I cannot believe that I fit the demographic of this book, When Did Everyone Else Get So Old? (which I received for free in exchange for my honest review), but as a forty something woman, I do. I find myself at the point in life where I cannot rise from a sitting position without a groan of effort. There are a few more aches and pains. I also confess to calling out "those clueless kids of today." That being said, I was looking forward to reading this book, as it seemed to offer a life perspective that I might identify with. I wasn't disappointed.
Jennifer Grant writes in a personable style. I felt as if I was sitting with the author, having a conversation over a coffee. She writes about the middle age years being ones of transition, change. As our children are moving into a more mature area of life, so are we. Those years have a lot in common. There are hormones, happiness, sadness, stress, and most of all, change. A quote in the beginning of the book stands out to me, from the book of Ecclesiastes, - "To everything there is a season."
The author gives many personal examples about this stage. We vacillate between looking back at our memories, and looking ahead to the future. The feelings are confusing. There is grief as we let our kids go, as we see ourselves getting older, and there is also anticipation for new roads to explore with more freedom.
I found this book to be an easy read. I caught myself nodding throughout the book as I could relate to many of Grant's experiences. It was real, it was honest and also encouraging, without casting broad generalizations. All in all, if you are or know anyone approaching that middle stage in life, this might be a good one to refer them to, or hey, pick it up for them!
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