As I have discussed in my book, The Power of You, the world is changing. One symptom of this change is that many people are experiencing sadness or mild depression.
According to a report out last month — more than 30 million Americans are currently taking anti-depressants.
That’s 10% of our population.
The usage of anti-depressants among middle-aged women is more than twice that. Today 1 out of every 4 women in their 40s and 50s is on some kind of mood altering drug.
To me, these are SHOCKING statistics. It was these statistics that inspired me to write last week’s blog post.
This week I have been asking myself:
What can help this sadness?
Why are we experiencing this sadness?
And how do we dream at 50?
It feels hard to dream after a certain part in our life. We have voices in our head saying: “Well, you know, you’re not as young as you used to be. And there’s going to be fewer opportunities ahead now.”
I feel this way from time to time. I see that clock on the wall spinning faster and faster! And I hear that voice of lowered expectations trying to convince me to accept less or to give up my dreams.
But I will not succumb to fear. And I will not lower my expectations just because I happen to be over 50! And I ask you to consider this too. No matter where you are in life or how old you are – there is always time to dream and act on your dreams.
This past July at the World Domination Summit, I heard a woman tell her story about reaching that middle age. She felt the world was going by without her. She kept thinking – People have just lost their sense of connection. There’s no community anymore.
She was personally overwhelmed by a growing sense of sadness in her own life. She knew she couldn’t change the whole world.
But surely there was something she could do at least in her own neighborhood.
So, she asked her husband, who was a carpenter, to build a 20-foot farmers table out of wood. Once it was complete, she had him set it up in the backyard in a beautifully shaded area near her flowers. She hung a crystal chandelier over the top. And set up chairs.
This woman who was kind of a foodie herself, decided she was going to invite 10 of her neighbors over to dinner each month. She wanted to invite people she didn’t know so everyone could get better acquainted and meet someone new.
At these dinner parties, they all got to know each other and shared stories.
Over time something wonderful happened.
They started caring about each other and checking in on their neighbors. And a whole sense of community was created. So she found her purpose. She stopped complaining about how nobody cares anymore and did something about it.
To date, she has served over 1,000 people.
She’s building community and changing the world from a dinner table in her backyard.
Dreams aren’t just for your 20s and 30s. Dreams don’t have to be quests that take decades to fulfill.
These are both exciting and frustrating days to live in. We’re living in a time of immense social change. This is the only life you’ve got. So be sure you are doing something worthwhile with it.
We aren’t our parent’s generation.
There’s not going to be a time when we will be able to retire to Florida with a pension and a gold watch. We’re too active for that anyway. And our destiny is tied to a different day.
We didn’t come to sit around in a rocking chair waiting to die. We didn’t come just to make ourselves comfortable.
We came to transform the world. And you better believe we’re going to do it.
What is you dream?
Spend a few quiet mindful moments today between grocery shopping and conference calls with your journal. Make a few notes. You don’t have to decide your dream today. But making room for it today will change your tomorrow.
Rev Michaels,
I love you and your message today. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank you.
much love,
Peter
CSLSR
Dr. Chris, Your messages always seem to be “just” for me! Your words speak so loudly and poignantly to my sometimes “thinking error brain!” Thank you! I stopped taking anti-depressants when I started attending CSL. And, your encouragement always reminds me of the infinitely possibilities for my life. I continue to dream and to manifest wonderful experiences in my life! Big love to you! Cate