My 'mid-life crisis' on my bike
By John Mohan

Last Friday morning when I was interviewed on Hot 103 with Ace Burpee and Chrissy Troy, Ace asked if "My Continuing Mid-life Crisis Bikeathon for the Homeless" involved a real mid-life crisis. Speaking in generalities, I offered that I'm in an age group that seriously evaluates our stage of life and careers -- assessing what we've accomplished and how we want to finish.

First identified by psychologist Carl Jung as a form of emotional transition, there is debate about the legitimacy and causes of the "mid-life crisis" especially since it's largely confined to men living in western world cultures. But there are some identifiable symptoms experienced by those in their 40s, 50s and even 60s who are faced with their advancing age and careers. Some of those symptoms are fun and harmless, like getting a tattoo or gaudy hair colouring. Some are irrational, like selling off the house and moving into the wilderness.

Some are outright destructive as marriages get abandoned in pursuit of a new partner half their age. Some are self-improving with weight loss and bodies toned with aspirations of participating in a marathon. And some are altruistic. I'm hearing from a lot of guys my age who are saying the money is no longer important, but what now matters is whether they're doing something fulfilling or contributing.

As I approach 51, I'm taking stock of my own life again. It's actually pretty good -- I have a great marriage complete with a hot wife and fine children. My home is comfortable and I have a little Honda convertible.

My career at Siloam Mission is unimaginably fulfilling and the envy of those executives tired of only making money to justify their existence on the planet.

As I finished my 30-minute interview with Ace and Chrissy I wondered what I have to complain about that would cause me to lament about a mid-life crisis and publicly act it out by cycling from B.C. to Winnipeg over the next 12 days. But by the end of the day I was in full mid-life crisis mode after I checked the mailbox. It wasn't compromising photographs with a blackmail letter, or even a hydro bill that caused me to moan. It was a brochure with two content-looking elderly people sitting in a nicely appointed suite.

Advertising a new senior's independent living complex, it promised the life of luxury, ease and non-stop social engagement with other seniors. The brochure said the life I deserved was waiting for me if I'm 55 or older. Fifty five? I'm almost 51. That's only four years away.

Now I'm officially in mid-life crisis. I'm fighting off the urge to go lawn bowling and wear white pants pulled up to my armpits. This can't be happening to me. I've got to stop the aging. I know I'll prove I still have my youth with another feat of endurance and I'll do it for my favourite charity and cause -- Siloam Mission and Winnipeg homelessness again.

How about another interprovincial mid-life crisis bikeathon for the homeless like I did last year? You can follow along here in the Winnipeg Sun, Siloam's website or Facebook. It all starts tomorrow.

--John Mohan is the CEO of Siloam Mission.

Originally printed in the Winnipeg Sun, Wednesday, May 20, 2009.
Reprinted with the permission of Sun Media Corporation.