Why Gen X should practice curiosity as midlife brings new possibilities

A changing stage of life

Aubrey describes Gen Xers as facing new questions after years focused on careers and parenting. As children begin to launch, relationships and responsibilities can shift. Her book, “Your Turn: How to Create a Midlife You Love,” takes its name from the possibility of choosing what comes next.

Watching for the third turn

Aubrey recalls attending the Kentucky Derby as a teenager. Her grandfather urged her to watch the third turn, where a horse behind the pack made a late move and won.

He told her that the home stretch brings a sense of urgency. Aubrey uses that idea to frame midlife as a moment when unexpected changes can happen.

People making bold pivots

Aubrey took a sabbatical from her job for what she called a “curiosity tour,” meeting people who had made new choices. They included a nurse who sings in a band and a lawyer who opened a bookstore.

She also met an editor who began improv in her 60s and a counselor who teaches Shake Your Soul dance. Aubrey says their experiences expand ideas about what is possible.

Purpose, play and aging

Aubrey says research points to purpose and play—not pills or products—as important to longevity. Creative activities such as dancing, singing, painting, gardening, and engaging with literature or theatre can bring joy and appear to slow aging.

She also notes that exercise and diet matter. The people she met, she says, are creating something new rather than simply retiring.