WILDLY FREE ELDER
The Artistry of Aging
The Ancient One
Artist: Maartje van Dokkum
“No one tells the oceans or the trees or the mountains that they’re too old. They talk of how powerful, how grounded, how awesome they are…imagine if we thought the same way about ourselves as we got older. Maybe then we’d realize how spectacular we are!”
– Becky Hemsley
There once was an ancient one who looked upon this Earth existence as a grand and mysterious experiment. An artistic endeavor. They were wise enough to live each day in wholeness.
This being is all of us without cultural restrictive and defining labels. To look upon each day and all living beings as a blank canvas upon which we live in the present moment without fear and paint, sing, dance, write, cultivate, love, laugh, cry, grieve – embracing the unfolding moments.
What would that be like? How much space and opportunity would we take? Could we take?
Like the weaving together of ancient rock, crooked tree branch, flowing water, oxygen rich air and warm sunlight that has seen the history of human endeavors repeating itself over and over again – the same patterns and habits, slowly putting out the spark of creation in each other.
Dry Falls, Highlands, NC/Photography by Gaye Abbott
Who is this ancient one that shines so brightly without words that we can’t help but absorb their wisdom, enormous sense of humor and artistry. It is you without your blinders on.
Trusting the possibilities of life in a body even though fear creeps in often, especially these days. But it does not claim you, nor do you cower in place not certain of your next step. This is a time for courage. To shine as part of the star dust and wild nature you are made of.
“It is only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on Earth and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up that we begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it were the only one we had. “ ~Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
The ancient wise parts of us know that dismantling fear, the perception of everything as a threat that our nervous system alerts us to – even things that aren’t – is vitally important for our well being. Not allowing forces outside of us to manipulate and control where we lose the ability to distinguish between an actual crisis and a perceived one.
How about self care as a revolutionary act? Our nervous system doesn’t think in pieces. The fear, the rage, the anxiety and uncertainty — isn’t just intellectual. It’s physiological. Our bodies are absorbing this era in our tightened shoulders, our sleepless nights, our frayed tempers.
There are ways to unplug from all of this. A stream of moments that bring wholeness, peace and connection with life in its myriad of forms, textures and possibilities. The challenge is that at times we must surrender completely into what we don’t know….yet.
“Spirituality and different stories serve different people at different times. And at certain moments, their stories stop being able to meet the needs of those times. We are capable of developing new stories. We have histories, but we also have futures. We have possibilities, and we have imagination.”-john a. powell
The more we are in balance through acts of self care, the more we have to give and the more possibility and opportunity reveal themselves. The power of unplugging from the prevalent fear of these times we inhabit can be our unique contribution towards this evolution. Living as the Ancient One would….
PRACTICAL WAYS TO UNPLUG FROM PANIC, ANXIETY AND FEAR, EVOLVING TO LIVE EACH DAY TO THE FULLEST:
MOVE YOUR BODY: Walk, stretch, dance anywhere and anytime. Shake your arms, legs and pelvis. Whatever you do, just move. Motion reminds your body that you are not a prisoner, trapped within a life that someone or something else is trying to manipulate. Surrender completely into what you don’t know….yet.
BREATHE LIKE YOU MEAN IT: “When everything feels like too much, try this: Inhale for four counts, hold for four, exhale for six. Do it again. And again. Longer exhales signal to your brain that you are not in immediate danger.”* Joy Okoye
Or better yet, practice Breath of Joy for two minutes and notice how everything in your body, mind and emotion shifts. A great reset that you can share with friends…..or strangers! Suggestion – on that last exhale with bent knees, after three inhales, freely let out a joyous sound. Love this practice!
FIND YOUR PEOPLE AND TALK TO THEM: For the most part, humans do better when they feel like they belong to something and are connected with others. Speak your truth, even if your voice shakes. Listen with compassion and focused attention.
LET JOY BE YOUR DEVOTED COMPANION: So laugh out loud and fully. Find a song that makes you dance. Pet a dog. Eat something delicious. Read something absurd. Be present to the miracle of a Spring flower unfurling, or a young child seeing magic in the world around them. Small joys are not frivolous. Fill your moments with them. (Practice Breath of Joy above).
CREATE ONE SMALL RITUAL THAT GROUNDS YOU: Light a candle in the morning as your first action of the day. Write one sentence in your journal before bed — something that reminds you of what is still good or that you are grateful for. Make and sip tea or coffee with intention. When the world feels like quicksand, rituals remind you where solid ground is.*Joy Okoye
NAME WHAT IS HAPPENING AND THE EMOTION THAT IS STIRRED: When we name our emotions they lose some of their grip. Remembering that we are not that emotion or state of being. They are simply moving through us as we observe them. Everything always changes and shifts.
