WILDLY FREE ELDER
The Artistry of Aging
DAY 16: Grounding Humility
“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”
Anais Nin
The word humility comes from the Latin word for earth or soil – humus. As soon as I learned this I pictured someone with hands sifting layers of earth soil, between their fingers, being in stewardship with that which feeds, nourishes and sustains life for all living beings.
Grounding humility within is essential to any possibility of joy. In what seems like a world gone “crazy” we fall into a space of humility when we know as human beings we can’t solve everything nor control all aspects of our life.
“…our vulnerabilities, our frailties and our limitations are a reminder that we need one another: We are not created for independence or self-sufficiency, but for interdependence and mutual support.”
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
But what we can do is actively offer our transparent authentic and whole being, flaws and all, into all connections and interactions we have whether it be with humans, wildlife or nature herself. Talk about letting go of ego or any concern about how we are perceived!
Just today in my morning writing practice I realized this. If I could have the humility to simply show up transparent and whole in every single interaction and connection, and not judge or make assumptions – that is enough.
Being a “healer – a lifelong identity this time around – now means to me doing just that. Opening others to the light of wholeness within them by simply being who I am in any given moment. And in turn I receive the gift of accessing more of my own being.
Layers of pursuing and seeking and striving simply dropped away in that moment. Enough just as we are. What a wondrous thing. In that humility great joy opens like the bud that could no longer stay tightly closed.
The natural unfolding – blossoming – of a human that walks the path along with everyone else – transparent, vulnerable, and connected….all masks fallen away to see the absolute beauty of the one before us, and within us, as we walk barefoot on the earth….
About 31 Days of Joy & Laughter Project:
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, 12/16/21. Please feel free to share this post and link to WildlyFreeElder