Is Turning 50 the New 40 or the New 20?

According to a People magazine senior editor, "40 is not just the new 30, it’s the new 20." At this rate, we'll all be back in the womb!

I'm confused about this whole aging thing. While Baby Boomers are drawing a lot of attention due to their sheer size, I've been reading many blog entries by 40-something men. Turning 40 seems to be a bigger deal for guys.

But then again, there's Jeremy who, at 30, approaches midlife with equanimity.

And then there are the lucky ones like moi: I've had two midlife crises, one at 35 and again at 42. For those of you who study these things, there is some truth to seven year cycles. If you're attuned, the change can represent a mild transition. If you're dense, it can feel like a kick in the head.

Maybe crisis is too strong a word. More like an unpleasant awakening that life wasn't what it's cracked up to be. And where do we get these expectation, by the way?

Today, I know who I am and what I want. That's all that can be expected of any of us, whether you're 20, 30, 40 or 50.