PERCEIVE BEAUTY EVERYWHERE IN NATURE USING YOUR SENSES: To recognize something is beautiful all it takes is a change in perception. Rewilding by aligning yourself with sense of place as your attention comes into balance.
Lay on your back and watch the clouds as you did as a child. See the creation of magical or mundane creatures from the always shifting clouds. Gaze at the stars from the vantage point of lying on the earth. Name your own personal star. Immerse yourself in the morning birdsong allowing it to live in your body resonating with the music of the earth. Immerse yourself in the rhythm of a salt water wave surrendering into its embrace . Be in conversation with the mystery of the universe…..
“If we don’t take care of ourselves, how can we truly care for others?
It’s easy to fall into the habit of always putting others first, giving endlessly without stopping to tend to our own needs. But when we neglect ourselves for too long, we run empty, leaving us exhausted, resentful, or unable to be present for the very people we want to help.
True kindness isn’t just about self-sacrifice — it’s about balance, about making sure we have the strength, energy, and peace of mind to show up fully and wholeheartedly. Taking time for ourselves isn’t selfish — it’s an act of love, a quiet promise to those we cherish that we will be here, steady and whole.
Because when we care for ourselves, we don’t just sustain our own light — we make it shine brighter, sending out warmth and strength to those around us. And in that glow, we find the truest form of giving — one that is rooted not in depletion, but in abundance.”
Featuring Christine Bayly
Website – www.thebreathingspace.co.za
Email – christine@thebreathingspace.co.za
Filmed in Cape Town, South Africa by REFLECTIONS OF LIFE
Thank You for being a subscriber to Wildly Free Elder posts – or finding your way here through synchronicity! Through 2025 there will be regular posts on the 15th and 30th of each month. 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 to 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, 03/31/25
Soul’s Calling
Wolf Creek, Grass Valley, CA/Photo by Gaye Abbott
When I am still, standing by the creek at the altar created from stones, feathers and magic, the voice of the deepest parts of my soul is clearly heard. The flowing water in front of me recognizes the obstacles in the way and merely finds a way around them.
As elder I embrace the sacredness of these moments on my life line, not knowing when those moments will cease all together returning me back into the cosmos as star dust. That only makes them more precious.
How could I possibly live this life within a mainstream narrative that dismisses age as something to overcome, or combat, or somehow change. Hair has silver streaks and skin has lost elasticity, but the soul – that innate deepest part of us – celebrates it all.
For this is the time of life when a new song is sung, even with the challenges that seem to continuously emerge.
Yet it is the challenges in life that are like fuel for the fire of a soul’s calling. There isn’t an already prescribed way to follow your unique path, like a step by step guide. There is only a knowing in each moment. A body felt wholeness in the choices you make. It takes courage and trust to listen to and follow that quiet truth within.
At times it becomes as simple as what unfolded for me this morning. I don’t need to describe or completely understand my unique souls calling, or even go into an esoteric explanation of what that is, but instead I follow the guidance that is constantly flowing and take action as called. A spontaneous inner and outer dance.
That is where light and love reside. That is where kindness is born. That is where consciousness shifts.
Penny the Dachshund and Margaret/Photo by Gaye Abbott
Calling the doggie by name that is walking along the path with her humans at our local nature park. She runs to me to present for scratching and love;
A surprise birthday card and dark chocolate bar hand delivered to my local coffee shop for the owner who has created an amazing opportunity for community to gather and enjoy coffee, support and conversation together;
A visit to dear friends taking with me an elder blind and deaf miniature Dachshund, Penny, that I am caring for. They have both been sick and needed some small dog loving since their own French Bulldog, Gordon passed away last November;
The cashier at my local grocery store says how beautiful the weather is. I suggest getting on the PA system and telling everyone (staff and customers) there will be a 15 minute dance break out in the parking lot to celebrate Spring. Though that wasn’t done the smiles and laughter that lit up faces at the thought were delicious.
Be true to what is calling to you….what unique song will be sung?
“There comes a time in life when we must tune out the noise — the expectations of others, the pressures of society, the voices that tell us who we should be — and instead, listen to the quiet truth within us.
Following your own calling is not always easy. It requires courage to walk a path that others may not understand, to trust your heart when the world offers doubt, and to honor what feels right for your soul, even when it goes against the current. But in the end, the deepest fulfillment comes not from seeking approval, but from living authentically, embracing the journey that is uniquely yours.“
Featuring Nirmala Nair.
