THE AGE OF MIRACLES - Embracing the New Midlife - Marianne Williamson
Are you aging? Or, feeling you are old? If so, who said so?
If someone suddenly awakened you at 2 AM and asked you how old you are, what would you say?
Most people, without thinking, would say they were somewhere in their thirties. And even if they are 70, they might be correct. Because the spirit has no age.
If I were to sum up The Age of Miracles in a few words they would be –
I give you permission to get older with joy, spirit and continued goals while sharing every miracle you have ever learned – including those you perceive as your failures!
We find a mature Marianne here. One we have seen and heard before – but never like this. She presents her learning while generously revealing her transparent, vulnerable self and secret thoughts.
The Age of Miracles is the best book Marianne has ever written. And I have read them all. I read her whole book in one sitting. Without stopping. I could not stop.
Her theme is in direct opposition to the current theory that there comes a time as we age that we settle in, relax, accept our limitations and just - well - do nothing much. It is too late to begin again. There are no reinventions possible. The world is focused on the young. We’ve had our chance and it is gone. Just leave it to the new generation.
If you are over 40, that is the message you have been sold.
And, as children of the sixties, Marianne contends, we mainly screwed it up. We protested of course, then dropped it and settled in to life and to the pursuit of happiness which was mainly materialistic. It did not make us happy or satisfy our souls.
But there is much more here. The Age of Miracles is an extensive book on many areas of life. There is a message on every page. It is poetry. You will find your favorite as you read it.
There is a simple statement from the middle of the book that made the biggest impression on me. I have not been able to get it out of my mind.
Think of everything you’ve ever been through, and try to reinterpret it gently. All the love you ever gave was real. All the love anyone gave you was real. Everything else was simply an illusion, no matter how bitter or cruel it may have been in your experience.
How quickly in the heartbreak of a break up, painful memories, or what we consider a terrible attack do we forget the love that was once there. And yet, as she further develops, it is the key to healing. The love stands alone despite the animosity we harbor from years ago or what is going on in present time. It has a life of its own.
She encourages us, no insists, that we rethink our life. We have spent most of our lives chasing dreams in a frenzied maze of activity. And have not accomplished much although we were busy all the time. Now, she says, as mature people, we have time to reflect. To decide what we have to contribute whether we are 40 or 80. It is not over until it is over. And we have much to give. We have learned from our mistakes. We have calmed down.
This is a book for those of us who mourn the passing of the years. It is a hopeful message that we still have miracles to perform. A further legacy to leave. A teaching that is needed by the generations behind us.
The Age of Miracles is mandatory reading if you are living in a vacuum where you feel that your life is pretty much over. That your few hours of volunteer work a week is all that is left for you to do. Or, that you are just putting your time in on your job to protect your pension, your vesting or to build up your matching funds 401K account.
This is a book about carrying on with carrying on. Your age is just a number. Ignore it. And continue to teach love wherever you are because that is what you are.
A final quote from a treasure trove on every page -
When you are young, you hold on tightly to love in the hopes it will last forever. When you’re older, you know you don’t need to hold on because it does last forever. People come and go, but love remains, if it remains in you.
Love yourself enough to order your copy here and for those you love. Just click on the book.
I happened to catch part of Oprah when Marianne Williamson was on the show this week. I have always like Marianne’s books. They do speak to my soul.
I have realized over the past few years that the older I get, the older “old” gets as well. Old is a state of mind that I never intend to reach. I have been blessed with friends in all of the age ranges. We are no different if we are 20 or 80. I happened to mention in my Tai Chi class this past week that I was born in 1951. A friend told me that her daughter was born in 1951. That puts my friend probably in her 70’s. I know that her husband is retired. I just don’t look at them as being that much older than me. We were both surprised.
I am 56 years old and I have loved every decade better than the ones that came before. As I mature, I love myself and my life more and more. I am never getting old. My younger friends wouldn’t let me if I tried.
Your commentasry amd revoew of Marianne’s book are excellent and motivate me to want to read it. The one “soundbite” that resonates with me is: “Your ages is just a number. Ignore it!” I have always believed that age is a “state of mind”. Its attitude, thirst for life and love that lead you to the “fountain of youth”. Have we not all met those in their thirties and forties who come across as being in their seventies and eighties? Conversely, have we not met those in their seventies and eighties who’s upbeat attitude, exhuberance and capacity for love give them the aura of being in the thirties or forties?
Yes, “Age is only a number. Ignore it!” But do NOT ignore love. Give it! Treasure it!
Well, Patricia, you don’t look it!
Yes, old gets further and further out as we age.
In Chicago, they have bulletins on extremely cold days. They encourage you to check on the older people in your life.
My kids always call me. And I am always surprised. It has (almost) become a family joke.
I think they are ignoring something here! I am only 35. after all. That’s my age in my head and I am sticking to my story.
