Don't simply exist...Live Your Life!

Peter showed for his mediation session. We waited for his soon to be ex-wife to show up and surprise, she was a no show. We both waited for 30 min and then I completed the paperwork stating that Peter's wife was a no show for mediation. I said goodbye to Peter, but Peter wanted to talk. I sat quietly and listened as this 70 year old man told me his story. Peter met his first wife at 15 and married her at 16. They had 2 children and lived happily ever after. Ok, so not exactly. Peter stayed married for 40 years before getting divorced. Peter stated he should have ended the marriage long before, but because of the stigma that society placed on divorce and because of his children, he stayed in a miserable and loveless marriage. Peter later met and married Joan. Joan and Peter have been married for nearly 12 years and Peter stated he should have ended it after 2. Society had changed its view on divorce, but Peter was mentally still stuck in the old ways. Peter stated that being married and staying where he was in life was worse and more difficult than the change that needed to happen (and that wouldn’t be easy). Peter was willing to give away everything he had at 70 just to be able to LIVE his life and not just exist. Peter was tired of living to make someone else content all the while being miserable himself. Peter at 70 was ready to now live his life the way he wanted to live his life, only now he has very little possessions and money after the divorce. This didn’t bother Peter because he now has the opportunity to do what he wants when he wants and is able to truly LIVE the rest of his life out and not merely exist from day to day.

It’s a sad commentary but one that I often hear when speaking and mediating divorces from people over 60 years old. These individuals, both male and female are tired of existing in this life and they want to live it to the fullest whether they are married or single. In the end, it was a good day for Peter.

iChat Mediation invites you to come and learn more about having either your divorce conducted by one of our State Supreme Court Certified mediators or how you can become part of the most cutting edge virtual companies in the world. To learn more visit us online at http://www.ichatmediation.com or call us at 877-822-1479.

In the words of Lawton Chiles, “I didn’t come to stay, I came to make a difference.”