Filmed in Cape Town, South Africa by Reflections of Life
Thank You for being a subscriber to Wildly Free Elder posts – or finding your way here through synchronicity! Through 2025 there will be regular posts on the 15th and 30th of each month. 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 to 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, 03/15/25
Reseeding The World
Gratitude by Lesley Charnock
“Every time we stop to notice the moment and cherish ourselves for who we are, we have the opportunity to feed the world. You call this world into being through the smallest gestures, something as simple as holding your morning egg in your hands before you crack it into the cast iron skillet, giving thanks for the gift of this tiny nourishment. Every small motion of recognition and gratitude is like a seed helping us bloom anew. All it takes is for each of us to tend to the smallest things of life with the utmost care, and a revolution will be born – that tidal wave in perception we’ve all been waiting for.” ~Asia Suler in “Mirrors In the Earth“
As we reach our elder years most of us will have experienced pivotal moments of great loss and grieving. Eventually we recognize it is time to step back into the world – into our life – again. Like planting a seed of ourselves and finding what nourishes it into bloom.
Seeds configuring as acts of kindness;
generous listening;
the carrying forward of love and compassion in new ways;
sharing spontaneous laughter and humor;
transparent honesty with humility;
extending hospitality – creation of an inviting and trustworthy space;
creating new possibilities for living forward through attending to the smallest things of life;
actively opening pathways to collaboration, beauty and creative artistry.
All of this “tending to the smallest things in life with the utmost care” and attention, with conscious gratitude and appreciation, contributes to not only our own blooming and peace, but to that of others we touch. And yes, a r-evolution of perception that is so needed at this time. An understanding and acceptance of where to place our attention…..and where not to.
No one needs to tell us that our time here is limited, but we most often forget that reality. We walk with this silent companion – “death” – by our side in every moment. Experiencing heart break as we witness the passing of friends, family members and our beloved animal companions from our lives. Sometimes death of loved ones comes suddenly, unexpectedly, and we are left with picking up the pieces of our life. Knowing that one day it will be us.
Kalalau Trai, Kauai, HI
I will never forget a time in my life, a dangerous, challenging yet spectacularly beautiful hike on the original Hawaiian trail along the Napali Coast to Kalalau beach. A 90-degree turn on the trail with wind blowing, a heavy backpack on, with nothing to hang on to on one flat rock faced side, and a sheer drop into the ocean below over rocks on the other side. People had lost their lives here.
A dramatic reminder to tend to taking one step at a time in life with the utmost care. A life lesson that is still carved into the cellular memory of my body and soul.
As we are ready, it is in the willingness to open our hearts after loss. A catalyst to create space for the light to shine back into life’s moments. To tend to the smallest things with utmost care. Reseeding the world out of which births new beginnings and interconnected perception.
After all how much longer do we have for adventure?
“Grief is a journey with no clear map, a path that twists through sorrow, longing, and moments of quiet reflection. In the year since losing a loved one, the weight of absence lingers, but it does not have to define the days ahead. Through memories, and small acts of courage, healing begins — not by forgetting, but by carrying love forward in a new way.
Even in the shadow of loss, life continues to offer quiet reminders of its beauty. Choosing to step into the world again does not erase grief, but it allows space for hope and meaning to exist alongside it. There is strength in opening one’s heart to life after loss, and even in the darkest moments, light can still be found.”
Featuring Lesley Charnock (Website – https://lesleycharnock.com)
Filmed in Cape Town, South Africa by Reflections of Life
Support us in creating more films like this : http://www.patreon.com/reflectionsoflife
Thank you. Justine & Michael 💚
Thank You for being a subscriber to Wildly Free Elder posts – or finding your way here through synchronicity! Through 2025 there will be regular posts on the 15th and 30th of each month. 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 to 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, 02/28/25
Just Stop Running
Photography/Winter River Rock Spiral Creation by Gaye Abbott/2025
“We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us.” ~Joseph Campbell
I sometimes wonder what my life would have been like if I hadn’t spent so much time trying to control the events of it. If I had stopped running away and instead stepped towards the center of my being trusting life’s unfolding and synchronicity, and my own unique style of expression. If so much attention hadn’t given such importance to others opinions, demands and expectations.
When is it time to become the person we have come in to be?
Just the other day, taking my place in line, at a favorite Asheville restaurant, I saw a very tall red haired giant of a man, who could have been a Scottish Highlander in a previous life, standing back and staring into space. I then noticed that perhaps he had been in line and I had cut in front of him. Beckoning his attention back to earth I apologized for cutting in line and stepped back so he could take his place in front of me.
