Guided Response: Respond to two of your peers seperately.
Identify examples that were similar to and different from those in your initial post (initial post is attached).
Comment on the cultural aspects they have described regarding midlife transitions.
First Classmate Post:
Assumptions about how things go in midlife for most people, especially relating to peoples’ ability (or need) to redefine themselves.
Based on what has been seen and heard of, midlife is a transitional period where many people have retired or are near retirement, looking to downsize homes and possibly relocate closer to family members such as parents who are much older and could use additional care. During this time, most families have children who have finished high school and are well into their college years. The empty nesting circumstance along with decreased physical abilities in middle adulthood is a major factor that prompts the need to downsize to a home with lesser rooms and fewer stairs to climb. This period also drives an emotional transition. As individuals reach retirement age, experience changes in the household dynamics, and view themselves as nearing old age, a period of reflection usually follows these life changes. Many will look back at what has been accomplished during their life, and this may spontaneously spark the need to utilize free time to make up for times that were lost or to accomplish unfinished activities.
Find and describe at least one example of a person who has been successful in their redefinition and at least one example of a person who has been unsuccessful at redefinition.
One example of someone who has been successful in redefining themselves in adulthood is Oprah Winfrey. During her early years, Oprah experienced poverty, abuse, and moved from home to home. Her exceptional educational skills led her into adulthood where she began anchoring for various news stations, becoming the youngest and first black anchor for a local news station that opened the door for many others. In middle adulthood, Oprah reflected on where she came from and began to live by this statement “forgive the past, take responsibility, and move forward” (MsMojo, 2019, 6:05). During this midlife period, Oprah transitioned to becoming a philanthropist with a mission to encourage, empower, and give back to the world around her through various successful efforts from non-profit charities to educational journeys.
While I have many personal examples of someone who has been unsuccessful in redefining themselves in middle adulthood, the first example that comes to mind is Oliver Singer who was discussed previously in the week four discussion. The life events that Oliver experienced by giving up his dreams and living a mediocre life are a very common sequence of events experienced by many people I know. Oliver had a choice to stay in school or drop-out and follow his wife. As a result of his decision, Oliver entered midlife harboring the past and pointing blame on his wife instead of making the best of where his life stood during that time. Like Oliver, people I know have aspired to be someone totally different than they ended up becoming. They too also pointed blame at others for their decisions to drop out of school, turn down a military reenlistment, or leave a great job to move closer to family. For some, these life-changing events have left them stagnant and, in a state where they want better but fail to push themselves toward personal growth. Unfortunately, this has led some individuals to live a mediocre life feeling as if they are owed something instead of accepting the past and finding their purpose.
List any cultural considerations that you believe have affected your subject’s transition.
Regarding Oprah’s transition, her culture included some degree of segregation during her childhood, as well as strict parental figures such as her mom, dad, and grandmother. The words of wisdom that were embedded in her along with the trauma she experienced, is what induced her resilience and steered her down the path that she chose.
For Oliver, it may have been a cultural need for him to stick with his family (wife and kids), that led him to leave school and follow his wife. For those that I mentioned with similar circumstances to Oliver, I believe these individuals had an earlier life where they didn’t have to struggle for much and always got what they wanted. Or perhaps they grew up with a strict understanding of what achievement was supposed to look like and it did not compare to their actual achievement, thus causing them to be extremely hard on themselves and filled with a great deal of doubt. One person in particular, has mentioned the lack of support within their immediate circle; however, observation showed an unwillingness to accept support and advice which may be contributed to certain self-beliefs.
Which of these examples were easier to find or more plentiful? Do these results confirm or contradict your assumptions?
The example that was easier to find was the example of a successful midlife in Oprah. While midlife identifies the period of transition where many adults are accepting themselves for who they are and trying their best to contribute to society (Arnett & Jensen, 2019), it is easy to find many examples that fit this meaning. The Oprah example confirms my earlier assumptions on midlife. She is in an empty nesting and retirement period of life and has chosen to redefine herself by finding a purpose in caring for others. Although she may not be physically caring for them, her efforts are done in many supportive ways.
References
Arnett, J. J., & Jensen, L. A. (2019). Human development: A cultural approach (3rd ed.) Pearson.
MsMojo. (2019, October 9). The Groundbreaking Story of Oprah Winfrey [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45D6LAUXExc
Second Classmate Post:
y assumptions of middle adulthood are based on my life experiences of myself and those around me as most of us fall in the middle adulthood stage. There are noticeable physical changes, and although I feel youthful and energetic, physical aspects tell a different story such as flexibility decline and diminished strength regardless of how much I work out. As a middle-aged adult, we tend to control our emotions better than we did in earlier stages. There are also cognitive changes although cognitive abilities may stay fairly stable there may be a decline in things like working memory and social changes may be identified by role changes in my case taking care of a parent while watching my children parent and my wife and I help develop grandchildren.
An example of successful midlife redefinition evidenced in her personal narrative is Oprah Winfrey who roared through the second half of her life despite racking up more than her fair share of early adversity in the form of trauma and tragedy. Beginning life as she did – poor, traumatized and abused (Business Mind Media Company, 2022). Oprah’s ascent to television host, media mogul, and philanthropist could demoralize some people. But not Oprah. When she hit midlife, rather than coast into the high-paying retirement she no doubt could have afforded, Winfrey took on new challenges, completely transforming her calling from daily talk-show host to moving from her reign at The Oprah Winfrey Show to modeling midlife transition and redefinition via OWN, the Oprah Winfrey Network, where she assumes new roles and advances influence in publishing, film, advocacy and more.
On the flip side of the midlife transition, the former NFL player Junior Seau (1969-2012) also failed miserably in his efforts at redefinition even as he enjoyed the heights of predefined success and acclaim. For all his glory on the football field, he struggled through a web of bankruptcy, divorce, domestic violence, and serious health problems, (Steeg, 2012) and then, at the age of 43, he shot himself in the heart and died. And therein lies the danger of failed redefinition in middle adulthood.
What cultural factors might account for Seau’s transition that we have only now come to appreciate? Junior Seau was Samoan, a heritage that might have given rise to loyalty to family, community, and honor, all of which could have shaped his identity and understandings of success, failure, and wellness, and possibly influenced whether Seau was willing to seek peer or professional help for emotional and social stresses, or whether he could see himself becoming someone other than a football-playing identity. At the same time, cultural values surrounding masculinity in sports might have discouraged Seau from seeking help for his emotional struggles, or from making major changes to his identity as a professional football player, further contributing to a sense of shame and isolation. In each instance, we must consider the intersectionality of identity and culture, bringing into focus how answers to the questions might be shaped by those relationships.
Oprah’s story was easier to find and most plentiful, As I review my assumptions based on my life and those around me each story confirms my assumption. While Oprah’s story was a success and Seau’s had a tragic ending understanding how depression due to failure has impacted so many around me may have very well been worse if not for the families surrounding them and I continue to pray they have the support they need to continue to battle through life situations.
References:
Business Mind Media Company. (2022, March 1). The Tragic Story Of Oprah’s Childhood: Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/tragic-story-oprahs-childhood-businesspulselk/
Steeg, J. L. (2012). Junior Seau: bitter endgame. The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved from https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-junior-seau-bitter-endgame-2012oct21-story.html
