WILDLY FREE ELDER
The Artistry of Aging
LISTENING….
Oil Painting/CREATION OF HOPE, By Jay Bowen
“We are all indigenous to the Earth. There is no such thing as a non-indigenous human being.” ~Jay Bowen
The web of connection on this amazing planet we live on has always been there, but perhaps not as much in our awareness as now with the technology we presently possess. Within seconds we can know what is happening on the other side of the world. Granted this can often be a mixed blessing.
But what is apparent more and more is that we are all one “family” connected by the same human needs as well as intimately connected with all other life in nature and the cosmos.
“When the world discovers we are all just one family we will all be better off.”
~80-year-old native woman elder, Upper Skagit Tribe.
As elders we hopefully have learned to listen which we have discovered is an art that is crucial to understanding, compassion, empathy, respect and awareness. Not thinking of what we are going to say in response, but simply being still, quiet and listening from an open heart to what others are conveying.
“Surrounded by My Friends” by Jay Bowen
It is when we practice this that we find we don’t have as much to say. That when we interrupt someone or are thinking about what we are going to say while they are talking – we lose connection and the opportunity to fully listen with our soul and hearts.
A few weeks ago now I had an interaction with a man in the parking lot of my grocery store. I had finished my shopping and was loading my car with bags when I realized I was blocking the way of the man right beside me who wanted to get into his car door next to me. I asked him if he wanted me to move and he said in a highly accented voice that no, he could wait.
I asked him where he came from and it turned out he was from the Ukraine. It was at that point that I became his very active and present listening partner as he answered my questions about his country and conveyed to me what his experience has been of the on going war there.
How much the Ukranian people want freedom and their own country. Of how he has changed in his views towards a more assertive stance with the Russian invasion. How friends and relatives have died and of his visits there in the last two years since he relocated to the United States.
In those moments I not only learned from a first hand experience of this man of the Ukraine, but I felt extremely fortunate to have connected with him. My offer of more water for his journey home to S. Carolina where he and his wife have their own business was thankfully accepted.
This was an experience of listening from the soul and heart completely focused on what this gentle man had to impart to me. He carries on his work with refugees from Ukraine ….and in those moments of listening I am left feeling a part of his family.
Who’s not family?
This last film for the year from Reflections of Life (previously Green Renaissance) based in South Africa, touched me deeply. It was actually filmed here in the U.S.in the state of Washington.
This will be the last post in the series of “Ordinary Beauty” at Wildly Free Elder for 2023.
“Humanity is one big, eight-billion-person family that lives together on Earth – born on the same planet, covered by the same skies, gazing at the same stars, breathing the same air. We may speak different languages and belong to different cultures, but we are all part of the same human family. And like any other family, we are all unique – we have our own likes and dislikes, our own temperaments, our own experiences – but that doesn’t make us any less a part of our family. “Humanity is one big, eight-billion-person family that lives together on Earth – born on the same planet, covered by the same skies, gazing at the same stars, breathing the same air. We may speak different languages and belong to different cultures, but we are all part of the same human family. And like any other family, we are all unique – we have our own likes and dislikes, our own temperaments, our own experiences – but that doesn’t make us any less a part of our family.
In a world where kindness knows no boundaries, we have the power to create a tapestry of unity, where every person is valued, and the bonds of our human family are strengthened by the threads of empathy and respect. It is time we start to acknowledge that we are all in this together. The sooner we start to greet each other with open arms and open hearts, the sooner we will be able to make a change.
‘We are all related. And when you become aware of that, you realize how important it is to take care of your sisters and brothers.’ – Jay Bowen, Upper Skagit Tribe. Filmed in Skagit Valley Washington, USA. Featuring Jay Bowen (https://jaybowen-art.com/wordpress/) “
All of our films are made possible through the generous support of our patrons. To be part of this journey : https://www.patreon.com/reflectionsoflife If you’d prefer to make once off contribution, our PayPal details are : paypal.me/reflectionsfilms Join our YouTube channel to get early access to our films : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcPPUszZ4-7yzZNgAAYwJjg/join
Who is Reflections of Life? We are Justine and Michael (previously known as Green Renaissance). We use our passion for filmmaking and our love of storytelling, to remind our audience of one simple truth – that we are all human. The more that we understand and believe in this interconnectedness, the more we will treat ourselves, one another, and planet earth with a greater sense of compassion.
Filming – by Michael Editing – by Justine du Toit Sound mix – by Tamryn Breakey Extra special thanks to Sonic Yogi (Jonathan) for providing the opening music track of this film.
“ORDINARY BEAUTY” has been a series of short weekly blog posts through the end of this year on finding and witnessing ordinary beauty through the experience and wisdom of elderhood.
If you don’t want to miss future posts simply sign up for the blog here: https://wildlyfreeelder.wordpress.com/blog/
Please note that all blog posts can be seen on the HOME page if you scroll down to the bottom for Archives
Gaye Abbott, Wildly Free Elder, 12/29/23
WILDLY FREE ELDER 