A conversation between us about daydreaming ensued in which he curiously asked me what my day dreaming was like. I remember saying something like “creative”. As we waited in line to order our conversation continued. He shared that he wrote poetry and had graduated from USFCA (University of San Francisco, California) in the Bay area with his MFA.
I asked him whether he had anything published, when really in hindsight my question might have been, “do you enjoy writing?” or “what does it feel like to you when you are creating poetry”? He answered my publishing question stating that when he would receive a “rejection” of his submitted poetry/writing that it sent him into a tailspin where he didn’t want to write anything for a year or two.
I felt great sadness when he said this, thinking about how much we depend on the approval of others for so many aspects of our lives. Rising and falling on the waves of opinions, expectations and critiques. Losing ourselves in the process of comparison. An amnesia of our unique expression.
How much of my own life had I done exactly that. Running away from the moment, from myself…..and from possibilities and opportunities that could have richly revealed themselves if I had only the courage to be still, to stop and wait – mind and body – and to trust.
Suddenly gazing into the mirror of artistry and saying yes to what is emerging. Realizing it is a choice to access and release into the wilds what calls to our hearts and souls.
Like exploring writing expression by creating a blog and sending it out into the world for the pure joy of it…
This Stop Running teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh is beautifully, and at times stunningly, conveyed in the video below. He states that the habit of running is very strong in us. In our body and in our mind. Especially given the challenges we face today.
Be completely at ease in the present moment. Not searching for anything, not running away. Instead looking deeply in order to get insight.
“I have arrived. I am home. I do not have the need to run any more. What I am looking for is right here and right now. Listen to the music of your breath. Breathe In – I have arrived. Breathe out – staying in the present moment.”
What will be revealed?
Thank You for being a subscriber to Wildly Free Elder posts – or finding your way here through synchronicity! Through 2025 there will be regular posts on the 15th and 30th of each month. 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 to 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, 02/15/25
Attention Artistry
Frozen Fountain Water/Weaverville, NC/Photography by Gaye Abbott
Today there were library books on hold for me to pick up on my morning walk through the park. Once home I set the books down on my bed and one was opened to a random page. What had drawn my attention about this particular book when I saw it in the bookstore last week?
The page it opened to felt like perfect guidance during a time I have been struggling with writing something that felt fresh, creative and off the grid of mainstream narrative. The first sentence captured the block I had created for myself with the second sentence following it being the antidote to dismantle it.
“If you are creating with other people in mind, crafting writing/artwork to appease or perform, the work will inevitably be hollow.
By contrast, if you create from a place of deep connection to the muse of your own personal terrain, your work will be something the world has never seen before.”
(Mirrors in the Earth: Reflections on Self Healing From The Living World by Asia Suler)
Frozen Creek Art, Nature Park in Weaverville, NC/Photography by Gaye Abbott, 1/24/25
The same could be said for how we attend to the world around us. We get to choose where our attention is directed and how much time we spend attending. Whether our attention is drawn from innate curiosity, from the “have to” directives of our culture, or our need to somehow “belong”.
It has been at times brutally cold here in this last week, just now warming up enough for the creatures that inhabit our small community, including humans who are shedding some clothing and bringing out dogs to walk and children to explore. More birds are making their presence known and their calls vibrate through the air as the brilliant red cardinal sits on the bare branch before me.
The frozen creek art in the image above took my attention for many moments in time though I almost passed it by without a closer look. Coming closer I marveled at the colors, textures, lines and artistry that a simple freezing of water created and then captured it with a photo.
Each rock, twig, leaf, piece of dirt, flow of water and wind became a participant in this unique art piece – something that has never been seen before. Something that will continue to shift and change with the elements that contribute to its creation and its dismantling.
Do we perceive everything as awake, alive and interconnected?
What a different world it would be if we would choose to live from a more animistic perspective as many Indigenous cultures still hold. A belief system that acknowledges our world as a co-creation among equals – each life form contributing an important piece to the whole tapestry.
To see every life form as artistry unfolding. Even the braising mix on the cutting board……
Thank You for being a subscriber to Wildly Free Elder posts – or finding your way here through synchronicity! Through 2025 there will be regular posts on the 15th and 30th of each month. 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 to 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, 01/30/25
Surrendering Into the Dance of Life
Snow Crystals Improving On My Car Window/Photography by Gaye Abbott
It happened in a state of complete surrender as my body fell backwards without any fear into the waiting arms of another behind me. Awakening from this dream of last night I was immediately immersed in memories of the many years I spent in the free form dance (ecstatic dance/contact improv/partner dance improv) communities of wherever I happened to be living.
