There you are. In a relationship with someone you treasure. Someone you love.  Someone you have that special connection with. All is going along just fine and then it happens…

Someone younger and “hotter” comes onto the scene and you’re suddenly escorted to the exit.

As I’ve always said, adventures come in all shapes and sizes, from treks to distant lands to those inner adventures that can shake us to our core. Sometimes adventures are like  dark tunnels, causing us to navigate without a sense of direction. We’re just in it, hoping for that beam of light to guide us to a better place. They are the MISadventures. A little askew, not what we asked for (or at least we didn’t think we did), yet challenging in their own way.

And just like adventures, misadventures can be incredibly powerful experiences causing us to discover amazing, powerful and truthful parts of ourselves.

Let’s face it. Midlife is often about age. Especially in relationships. We sometimes stay in them out of fear no one else will want us. Sometimes we never get in one for that very same reason. And sometimes we get tossed out of them because we got traded in for a newer model (AND they could very well be literally…a model).

“It’s not what happens in your life that matters,  it’s how you deal with what happens .”

When we get kicked to the curb, what should we do? We have a choice. We can get angry, lashing out at the kicker, we can become the tragic victim crying “Why poor pitiful midlife me?” OR….We can do something delicious.

We can decide this is that window, that beautiful picture window, to a much better life…a much better us. We can choose to soar, becoming the very best us, realizing that it’s our time.

We can take stock of our life, treasuring our experiences, our wisdom, our strength. We can use this kick to the curb as a kick-start to a new chapter in our new midlife life.

So, you may be at that curb, all bruised, cut and bewildered. Remember, you have a choice. You can get up, brush yourself off and start down a brand new street.

Misadventure Tip: Use your misadventure to fire you up and expand your life. Do brand new things. Push your creative envelope like never before. Just see how fantastic you can be! Stop waiting. Start living bigger. Be open to new opportunities, start saying yes! a whole lot more.

Marcel Proust said it best, “The real voyage of discovery consists not of seeking new lands, but in having new eyes.”

Misadventure Tip: Remember! You can be sexy, vibrant and vital at any age. It’s all about energy, attitude and inspiration. And who knows? Maybe your next adventure will be with that younger, “hotter” guy just waiting for you to walk into his life.

Then… suddenly that misadventure can be the best adventure of your life.

-Tracy Pattin

Tags: Adventures, age, love, midlife, midlife adventures, midlife love, Relationships