The worst year of life is 47.2 — and I’m a living example of it

New York Post ^ | February 1, 2020 | Eric Spitznagel

[MuttTheHoople]

No kidding. When I was about 47.2 years old, I lost my job I held for 22 years. For about four years, I struggled along, until I moved to Texas. Now, after six years working as a Highway Engineer in Texas, my life great.

[over3Owithabrain]

My life has been terrible since 2006 at 41 years old.

[albie]

When I was 47.2 I was only 1 year into a career in Real Estate. And 2 years shy of the Dodd/Frank crash. It was NOT the worst year.

[gcparent]

His biggest problem is putting on pants? Does he work in his underwear?

[Hot Tabasco]

I passed the unhappiest point in my life.

I would have thought the unhappiest point in his life would have been when he found out his last name was Spitznagel

[ml/nj]

But it gets better!

ML/NJ

[Bringbackthedraft]

47.2 yrs, I got the hell off of L.I. and the daily commute of 4 hrs. Reduced it to 5 minutes taking a job away from the NYC surrounding area. Left the business world for good within 5 years, and opened up my own business out of home. It was a real late wake up, should have done it out of college.

[NittanyLion]

I haven’t reached 47 yet, but the age of one was toughest for me. I had major issues with incontinence and there were times when it seemed like no one could understand me. Often I’d wake in the middle of the night, unable to fall asleep again. I cried almost every day that year.

But just like the 47.2 year old in the article, all these issues corrected themselves over the next few years. Life has been great ever since!

[TomServo]

1st heart attack at 47.5...2 more since then...whoo-hooo! Where’s my cigarettes?....

[where's_the_Outrage?]

At 47 things were really good, now at 46.6 my happy a$$ landed at Khandahar, worst place I have ever been.

[2banana]

I think in the late 40s people start to realize all they things they never are going to accomplish as they are just getting too old.

Whether career, children, spouse, money, saving for a retirement, etc.

But it does help focus on what is important.

[HangnJudge]

Still 2^(2+2+2) for another day
Fix’n to be on Medicare

[2banana]

Did you time travel back in time, join the army and got deployed to Afghanistan?

As for Khandahar - just wait until summer. It gets worse.

“At 47 things were really good, now at 46.6 my happy a$$ landed at Khandahar, worst place I have ever been.”

[Flycatcher]

Lol

[kearnyirish2]

I haven’t reached it yet (I’m close), but the early 50s seem tough on coworkers. In part because as you describe, they realize what they won’t accomplish, but even more so, they realize they have at least a dozen more years working.

[DIRTYSECRET]

47 is when your women start losing their looks if they haven’t already.

[Qiviut]

My 40’s were great - if I could pick a time to go back to and stay that age, it would be 40 and second choice would be somewhere in the 40’s. The early 50’s were the ‘killer’ years for me, starting with the death of someone near/dear that changed my life.

[2banana]

100% agree.

Too old to find another path. Too young to retire. Just work and keep your head down.

So tell them there is way more to life! And no, not cats and boxed wine.

“but the early 50s seem tough on coworkers. In part because as you describe, they realize what they won’t accomplish, but even more so, they realize they have at least a dozen more years working.”

[Arlis]

Wow. 50 was the worst year of my life.

But at almost 75, the last 10 have been the very best, by far!

So if you are in that dark period, look up! The best is coming!

[kearnyirish2]

Mine is well-preserved so far; I’m getting grayer and fatter, though...