Embracing Life’s Unpredictability

Sunrise Over Blue Ridge Mountains, NC,2/2026 – Photography by Gaye Abbott

It only takes a reminder to breathe,

a moment to be still, and just like that,

something in me settles, softens, makes

space for imperfection. The harsh voice

of judgment drops to a whisper and I

remember again that life isn’t a relay

race; that we will all cross the finish

line; that waking up to life is what we

were born for. As many times as I forget,

catch myself charging forward

without even knowing where I’m going,

that many times I can make the choice

to stop, to breathe, and be, and walk

slowly into the mystery.

~Danna Faulds

---

I am asking myself a lot these days this question. What is it to be fully human???

Tears roll down my face more often right now whether it be that my heart is touched by beauty or the song of a bird; I am watching a video of a child in a wheelchair handing a flower to a monk on the Walk for Peace; hearing the story of someone who just lost their dog of many years to cancer; reading about the formation of Singing Resistance communities in the U.S. – peaceful protests protecting and supporting the immigrant population here; feeling, hearing about, and coming in personal contact with the great need of so many to connect, belong somehow, and find some sense of inner peace in a world that seems to have gone crazy.

In a word – “vulnerability” to life’s unpredictability. Knowing that we can’t control, but we can choose how we react with situations and people when they occur. Trusting that.

Showing up in all of our complexity. No withholding. No masks. No barriers. Peeling back layers to something that was here already. Knowing that as Jane Kennedy says in the short video below – “We are never lost. We are where we are, and there is a always a gift in where we are”.

If we negate the present moments we are in, or choose to dismiss or run away from them, our life disintegrates. When we trust others and share our personal journey from a space of transparent honesty then the potential is there to grow awareness, connect and be supported.

Listening deeply from our hearts with compassion among others who who may be vastly different from us. Practicing kindness even when it feels like rocky territory to navigate. There is a connection that is made when we are this fully human contributing to what Martin Luther King, Thich Nhat Hahn, and so many others called The Beloved Community. This community can then expand and embrace us.

None of this can happen if we are not open to accepting the unpredictability of life, especially as we grow older. The moment to moment journey is indeed the teacher. Are we willing to be consciously aware enough to where we are placing our attention….to simply be present as the mystery of life unfolds?

WILD GEESE

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

~Mary Oliver

---

“Life is full of twists and turns, unexpected detours. We plan and we chase, yet some of the richest moments come from what we cannot predict. There is a quiet magic in surrendering to the unknown and following the paths that reveal themselves along the way.

Getting off track is not a failure. It can open the door to new discoveries, deepen our understanding, or lead us to experiences we could never have imagined. The journey itself becomes the teacher, guiding us through uncertainty with subtle gifts.

To live fully is to embrace life’s unpredictability, move forward without rigid expectation, and trust that each step carries its own meaning. When we lean into the unknown, we find richness, connection, and a deeper sense of being part of something far greater than ourselves.”

Featuring Jane Kennedy (http://www.janekennedy.co.za)

Filmed in Sedgefield, South Africa

Jane reads two beautiful poems in this film. They are:

– Wild Geese, by Mary Oliver

– Walk Slowly, by Danna Faulds

We have shared a previous film featuring Jane. You can watch it here – https://youtu.be/Du7fMHtPkh0

All of our films are made possible through the generous support of our patrons.

To be part of this journey : http://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

Who is Reflections of Life? We are Justine and Michael. We use our passion for film making 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 Raimondo, Editing – by Justine du Toit, along with many other very talented individuals and translators.

---

BEHIND THE LENS: THE DETOUR WE DIDN’T EXPECT

You will find here a behind the lens talk among Michael, Justine and a new friend from Slovenia just hours after they had all of their camera equipment and computers stolen from the back of their car. This film brings you up close and personal with the creators of Reflections for Life , how they navigate an unpredictable life situation that strips them of the very equipment they use for all of their filming/editing, and how a new friendship with a man from Slovenia was formed.

I have been following Michael and Justine for many years now and have found their short films the very heart and essence of what it is to be human with magnificent, sensitive and gorgeous filming. I invite you to take some time to watch this short Behind the Lens video and connect with these extraordinary people.

---

“Today we’re sharing something a little different with you. The last few days have brought unexpected challenges that have made us pause, reflect, and take stock of what we often take for granted.

Last week our vehicle was broken into and most of our film gear was stolen. Sound equipment, hard drives, laptops. The tools we use every day. Gone.

It has been disorienting, both practically and emotionally. There is the obvious shock of the loss, and then the deeper layer of what it stirs beneath the surface. In this Behind the Lens conversation, Michael and I sit down with our friend Tadej to speak honestly about what happened, about vulnerability, attachment, and what remains when something you rely on disappears overnight.

We didn’t plan for this experience. The path turned without warning. And we were asked, in real time, how we would meet it.

As we have processed it, we’ve realised how closely this experience connects with our newest film, There Are No Secrets. It explores the theme of surrendering to the unknown and trusting the paths that reveal themselves along the way.

Life is full of twists, turns, and unexpected detours. We plan, we strive, and we chase, yet some of the richest moments come from what we cannot predict. There is a quiet magic in surrendering to the unknown and following the paths that reveal themselves along the way.

Getting off track is not a failure. It can open the door to new discoveries, deepen our understanding, or lead us to experiences we could never have imagined. The journey itself becomes the teacher, guiding us through uncertainty with subtle gifts.

To live fully is to embrace life’s unpredictability, move forward without rigid expectations, and trust that each step carries its own meaning. When we lean into the unknown, we find richness, connection, and a deeper sense of being part of something far greater than ourselves.“

---

Thank You for being a subscriber to Wildly Free Elder posts – or finding your way here through synchronicity! Please feel free to contact me with your thoughts, reflections and wild creative endeavors to inspire others. Gaye Abbott (click here)**

If you don’t want to miss future posts simply sign up for the blog here: https://wildlyfreeelder.wordpress.com/blog/ *When you receive your email remember click on the title in order to see all images and videos posted on the post website.

Please note that all blog posts can be seen on the HOME page by clicking on the Blog Archives tab.

Gaye Abbott, Wildly Free Elder, 03/01/2026