| It is time to take a new look at the midlife years as | | | | follow to make certain that life doesn't end at or |
| the time to START truly living the lives our souls | | | | after midlife. It is time to end the myth that Midlife is |
| came to live. Rather than ask the question 'What do | | | | synonymous with "Crisis". As a society, we have |
| I want from life', we learn to listen for the answer to | | | | begun to somewhat change our views on aging, but |
| the reflection - "What does my life wish to become?" | | | | we still have a way to go to arrive at a vision where |
| Midlife has often been seen as a time of crisis - | | | | we "change the way the world views midlife." |
| rather than what I truly believe it is - time to | | | | While the middle years may bring about self-doubt in |
| recognize the hunger in the soul! | | | | those who mourn the passing of their youth and fear |
| Changing Views on Aging | | | | the aging process, with the new group of baby |
| Until recently, aging was regarded with disdain, with | | | | boomers entering midlife many more people are |
| an expectancy of waning vigor and even social | | | | seeing an opportunity to see the journey as a move |
| uselessness. But the stereotypes are changing and | | | | to greater meaning. |
| middle agers and seniors are becoming more and | | | | A culture that once recognized that 'life is a journey' |
| more interested in life- long learning, healthy lifestyles | | | | but framed that journey as one of material |
| and political activism as well as new meaning for the | | | | acquisition (He who dies with the most stuff wins.) is |
| later years of life. We are truly seeing a population | | | | beginning to recognize the inward journey as most |
| reinventing itself and reinventing midlife. These | | | | important and that life is less about ambition and |
| changing conditions call for new ways of being, and | | | | more about relevance and significance. |
| new perspectives and new role models that we can | | | | |