Dear Reed -
As always, your comments are right to the point and so thoughtful. Thanks!
I was thinking about you this morning and was going to send you an email because have not heard from you on this blog recently. I missed you.
I am ignoring my age with you. We are no age as long as we have curiousity going!
Corinne:
This was an excellent write-up about her book. I’ve put it on my “wish list” over at Amazon because I have a stack of books I want to read (they’re propped up against the tall bookcase because I’ve run out of room to put them up!).
What you may not know is that while living in Michigan, Marianne was the head minister at my church (used to be called Church of Today but later renamed to Renaissance Unity). I knew of her and she of me but we never got to know one another. Long story.
But I will tell you that “A Return to Love,” a bestseller she wrote years ago that Oprah picked changed my life. I was reading that book on the beach in the mid 90’s when I fell asleep and awoke with a start, realizing that my life’s purpose was not buying and selling stocks (I was a stockbroker at the time, earning six figures) but using my God given talents to become a motivational speaker. That was a turning point of my life. I left Wall Street 6 months after that.
I haven’t been following her since I relocated to Ohio but based on what you just wrote about her latest book, I sense that she’s matured spiritually and is now in an altogether different place and I think that’s a good thing.
Thanks for the write up - it was excellent.
Thank you–Marianne Williamson is a very talented author/healer. In my view, she misses a very important piece of transformation–that of the grieving process–including the feeling states of grieving core-level attachment losses–the many “shattered dreams” that we experience as we age. Only then can we re-connect–find meaning in our personal growth.
Dear Stephen -
Ships that cross in the night. Marianne asked me to speak twice at the Church of Today!
Guess we missed each other!
Thanks for the comment. When you get caught up you will enjoy her new book.
A compelling article! Enjoyed the quotes especially.
Dear Corinne,
Your review of Marianne’s book was excellent.What a great writer you are. I’ve always tried to ignore the age process, then I look in the mirror (without the benefit of clothing) and see the truth. It’s God’s trick…to feel young and see the ravages of time.
But me, no…I’ll never give up. I’ll always have another goal, I’ll always have another dream. Fading away is for other people, not me. To me, the perfect job and the perfect man are still out there. I’ll be 72 on Sunday. Just last week someone told me that I’m like a tiger with a glint in my eye.
I just have to keep my clothes on.
Love,
Sondra
I’ve always enjoyed Marianne. Her book aren’t 100% my cup of tea, strange as that may seem, but that has never stopped me from taking delight in her writings and her talks. She has done more for A Course in Miracles than anyone, and yet she was treated like a pariah by the copyright holder. Too bad, really.
Dear Tom -
Yes, Marianne may not be your cup of tea - she isn’t everyone’s but enought to set records on the sales of her books.
She interprets ACIM in her own way - and now she is free to do that since there is no longer a copyright on the material.
But, it has always been with a sense of wonder and love. You can’t take that away from her.
“All we need is love,” as a famous song goes.
Dear Sondra -
You always make me laugh, and you know, that is more important than how you look with your clothes off.
There are always lovely chiffon scarfs which drape nicely. And dimmed lighting!
Also, in later years, there’s not a man alive who looks that great. And, they would look at him with a jaded eye if he pulled out the scarfs!
We can get away with it!
I say go for it. The job - the man - whatever! Keep us posted. Keep the glint in your eye. We are rooting for you!
You two are a hoot!!! (Corinne and Sondra) Who cares what we look like when we are so gorgeous in spirit and personality.
Never give up. Jack Nicholson said that he and his friends are still waiting for that Last Love … how sad to not have at least that hope. I like Marianne - did not when I first saw her years ago on Wisdom. SHe kept averting hery eyes just like that insane Peggy Noonan and got on my last nerve but after a while, I took to her - she now looks people in the eye. I have read most of her books. She’s gettin gbetter like the rest of us. Anyone who is putting positive energy in the Universe is Ok by me. Sondra, I’m gong to go out and get a bunch of scarves!!! Corinne, I love your critique.
Hi Corrine,
I caught Oprah that day too, when Marianne was on. I think that age is all in the mind and I like what you wrote about people being over 40 being sold the thought that “it’s over”. That’s a mass consciousness (here in America) but I do see it shifting…..it started with the “40 is the new 30″ and now I’ve been hearing something like “60 is the new 40″. Sure, that is fueled by pop culture, but it is a shift.
I love Louise L. Hay’s teachings - she’s 80 now. Something else I found interesting - you mentioned if you were to be woken from a sound sleep you’d say your age is 30 even if in you’re 70 in Earth years. I’ve heard more than one medium say that people on the other side are all around the “age” of 30 no matter what physical age they were when they crossed over. At least that’s how they appear.
Thanks for your review, I’ll need to pick up Marianne’s newest!
I have chosen to live in denial of my age Corrine. So far it’s a strategy that’s working really well for me.