Cottagecore, 40s' edition: A wake-up call?

Cottagecore. The internet loves to hate it. And, honestly, I get it. It's easy to dismiss it as a shallow trend, a curated fantasy for those who've never had to worry about real-world problems. But what if… what if the haters are missing something?

"Do you even know how hard it is to be a farmer?" they sneer. "Do you know the grind, the struggle?" ..."Cottagecore? Isn't that just for, like, rich people?"...

The accusations fly fast and furious, and, honestly, they're not entirely wrong. The online version of Cottagecore can feel ridiculously contrived, a sanitized fantasy. Farming is hard. Brutal, even. But this isn't about romanticizing rural life. It's about something much deeper.

For some, Cottagecore is just an aesthetic. For others, it's a lifestyle. But for me, at 40-something, it's a reckoning. It's a feeling that's hard to define, a yearning for something more in a world that often feels overwhelming. We hit a certain age, and the world starts to look different. The path we thought we were on suddenly seems…less appealing. The milestones we were supposed to have achieved feel distant, or worse, meaningless. We look around at our lives – the job we tolerate, the house we can barely afford, the relationships that feel more like obligations – and a quiet panic sets in. Is this all there is?

And then, we stumble upon Cottagecore. Images of simpler times, of connection with nature, of purpose found in everyday tasks. It's a seductive vision, a promise of a life less frantic, more authentic. "Maybe," we think, "if I just learn to bake bread and grow my own vegetables, I'll finally find the peace I've been searching for."

But here's the harsh truth: a new set of curtains and a sourdough starter aren't going to magically solve a midlife crisis. Churning butter won't erase years of accumulated stress and disappointment. Cottagecore, in its purest aesthetic form, is a superficial fix for a deeply rooted problem.

But what if, instead of seeing Cottagecore as an escape, we see it as a wake-up call? What if it's a sign that we're ready to re-evaluate our priorities, to question the choices we've made, and to finally ask ourselves what we really want out of life? What if it's not about pretending to live a different life, but about finding meaning and beauty in the life we already have?

For me, this midlife, Cottagecore-infused moment isn’t about running away from my problems. It’s about confronting them. It’s about asking myself the hard questions: Am I living a life that aligns with my values? Am I nurturing the relationships that truly matter? Am I paying enough attention? Am I appreciating the small joys that life offers, right here, right now? Am I nurturing my creativity? Am I connecting with my community?

It’s a fundamental misunderstanding to equate Cottagecore with a literal desire to live on a farm. It's a mindset, a way of approaching life, not a prescribed lifestyle. Despite its potentially shallow origins, Cottagecore has inadvertently tapped into something universal and timeless. It's a modern expression of age-old human needs: connection, purpose, and belonging.

These values aren't new. They're not trendy. They're fundamental to human well-being. Reclaiming lost values, finding joy in the present, appreciating the mundane, honoring elders, forgiving the past, creating a better life, learning from experience, and passing on wisdom—these are the things that matter.

Being in my 40s, I find myself drawn to these core values. Kindness to myself is paramount. Acceptance of life's unpredictable path is essential. Releasing the pressure of comparison is freeing. Embracing my unique journey is my only true north.

Maybe this sudden urge to embrace a "simpler" life isn't a failure. Maybe it's an invitation to redefine what it means to be "successful," to let go of the pressure to keep up with the world, and to finally create a life that feels authentic, a life that feels like home.

...and if we happen to enjoy a pretty aesthetic along the way? Why not?

The key is not the location, or even the aesthetic, but the intention. The key is the heart. The key is the mindset.

Because sometimes, even the most seemingly frivolous trends can point us towards the most profound truths...

The truth about ourselves.❤️

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