WILDLY FREE ELDER
The Artistry of Aging
Only Inhale and Exhale
When I first read the poem below I rather liked it for its creative imaginings of organs of the body dictating our lives. I still do, but realize upon closer reflection that it is not as simple as giving the heart, mind and lungs defined jobs. Life is messy and there are times when we feel drawn to clear away the debris of the past and let go of the fears of the future before we can be in the present moment with our inhales and exhales.
Even then there are innumerable people and other sentient life forms that are so challenged in the moment of inhale and exhale that the past and the future can be a refuge of sorts. The violence, wars, trauma and lack of basic living necessities can drive consciousness into survival mode where the inhale and exhale are truly gifts to be grateful for. In these challenging times all of us are being called upon to operate with all aspects of our being. To be fully present as much as is possible without the conflicts between head and heart.
For those of us who are fortunate enough to live lives not marred by daily trauma this poem may have something worth reflecting on, appreciating the perspective with a smile!
my brain and
heart divorced
a decade ago
to blame about
how big of a mess
I have become
eventually,
they couldn’t be
in the same room
with each other
now my head and heart
share custody of me
I stay with my brain
during the week
and my heart
gets me on weekends
they never speak to one another
– instead, they give me
the same note to pass
to each other every week
and their notes they
send to one another always
says the same thing:
“This is all your fault”
on Sundays
my heart complains
about how my
head has let me down
in the past
and on Wednesday
my head lists all
of the times my
heart has screwed
things up for me
in the future
they blame each
other for the
state of my life
there’s been a lot
of yelling – and crying
so,
lately, I’ve been
spending a lot of
time with my gut
who serves as my
unofficial therapist
most nights, I sneak out of the
window in my ribcage
and slide down my spine
and collapse on my
gut’s plush leather chair
that’s always open for me
~ and I just sit sit sit sit
until the sun comes up
last evening,
my gut asked me
if I was having a hard
time being caught
between my heart
and my head
I nodded
I said I didn’t know
if I could live with
either of them anymore
“my heart is always sad about
something that happened yesterday
while my head is always worried
about something that may happen tomorrow,”
I lamented
my gut squeezed my hand
“I just can’t live with
my mistakes of the past
or my anxiety about the future,”
I sighed
my gut smiled and said:
“in that case,
you should
go stay with your
lungs for a while,”
I was confused
– the look on my face gave it away
“if you are exhausted about
your heart’s obsession with
the fixed past and your mind’s focus
on the uncertain future
your lungs are the perfect place for you
there is no yesterday in your lungs
there is no tomorrow there either
there is only now
there is only inhale
there is only exhale
there is only this moment
there is only breath
and in that breath
you can rest while your
heart and head work
their relationship out.”
this morning,
while my brain
was busy reading
tea leaves
and while my
heart was staring
at old photographs
I packed a little
bag and walked
to the door of
my lungs
before I could even knock
she opened the door
with a smile and as
a gust of air embraced me
she said
“what took you so long?”
~ john roedel
(lung art by Paula Rosello)
How do you let go?
…into those moments of “only now” residing in each inhale and exhale while embracing the texture, beauty and challenges of those experiences. An extraordinary acceptance of what is unfolding within the human journey – all of it. Can we face whatever is momentarily taking our attention, and not fight it?
Remembering to draw upon a transparency and discernment of attention that informs just where these moments of focus and exploration are being spent. Giving us choice to stay there or not.
Celebrating the milestones of embodied years here reflecting the light that radiates outward from within, redefining what is “beautiful”. Fully appreciating what is left of our ordinary life moments no matter how long that is to be…..for they are filled with the opportunity to realize who we really are.
Inhale and exhale….ordinary precious moments to be savored and treasured.
I now invite you to spend a few minutes to take in what Annie Norgarb of South Africa has to say about “An Ordinary Beautiful Life”. 🙂
With age can come confidence, and freedom to realize who we really are. As we age, we grow into a deeper kind of beauty, one which works its way from the inside out. It’s a more authentic beauty because it radiates from within. So let’s celebrate lives well lived. And feel lucky to wake each morning to appreciate what the new day has to offer.”
Filmed in McGregor, South Africa. Featuring Annie Norgarb.
All Reflections of Life films are made possible through the generous support of our patrons. To be part of this journey : / reflectionsoflife
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.
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Gaye Abbott, Wildly Free Elder, 07/14//24
WILDLY FREE ELDER 