Improvisation in dance is the process of creating movement spontaneously, without predetermined choreography or structure. It’s about embracing the present moment, listening to the music, and allowing your body to move intuitively in response to the rhythm, melody, and mood. Improvisation encourages exploration of new movement possibilities, experimentation with different shapes and dynamics, and expression of innermost emotions through dance. Connecting with others and self in a safe, respectful space without words while sensing the constant opportunities for connection.
Why was I continuously drawn to this community and practice of movement for a quarter of a century?
It freed me of my own and others expectations and judgements. It was a vehicle to open to life fully just as it is in any given moment without spoken words – all ranges of emotions, movements and sensations – often filled with play. At other times a path to giving space to uncomfortable feelings simply by honoring what was emerging in the moment through movement.
Couldn’t this way of being in dance be how we are in our life all the time? Not ruled by fear, but instead a sense of the ever changing landscape, both inner and outer, here and now.
Showing up with an open-hearted willingness to experience life fully just as it is without expectations or control, without preferences, judgements or labels, without resistance, or “running away” when it feels uncomfortable can be a challenging practice and way of being.
No separation. Only the continuous flow of life capturing the moment to moment creation, birth and death of any single moment in time and space. Exploring life’s impermanence.
What was always so extraordinary was when I surrendered the control that fear teaches us I felt more alive and present no matter how I was feeling before entering the dance space. No running away or distractions – that was impossible.
This way of being continues to teach me in the context of living as an elder, especially as my body shifts and changes with aging. A recent accident that results in physical pain and restriction becomes a guide. Opening into the pain instead of trying to escape or tame it means to me exploring with curiosity, and for some moments in time becoming one with it. Not particularly for the faint of heart but a perfect way to deeply understand the on going ever present dynamic of constant shifts and changes in any given moment.
What I learn in those moments of merging is a dissolving of pain, a softening if you will. Recognizing how much the protection and contraction – in other words trying to remove myself from the experience – has been the pattern that has perpetrated the on going nature of the pain and the barrier to completely allowing and accepting my bodies intelligence to do what it does best – heal the injury no matter how much time it takes.
For those of you who have never even considered experimenting with moving or living in this way here are a few guidelines below, borrowed from someone else. Recognizing that this way of being can also apply to, and be integrated into, every day life moments as an elder. Even if it is in “homeopathic” doses!
Benefits of Improvisation
- Creativity: Improvisation stimulates the creative imagination, allowing dancers to explore new movement ideas and develop their unique artistic voice.
- Freedom: Unlike choreographed routines, improvisation gives dancers the freedom to express themselves authentically and explore movement without constraints.
- Musicality: Improvisation teaches dancers to listen to the music attentively and respond intuitively to its rhythm, tempo, and dynamics.
- Spontaneity: Improvisation encourages dancers to trust their instincts and make split-second decisions, fostering spontaneity and adaptability on the dance floor.
- Collaboration: Improvisation can be a collaborative process, allowing dancers to interact and communicate with one another through movement, creating spontaneous duets, trios, or group improvisations.
Practices for Improvisation
- Body Awareness: Pay attention to your body sensations, breath, and energy levels as you move, and allow your movements to flow organically from within.
- Exploration: Experiment with different movement qualities, dynamics, and levels, and be open to exploring new ways of moving.
- Listening: Tune into the music and let it guide your movement, responding intuitively to its rhythm, melody, and mood.
- Risk-Taking: Embrace uncertainty and take risks in your movement, pushing beyond your comfort zone to discover new possibilities.
- Reflection: Take time to reflect on your improvisations and observe what worked well and what you might like to explore further in future improvisations.
Embracing improvisation as a way of living offers a valuable opportunity to explore movement, unleash creativity, connect with our senses and moment to moment experiences in a deeply personal way, and at the same time directly relating with life’s uncertainty.
So next time you step onto the dance floor – or into the moment – let go of expectations, trust your instincts, and allow your body, mind and heart to move freely. With improvisation, the possibilities are endless, and the journey is yours to explore….ENJOY!
Are you ready to surrender into the dance of life?
A very fun very short video to watch as an example of Improvisational West Coast Swing Dance is captured below. Let me just say in my experience it is a high to experience this kind of connection on the dance floor and in life! …and no my body could never do that kind of split (in case you were wondering!). Curious? Watch the video.
Be aware that this is all improvisational in the moment dance movement in complete connection with their partner, the energy between them, and what is intuitively showing up for each person in the moment. No choreography!
