Mid-life: A New Awakening

One day, in a flash, you are paralyzed by a song playing on the radio. Suddenly, your entire world, as you have known it for so long, collapses all around you. You look into the mirror at an image of a stranger and you wonder, “Who is this person?” How sad, and yet how true. You’ve been riding the carousel of life. You got married, had a family, joined the PTA, volunteered for as many fund raisers as you could fit into your schedule, chauffeured your children from one after school or extra curricular activity to another, and before you knew it, your children had grown.

The music stopped and the carousel came to a screeching halt. Your children walked off into their future, and you are left standing alone, feeling lost and vulnerable. While riding the carousel you were busy doing everything you should be doing—raising a family, earning a living, feeling secure, and enjoying the ride. Right now, alone and empty you realize that you forgot your Self. You’ve forgotten your dreams and desires. Everything was pushed aside to create a happy, healthy family—everything, including your Self.

Whether you are male or female, stepping off the carousel is very difficult. It’s been a comfortable ride, going around and around to the tune of family life. Now that you’ve stepped off, it’s a new day. One of the most difficult days of your life, to be followed by many more difficult days of “what if?” You long for what you left behind. You feel hopeless, depressed, frustrated, and confused. There is an emptiness, a void so deep inside. You want to reclaim that which you pushed aside—your dreams, your goals, your aspirations. You want to be young again. You want to feel alive and vibrant again. If you could only turn back the clock. If you could only start over again.

You can’t. Nobody can. So many years have slipped by while you were on that fantasy ride. Everything seemed so perfect, so wonderful. And now you feel cheated, disappointed, deceived. Over the years, your true Self was masked by layers of artificial personae. You lived life trying to please the status quo of your society rather than fulfilling your Self.

Mid-life sneaks up quickly and unexpectedly, like an earthquake. And, like a tornado it twists you apart. One minute you are wrapped up in your wonderful life and the next minute, stripped of your masks, you’re standing naked at the crossroads. Do not fret. A new day is dawning. There are no regrets. You followed your heart’s desire with what was available to you then. The perplexing what ifs are calling your attention to reexamine your Self, your life, your path. So, what if? What if you had or hadn’t? How would your life be different? What would you have given up? What would you be missing today had you followed the “other” path?

Take a moment to remember why you made the choices you made. Do you remember why you took the path you’re on? There’s a purpose for everything. Those were the right choices at the time. The path you chose then has brought you to where you are today, and prepared you for what is to come. The what ifs are awakening within you the dreams you couldn’t pursuit. It’s time to look beyond the personae in the mirror. Look closely within to see who you truly are and to rejoice in discovering YOU.

During the darkness of the night we can see the brilliant stars in the sky. In the stillness of the night we can ponder what it’s all about. So, find a quiet place where you can stop thinking about the what ifs, take a few deep breaths, quiet your mind, go deep inside and search your soul and answer these questions: Who am I? What is my purpose? What do I need to learn? What do I need to teach? What should I be doing with my life and talent? Then take a moment to consider what you would like the world to know about you. How would you like to be remembered? Really think about what your life would be like if nothing stood in your way—not money, education, ability, fear, people, or obligations.

This new awakening is like a resurrection. It offers a unique opportunity for reflection and assessment. You are at a better place now. Years of growing, experiencing and learning have made you wiser. You can see and think clearly now. During your journey you discovered doors that you didn’t even know existed. They are open to you now. Go ahead, step over the threshold into a whole new world full of possibilities. Today you have the opportunity to reclaim your forgotte
Self. Release all your self-imposed obstacles and set yourself free to express who you are. From where you stand today you can better understand life, your purpose, and your passion. Obstacles no longer stand in your way. You are now free to follow your heart and plunge into your destiny. This is your time to shine.

Look beyond yesteryear. Focus on today, now. This is a time of accelerated evolution; a time of enlightenment. Take time to quench your thirst for knowledge, understanding and meaning. Read books, attend lectures, expand your horizon, connect with your spiritual Self and spiritual community, further your education, expand your circle of friends, participate in activities of mutual interests. You are not alone. You are connected to the universe. And, like the universe, the child has evolved. New dreams and new goals are awakening, waiting for the child to take the reigns and begin manifesting.

Mid-life is not about turning back the hands of time or returning to a former time and place. It is an awakening of what you need to fulfill the void. Dreams and aspirations seek expression from within the deepest part of your Soul. This is a time to bring forth your dreams to complete the wholeness.

It’s a time to release the past beliefs you’ve been holding on to and accept new beliefs which will add joy and fulfillment to your life. Yesterday is a wonderful memory. Tomorrow, a new day is dawning. Isn’t it time that you realized your full potential and started living again?

Go ahead, turn on the radio and listen to those oldies with fond memories. Remember the good times, the plans, the dreams, the laugher. Look at how much you have accomplished. Look at how much you have contributed to society. Mid-life affords you the opportunity to let go of the what ifs and to create the what IS. To forget about who you are supposed to be and just BE—to live your authentic life.