A Nobel Laureate, when asked what was the greatest achievement of the 20th Century, replied, “Greater longevity.” In effect we are experiencing a Longevity Revolution and the result is that we have an extra 29 years and many of us will live to be 78 or older. Lydia Bronte in her book, “The Longevity Factor,” added to the value of those bonus years by pointing out that at least 15 of these are being added at midlife and give us an opportunity for a “second wind!”
How will we use that “Second Wind,” and enrich the Second Half of our lives? Recently Marianne Williamson spoke in Seattle on her new book “The Age of Miracles, Embracing the New Midlife.” She encouraged those in the audience to take time to look at just what we have lost and gained by arriving at midlife. She pulled no punches stating the looking in the mirror we can indeed tell the difference whether we have used super supplements and Botox or not. And she acknowledged that some of the realities of midlife have not been embraced given the youth oriented culture that we live in and the circumstances that we find ourselves in.
Those of us at midlife and a bit beyond were the ones leading peace rallies and protesting the Vietnam War. We have lived long enough to see some of our dreams realized and other dreams like life without war seemingly dashed. (Marianne has not given up on peace and believes we just have not invested enough in learning what peace takes. She has backed a Department of Peace.) The excellent health that we had experienced in youth may no longer be a given. How do we optimize what we have?
Marianne, Oprah Winfrey and Eckhart Tolle have given us a clue. All of them are suggesting the power of increasing our consciousness and being co-creators of the lives and world we desire. In the next three blogs I will focus on being conscious co-creators and invite you to share your ideas on what that takes.
In the meantime, take a step in the direction of your desired future by joining me for “Waking Up to the Second Half” workshop on May 17, 2007. You will gain greater clarity and momentum towards the life you desire in the Second Half and some practical tools for getting traction to make it happen.
In closing, I give you a quote from Marianne: “The mind is its own kind of dance floor. If in fact the highest, most creative work is the work of consciousness, then in slowing down we’re not doing less; we’re doing more. Having slowed down physically, we’re in a better space to rev up psychically. We’re becoming contemplative. We are shifting from the outer to the inner not in order to begin our demise, but to reseed and regreen the consciousness of the planet. And that’s what is happening now: We’re going slower in order to go deeper, in order to go faster in the direction of urgently needed change in the world.”