And yes, these are professional improv Swing dancers, but remember they don’t know what song will be played or who their partner will be before they get up to dance! The people sitting around in the background are all dancers and you can see how they feel about this improv dance by their enthusiastic reactions. 🙂
Thank You for being a subscriber to Wildly Free Elder posts – or finding your way here through synchronicity! Through 2025 there will be regular posts on the 15th and 30th of each month. 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 to 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, 01/15/25
Just One Day
“The Navajo teach their children that every morning when the sun comes up, it’s a brand-new sun. It’s born each morning, it lives for the duration of one day, and in the evening it passes on, never to return again. As soon as the children are old enough to understand, the adults take them out at dawn and they say, ‘The sun has only one day. You must live this day in a good way, so that the sun won’t have wasted precious time.’ Acknowledging the preciousness of each day is a good way to live, a good way to reconnect with our basic joy.” – Pema Chödrön
“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair”
~Khalil Gibran
Watching the sunrise with orange tinting the sky over the Blue Ridge Mountains from my bedroom window, where I sit warm beneath a comforter, I realize that sunrises are more significant than they used to be. More beautiful and precious. The sound of geese flying overhead now contribute their presence. I smile.
Living in California for most of my life, on the West coast of the U.S. and by the Pacific Ocean, the sunsets were what drew people out to gather on the top of the cliff where ocean waves crashed below. It was a ritual of silent celebration of the day ending in such a way.
Now it is the sunrises on the East side of the country that take my attention and place me in awe. Perhaps they are more important to me now, or have more meaning as an elder. It now means I have awoken to another embodied day to explore.
What a gift recognizing that all I have right now is this one day before me. More to the point, I only have this moment in which I am joyfully witnessing the sun rise over the mountain top, constantly relating with sky, mountains, and clouds in a dance of color and light.
Our species seems to crave “certainty” and “security” spending an inordinate amount of time trying to create it. Yet isn’t it the greatest cosmic joke that there is never any to be had. There was a moment a short time ago when I felt so “stuck” in old patterns of being that all I wanted to do was launch myself into a new adventure or a new environment. Running away from what could not be run away from. Myself and the available ever shifting moment.
We continually experience endings and beginnings, birth and death, illness and health, regeneration and disintegration. Everything shifting and changing in each moment within and without.
There is no “stuck place” we can hide even though we desperately wish at times to slow everything down yearning to escape into somewhere secure, not shifting so much and so often. Yet it is beyond our personal power to stop this on going dance of life. Nor would we really want to.
Everything constantly changes as nature shows us right before our eyes. The seasons, one following another are one simple example of this essential truth of impermanence and constant change.
I question why we celebrate a “New” human contrived calendar year when all is fresh every day, ripe with possibility, opportunity, beauty and yes at times great pain and suffering. It sometimes takes me by surprise that anything rigidly adhered to or structured too much creates a backlash of resistance within me.
Isn’t it our time as an elder to be free of that and live life as an improvisation?
Will we allow ourselves to be pulled back into what we perceive as “comfort and security” that beckons us with enticing illusions of secure sameness in our well rehearsed patterns. Hiding our light from others – but more importantly from ourselves.
Or shall we recognize that there are only a continuous series of unfolding moments to be explored, breathed into, celebrated and lived gratefully. The Navajo way…..
‘The sun has only one day. You must live this day in a good way, so that the sun won’t have wasted precious time.’
Thank You for being a subscriber to Wildly Free Elder posts – or finding your way here through synchronicity! Through the end of 2024 there will be regular posts on the 15th and 30th of each month. 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/
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Gaye Abbott, Wildly Free Elder, 12/31/24
The Wisdom of Not Knowing
Raleigh, Cream Golden Retriever/Photo by Gaye Abbott
I don’t know, what it means to be alive? I only know we need to enjoy it.”
~ Hanna Naude, Montagu, South Africa
As this year soon comes to an end we enter the holidays – a time of year that is ripe for magic, connection, laughter and play. If we could only let go of needing to “know”, embrace a genuine sense of uncertainty, and see through the eyes and perceptions of a child – or a dog.
What better time to remember that it is important to play every day. Our children taught us that, and now our grandchildren and animals. Remembering that we continue to hold that inner child inside of us no matter what age we are.
Don’t you love it when you do something, according to our cultural standards, that is “out of character” for a “person your age”?
In those moments there is so much freedom to express from a much more playful and authentic side of ourselves. After all we can “get away with it now” as we break away from societies narrow standards of behavior that keep us grieving for lost opportunities to simply be ourselves in any given moment.
Whether it is inner child’s play for elders, suddenly breaking out in dance or song in the safety of home (or right out in public!), spreading paint all over a canvas, wearing funny socks that show, or learning something new and not being particularly “good at it”, but having a great time trying.
