The Artistry of Aging
Candlelight Stroll, Downtown Weaverville, N. Carolina
It is the day after the annual Candlelight Stroll in the small town of Weaverville, N. Carolina and I am still filled with the joy of a community coming together to celebrate life in so many and varied ways. The rain is coming down now and I sit warm and cozy in my home sanctuary after a short walk to the local library to pick up a book.
What I thought was to be a simple errand a couple of hours ago turned into a connective experience in simple human kindness and positive engagement. Something we not only yearn for but wish to extend to others in these challenging times.
Only a few blocks, the walk was brisk to beat the anticipated rain. At the same time being aware of opportunities for spontaneous connection that proved to be numerous much to my delight.
These are all simple events that happened in moments in time during a very short walk. Reminding me that there is always opportunity for simple human kindness and connection – giving or receiving – no matter where we are or what we are engaged in…….or even how we are feeling in any given moment.
A matter of where we choose to place our attention?
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).
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You can also find all of the posts in the archives here: http://wildlyfreeelder.com/2021/12/
Gaye Abbott, Natural Passages Consulting, 12/11/21. Please feel free to share this post and link to WildlyFreeElde