: But whatever, but we uh, my partner has family in 397 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:04,359 Speaker 1: Florida near the beach. He took me there to be 398 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:08,639 Speaker 1: like I needy to calm down and it did help. Um. 399 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 1: Talking about your home remedies and healthy eating again, I'm 400 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:15,199 Speaker 1: not gonna say that's the thing, is their suggestion. I 401 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 1: don't know, but some people do like hobbies. So if 402 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:21,399 Speaker 1: it's learning to make bread, go at it. Plant learning 403 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 1: to plant gardens beautiful. I mean, that has been two 404 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:26,800 Speaker 1: of the big things that I've seen people do as 405 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:30,880 Speaker 1: uh self care. They need to be able to care 406 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,080 Speaker 1: for their plants, or are being able to learn to 407 00:23:33,160 --> 00:23:37,400 Speaker 1: bake bread or doing these things. If that's something you need, great. Uh. 408 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:40,919 Speaker 1: If you are someone who struggles with eating and you 409 00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:43,080 Speaker 1: want to figure out something healthy, cool, just do it 410 00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 1: in a manner that is showing love to yourself period 411 00:23:46,600 --> 00:23:51,560 Speaker 1: um and not abiding by unattainable standards that are set 412 00:23:51,560 --> 00:23:54,159 Speaker 1: by society, which is stupid and usually the meaning and 413 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:58,919 Speaker 1: very very false and damaging to women. Put that in 414 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:01,879 Speaker 1: there right down, You've accomplished. You know, that's not a 415 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:04,679 Speaker 1: bad idea. And he just got into shock mode and 416 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 1: then take steps toward a new future. I don't know 417 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:11,280 Speaker 1: what that means. Uh, talking about maybe hey, you are writing, 418 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:14,679 Speaker 1: write that novel you've been talking about, don't write that novel, 419 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 1: Toss that that novel. Whatever you need to do. Have 420 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:20,639 Speaker 1: a cleansing party, you know, taking all the things that 421 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 1: you thought was bad in your life. Burn that in 422 00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:29,359 Speaker 1: a very contained environment. I don't know. Get into astrology 423 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:31,720 Speaker 1: like me and tell me about my signs. Someone tell 424 00:24:31,760 --> 00:24:36,879 Speaker 1: me about my side. Okay, I was worked up twenty 425 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:40,840 Speaker 1: six and then there are so many other things. Reading 426 00:24:40,840 --> 00:24:45,680 Speaker 1: books again, doing what is something that you love, whether 427 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 1: it's taking time off and again, maybe taking a bath, 428 00:24:49,640 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 1: maybe that's your thing. Uh, sitting, crocheting. I tried that. 429 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:55,720 Speaker 1: I didn't get very far with that, but okay, well 430 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:57,920 Speaker 1: when I come back and revisit this, watching a favorite 431 00:24:58,040 --> 00:25:01,199 Speaker 1: loved movie, whatever you you need, reaching out to an 432 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 1: old friend that you've missed, all the good things. There 433 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:07,080 Speaker 1: are some suggestions, but yeah, for those who are with me, 434 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:09,879 Speaker 1: I love you, I'm thinking of you. Don't buy that 435 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:13,800 Speaker 1: thing you don't need. I'm just gonna be okay. Or 436 00:25:13,920 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 1: do if it makes you happy. Yeah, yeah, I think 437 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:20,720 Speaker 1: the key is to like, not do it on impulse, 438 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 1: like sure thin take take a week before you actually 439 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:28,960 Speaker 1: think about it. Talk to people about it. Let's see, 440 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:33,280 Speaker 1: I don't think there's anything yet. Yeah, well there's time, 441 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:35,920 Speaker 1: but you know, give me a minute though. Yeah, well, 442 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:41,040 Speaker 1: converse about that later. But yes, yes, yes, yes listeners. 443 00:25:41,119 --> 00:25:43,920 Speaker 1: If you have any experience with this, any ideas about this, 444 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:46,560 Speaker 1: any thoughts, we would love to hear from you. Our 445 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:48,840 Speaker 1: email is stuff Need Your Mom Stuff at iHeart media 446 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:51,040 Speaker 1: dot com. You can find us on Twitter at mom Stuff. 447 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:53,160 Speaker 1: Podcasts are on Instagram at stuff I Never Told You. 448 00:25:53,280 --> 00:25:56,520 Speaker 1: Thanks as always to our super producer Christina. Thank you, Christina, 449 00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:58,919 Speaker 1: and thanks to you for listening Stuff I've Never Told 450 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:00,679 Speaker 1: You the protection of I Heart Radio. For more podcast 451 00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 1: from my Heart Radio, visit the high radio app Apple podcast. 452 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:04,800 Speaker 1: Where do you listen to favorite shops