Dimensions
130 x 195 x 18mm
Between youth and old age lies the uncharted territory of being in your fifties: a decade of dramatic and dynamic change. Dr Peter O'Connor, who originally examined the mid-life years in 'Understanding the Mid-Life Crisis', now explores the experience of living through your fifties.
'Facing the Fifties' is based on interviews with men and women in their fifties who share their sense of loss and confusion, as well as the hopes that emerge during this time. We see the fifties as a rite of passage, which, like ancient rites and heroic journeys, involves a cycle of separation, initiation and return. The first task on this journey is separation from mourning the loss of our youthfulness. What follows next may be a period of uncertainty, sometimes profound, but arising from this betwixt and between state is the potential for the emergence of a renewed sense of self, and the confidence of your years.
'Facing the Fifties' redefines the experience of growing older. It allows us to both mourn what is lost and celebrate new possibilities. It shows us how a successful transition through these yeas can lead to a vital sense of physical and mental well being and a life-affirming mature age.