Midcentury Modern (Source: Geo Davis)
Mid-century modern is the new middle age. Midlife rebranded. Everything old is new again. No. No, don’t say that word. Older. Not old.
Beth Teitell (@BethTeitell) tackles the pejorative implications of referring to somebody as middle age. Her May 2018 Boston Globe piece, “The new insult: calling someone middle aged…”, ponders a less loaded euphemism (epithet?) for our 40-65 gang. One suggestion, “perennial”, taps into my gardening optimism and seems benign enough (albeit a bit goofy and slightly misleading).
So what about mid-century modern?
“Walking through places like Crate & Barrel and watching home renovation shows, you hear everyone touting mid-century modern,” said [Lisa] Nagel, head of school at St. Anne’s School of Annapolis… “I thought, ‘That’s how we need to refer to ourselves at this stage of life.’ […] We want to project that sense of self-assurance and clean simplicity.” (Source: The Boston Globe)
Self-assurance and clean simplicity. Confidence and minimalism. Re-branding midlife strikes me as an enticing challenge for all of us. Not because it’s necessary, nor because our skins are really that thin, right? Right?!?!
Teitell’s piece is thoroughly enjoyable read (and now re-read), so take if for a spin when you’re filling a few minutes in your therapist’s waiting room. Most important, remember this clever koan that Teitell tucks into the curtain call.
Perhaps the saddest thing about middle age is this: It’s a group no one wants to be part of, until they age out, in which case they realize, too late, they didn’t appreciate what they had. (Source: Beth Teitell, The Boston Globe)
Don’t miss your chance to embrace middle age, friends. Carpe midlife!