The Artistry of Aging
“Elemental Musings” offers daily postings, for an undetermined amount of time, by a nature lover and elder in transition in the Blue Ridge Mountain area of North Western N. Carolina.
“The twisted tree lives its life, while the straight tree ends up in planks.” – Chinese proverb
Have you ever reflected on the many twists and turns your life has taken as an embodied human being?
Even in one of my all time favorite movies, The Wizard of Oz, the infamous yellow brick road twists and turns and along the way Dorothy meets each new character that will help her to return “home”.
The beautiful unique tree in the image above, as well as the Chinese proverb, reminds me that trying to go a straight path anywhere may be a waste of energy and lead to a mundane life following others and cultures direction but never really birthing our uniqueness.
How much more interesting to be spontaneous, take risks, follow our passion, and inhabit every single one of our senses and creativity. The circumstances af our lives will naturally take us on many twists and turns if we do not resist, accepting and trusting the unfolding of it all.
As I reflect on this beautifully twisted tree I am reminded of a free form style of dance called contact improvisation/soul motion where one is lead by the flow of energy, spontaneous connection and inner guidance to become one with the movement as dance art that changes and shifts from one moment to the next in relationship with yourself and others on the dance floor.
I don’t know about you, but I would much rather live my life as a twisted, elegant tree in each moment – an artistry that is so unique it can never be replicated….ever!
Post by Gaye Abbott, 7/27/21, Natural Passages Consulting.
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