All of this takes a willingness to enter the Kingdom of Not Knowing. In this kingdom there is spaciousness for creativity and living in wonder and possibility. That is where play is born ….and art is created. That is where we trust the unfolding of life moments and try on new endeavors and new friends. That is where we let go of any fear that tethers us to certainty.
That is where Control and Judgement take a vacation together to Bali to loosen up and learn to let go and swim with the dolphins….
“Why are we so obsessed with knowing everything? While there’s nothing wrong with knowledge and understanding, our insatiable desire to know and control all aspects of our lives often gets in our way of trying new things. There is no shame in not knowing, there is only freedom. An uncertain mind is an open mind. It is a mind which is curious and interested. It allows us to be creative and willing to live in a state of wonder and possibility, like children do. When we meet life with a genuine sense of uncertainty, we cease to project that which we think we know, and we instead begin to see life for what it truly is. It is life itself, unfolding before our eyes. “
Filmed in Montagu, South Africa by Reflections of Life. Featuring Hanna Naude.
Thank You for being a subscriber to Wildly Free Elder posts – or finding your way here through synchronicity! Through the end of 2024 there will be regular posts on the 15th and 30th of each month. 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/
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, 12/15/24
Embracing Life’s Beauty Just As It Is
Sunrise Over Blue Ridge Mountains, 11/19/24/Photography by Bruce Eversmeyer
“When our mind is open and fresh, we see beauty everywhere, including within ourselves. There’s a sense of savoring the uniqueness of each moment. Things have never been just the way they are now. Nor will they ever be just this way again. We’re in tune with the transience of the world, with its poignancy and its profound richness.” ~Perm Chodron*
Recently I have been learning that what I say to others, and myself, is a consistent revelation of how open or closed I am in any given moment. How often I accept life just as it is.
Just the other day I said to my oldest son that we were “cheated out of our gorgeous Fall colors” here this season because Hurricane Helene took so many trees (and leaves) down in her path. Thousands of trees that we will never see growing again in our lifetime.
Upon reflection the realization became clear that this statement was not open ended. There was no room for other forms of “Fall beauty” to discover and sense into.
Nature Park, Weaverville, NC/Photography by Gaye Abbott
Then the very next day after this conversation I discovered Fall leaf art just under my feet on my daily walk through a nature park. Looking up and around a few trees did indeed still have their leaves….and were laden in Fall pallet colors.
The crisp air and golden light threw a magic mantle over the entire area I was walking in casting light on trunks and branches as if there was an artist in residence always creating. Nature.
When I made that statement to my son, instead of being fully in the moment in an expansive way, I chose to make a statement that was not reality, but a narrow confined view based within grieving over the lost trees.
There was nothing wrong with that as it came from a natural grief over such a loss, but it may have affected how much I could celebrate what was right before and around me. An awareness of the way it is right now. In this very moment..
For most of us there have been – and will be – challenges in our lives that simply take away our ability to see and embrace beauty in any given moment….and to be unerringly grateful for it. We may lose our way for a time.
These moments of perceived beauty can be a potential light in the darkness we find ourselves in.
I invite you to take a few moments and watch the video below filmed by Reflections of Life. Doreen Gail Hemp’s story touched me so deeply that her lightness of “beauty” and sense of being in the moment lasted for days after viewing. Though her loss was a major one, she found a way to hold the beauty of life in every moment.
“Even in life’s most challenging moments, beauty quietly waits to offer us comfort. In times of pain or loss, noticing the small things around us — the warmth of sunlight, the comfort of a friend — can remind us of life’s gentle grace. These seemingly ordinary experiences, so easily overlooked, become subtle guides back toward hope and healing.
Resilience doesn’t mean ignoring hardship; it means facing it with courage, allowing ourselves time to process and grow. Gratitude can be a lifeline, a way to hold onto the blessings that remain, no matter how difficult things may seem. Though the journey may be marked by grief, embracing the beauty in each day can help us move forward. In this way, the smallest moments of light can offer strength when darkness surrounds us.“
Featuring Doreen Gail Hemp.
Filmed in Pringle Bay, South Africa.
*Trigger Warning – This film contains reference to suicide, which may be triggering for some viewers. If you have been affected by a similar issue and you need someone to talk to, please reach out to an organisation or individual near you for help. Take care.
