According to Daniel Levinson, who wrote Seasons of a Man’s Life, after the midlife transition comes the transition to late adulthood, which starts at about age 60. That is where I am now and that is one reason this will be the last of these midlife columns. In traditional hunter-gatherer societies, when men and women […] Read more
Stories by Noel McNaughton
Which side of your head gets the money? – Ranching After 50
Marketers keep track of all kinds of things, looking for ways to sell us more stuff. One statistic I heard is that the average person spends about $1,000 per year on the outside of their head. This includes shaving supplies, facials, visits to the barber and headwear. But here is the kicker: a lot of […] Read more
The best way to make up your mind – Ranching After 50
John was frustrated. He had been sitting at the kitchen table for more than an hour, trying to figure out which tractor to buy. His 20-year-old one was starting to cost too much in repairs. He had gathered a lot of data on new tractors and had come up with a list of three models, […] Read more
Your heart has a mind of its own (and it can help relieve stress) – Ranching After 50
Here is a quick exercise: Close your eyes and point to yourself. Do it now, before you read any further. OK, open your eyes. Where did you point? To your head? Your knee? Your toes? Or did you point to your heart, which is where almost everybody points? From ancient times until as recently as […] Read more
Jennifer and other male midlife syndromes – Ranchig After 50
When Keith was 55, he had an affair with an attractive woman in her 30s. He left his wife, moved in with his lover, and lived in a state of aroused confusion for three years. He felt guilty about leaving his wife, but was attracted to the younger woman like a moth to a flame. […] Read more
We all carry some of the Ozymandias complex – Ranching AFter 50
When we are young, we often have a big dream such as becoming the biggest farmer in the area. What we don’t recognize is that we subconsciously believe that success means our life will be great in all kinds of other ways, that wealth will also bring fame, intelligence, a great sex life and happiness. […] Read more
New thinking needed for rural areas – Ranching After 50
I recently attended an interesting meeting at the Mistahiya ski lodge near Wainwright, Alta. A few local people decided to invite a bunch of leaders to a symposium to explore how to make rural farms and communities sustainable in this economy. It was an eclectic crowd, including the mayor of Vermilion, Alta., a former president […] Read more
Midlife change vs. midlife crisis – Ranching After 50
I have talked about midlife men on a radio call-in show a number of times. Often, callers wonder whether they are supposed to be in a crisis. They are middle aged and are undergoing some changes, but it doesn’t feel like a crisis. For some in their 60s or 70s, they are still waiting for […] Read more
Plan a visit to your own funeral – Ranching After 50
By now you have probably been to at least one funeral. You may have even sat in the front row at both of your parents’ funerals and realized it’s your turn next in the box. You know by now that funerals are for the folks left behind – a way to say goodbye and reminisce […] Read more
Recognizing the power of acknowledgement – Ranching After 50
Years ago quite a few bachelors who had immigrated from Scandinavia took out homesteads in the Grande Prairie area of Alberta’s Peace Country. Roy Bickell was a prominent farmer in the area at the time and was often asked to be the executor for these men’s estates when they died. He told me after he […] Read more
