Middlescence

Here's a new word being used by Ken Dychtwald, President of Age Wave. Dychtwald researches, consults, writes, and speaks primarily about the Baby Boom generation and the effects of the aging of this larger than normal generation (about 28% of the U.S. population). Insurance companies and investment firms are his primary clients. You'll find a lot of very interesting information by just poking around his website.

He uses "middlescence" to describe a new period in life brought about by lengthened life span. He defines it as the years 50 - 70. The point is that because of increased life span, the adding of 30 years to the average American life over the last 100 years, we have this new period of life with new characteristics. People in middlescence are in most ways at their peak. They are healthy, often have many of the responsibilities of raising family behind them, and have the freedom to create a life more in alignment with deeply held values at the same time as they may have opportunities to exit from career.

About Boomers, he says, "They'll take a breath and then reinvent themselves, then strike a new balance between leisure and work, whether that is starting a new career or business, working part time, or as volunteers."

I'm meeting people every day who are doing just that. What's your plan?