That paradox is at the heart of Ruthie Foster’s beautiful song “Mileage.” She sings about the quiet depth that comes from the miles we’ve lived—the heartbreaks, the reinventions, the unexpected turns. It’s not a song about decline. It’s a song about expansion.
And that’s exactly how I’ve come to see midlife.
To me, MILEAGE is a reminder that Midlife Is Living Every Adventure, Growing Exponentially. Not shrinking. Not settling. Growing—exponentially. Because the miles aren’t wearing us down; they’re preparing us for the chapters where we finally get to use everything we’ve learned.
Living every adventure doesn’t mean bungee jumping or climbing Kilimanjaro (although, go for it if that calls to you). It means approaching this stage of life with curiosity rather than caution. It means saying yes to experiences that align with who we’ve become, not who we used to be. It means designing our lives less around obligation and more around resonance.
And the growth? It’s exponential because the learning curve is no longer steep—it’s rich. Wisdom compounds. Self-awareness compounds. The courage to let go of what no longer serves us compounds. We build on decades of lived experience, allowing each adventure—big or small—to deepen us rather than distract us.
Ruthie Foster captures this beautifully when she suggests that the miles we’ve traveled aren’t something to hide. They’re something to honor. They’re the story. They’re the texture. They’re the evidence that we’ve not only lived, but learned.
When I look at my own life, I see how the adventures I’m living now—curating film festivals, mentoring the next generation of leaders, exploring new models of community and housing—were only possible because of the mileage I earned earlier. These aren’t compensations for aging; they’re expressions of it.
Midlife isn’t the beginning of the end. It’s the end of the beginning.
So if you’re in that season where you’re wondering what’s next, consider embracing the acronym as a mantra: Midlife Is Living Every Adventure Growing Exponentially.
The miles behind you are meaningful. The miles ahead can be magical.
And your mileage—your real mileage—is your greatest asset.
-Chip