The Artistry of Aging
“Art is not simply works of art; it is the spirit that knows beauty, that has music in its soul and the color of sunsets in its handkerchief, that can dance on a flaming world and make the world dance too.”
W.E.B. Du Bois
Sunrise Over the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville, N. Carolina
As elders with a long life behind us and not as much embodied life before us, and as humans on the planet Earth at this time, we are being faced with incredible challenges that compete to take our attention.
A couple of days ago I realized I no longer choose to have my attention taken by the fear, doom and gloom broadcast daily, whether on our smart phones news feed or while talking to others. I am weary of it all and need a higher vibration energy bath!.
It is not that I don’t want to know what is happening in the world, but instead the question I am posing to myself, and to you, every day is – where do we want to place our attention? We most always have a choice.
For the month of December I am placing attention on joy, laughter, creativity and acts of kindness as a experiment to see what unfolds. Seeking out and being aware of moments of joy sometimes hidden in the deep pockets and lining of each and every day that seem to get passed over without even looking back. They are always there.
Each day in December you will find a small nugget of joy, humor, creativity or small act of kindness that found me and pulled my attention which will be posted here. I invite you to join me and share your experiences and what you noticed so that we may spread it around! (Please use the “Comment” section below)
DECEMBER 1 – My joy each morning more often than not is to be immersed in the beauty of the sunrise over the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western N. Carolina. The image above was taken from my bedroom window where i watch the sky shift from twilight to sun rising above the mountains during my morning writing practice with green jasmine tea in hand. What happens in between the first show of light and sun rising is magical and awe inspiring!
If you take your attention away for even one single moment you will have lost the constant shifts in color, form and texture. Finding joy wrapped in natures beauty encouraging me to take on this one day with a clean slate.
One morning I will turn on some music and dance the colors and beauty of the sunrise….
Gaye Abbott, Natural Passages Consulting, 12/1/21. Please feel free to share this post and link to WildlyFreeElder.