Dry Falls, Highland, N. Carolina/Photography by Gaye Abbott
*Book Recommendation: Welcoming the Unwelcome: Whole Hearted Living in a Broken Hearted World, by Pema Chodron
Thank You for being a subscriber to Wildly Free Elder posts – or finding your way here through synchronicity! Through the end of 2024 there will be regular posts on the 15th and 30th of each month. 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/
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, 11/30/24
Pure Absolute Joy
Lake Pohatan, Bent Creek Experimental Forest, Asheville, NC/Photo by Gaye Abbott
“What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the Wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.” ~Chief Crowfoot
Walking with a friend at a local nature park we looked up the hill to see an unleashed black and white dog streaking towards us with what looked to me like a very big smile. Before he got to us he made a sudden turn towards the small creek just below to get a water fix, both drinking and enjoying.
When the owner caught up with him they both came over to say hello to us and we struck up a conversation. She remarked on how many people would have been very scared of a dog running full tilt towards them. Looking her in the eyes with a big smile on my face I said, “That was pure and absolute joy!”
A reminder this day from a being who was completely in the moment and connected with the earth and elements. In our conversation we found that this woman had lost everything in the recent hurricane here in Western N. Carolina, including her house, yet her attitude was one of gratitude for being alive – she and her faithful and water loving doggie Pohno.
When it was time to part ways we both put our hands out and then pulled each other into a loving hug even though we had never met before. On pulling back from each other, when the hug felt complete, I looked in her eyes and said, “I am so happy you are here.” Nothing else needed to be spoken.
The very next day my brother, who is currently challenged by metastatic cancer, sent me the video below. He had found something that for some moments in time took him into joy. Away from his daily struggle with a disease that has impacted his life greatly and towards sharing some joyful moments with his sister.
“Even a wounded world is feeding us. Even a wounded world holds us, giving us moments of wonder and joy. I choose joy over despair. Not because I have my head in the sand, but joy is what the earth gives me daily and I must return the gift.”
~Robin Wall Kimmerer
Pure doggie joy….and connection to nature. Bet you can’t help but laugh… watch to the very end. 🙂
Yes, nature and life itself can be harsh and teach us the most challenging of lessons. Our intimate connection with the earth these days is often blocked by our relationship to technology, current country and global strife, the fears and effects of “climate change”, and forgetfulness about natures organic processes that benefit us all. We forget to live with our senses, hearts and minds wide open.
Adversity and the exquisite vulnerability of being human is a reminder to extend compassion and kindness. To return to a conscious relationship with a natural world that gives us life. To participate fully in our lives even within the inevitable challenges.
What if we could “feel and sense” as a tree does, or a hawk, or even a river, mountain, salmon or firefly. We are created from all of that, forever connected and interconnected. There is great wisdom to be found there.
“Some movements have a slower bloom for collective awakening. Let’s not despair but continue to cultivate the right relations with our Mother Earth, with each other, and with all Sentient Life. Let’s cultivate balanced relationships between genders, ethnicities, and social groups. Let us honor and protect the wisdom of our animal kin, the trees and the mountains, the wise cetaceans who swim in the ocean, and the wisdom of the four billion-year history of Mother Earth, our home, which will long outlive this human experiment.” ~Sarah Drew
Enhancing an awareness of the labeling and imputed meaning we drape over everything and everyone, that continually traps us in a narrow and restricted experience of disconnect and discontent, is vitally important.
Then it is possible to recognize there is another way to live the moments we have left to us. A way using the language of the heart.
I invite you to step outside and take a full breath, commune with a tree, hike up a mountain, immerse in water, lay on the earth and dance with the clouds overhead….or take a running leap into a pile of leaves! I will see you there again, surely, eventually….
“Mother Earth is my employer. She pays me with clean air, clean water, clean food, clean land – and from that you have a clean spirit.” ~Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Lakota Elder
“In today’s fast-paced world, so many of us have lost touch with Mother Nature. We’re constantly surrounded by technology, running from one responsibility to the next, rarely taking a moment to step outside and just breathe. The natural world, once central to our lives, has become something we visit occasionally rather than something we live within every day. But deep down, we’re still a part of it— no different from the trees, rivers, and animals.
Nature is the foundation of everything we are. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat— it all comes from the earth. By losing touch with this, we risk losing something essential in ourselves. It’s time to slow down, take a step back, and remember that we belong to the natural world just as much as it belongs to us. Reconnecting with it not only restores our sense of balance but also reminds us of our responsibility to care for the planet that sustains us.”
Featuring Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Lakota Elder.
Filmed in New York State, USA. by Reflections of Life
Nature Park, Weaverville, NC/Photography by Gaye Abbott 11/2024
Thank You for being a subscriber to Wildly Free Elder posts – or finding your way here through synchronicity! Through the end of 2024 there will be regular posts on the 15th and 30th of each month. 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/
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, 11/15/24
WILDLY FREE ELDER 