WILDLY FREE ELDER
The Artistry of Aging
Category: Death and Dying
Living Into the Sunsets and Sunrises
“My Lunar Year began learning of the death of a dear friend. Both words “dear” and “friend” carry significance in this case as they are words of endearment that one thinks might evolve from years of being together and numerous shared stories both tragic and uplifting. That is not the case here…..”
Walking Each Other Home – Tribute to Ankya Klay
“We no longer need to walk this journey alone. We are each ‘walking sticks’ for each other – walking each other home….“ ~Ankya Klay ANKYA KLAY, 1948-2023 When the Wildly Free Elder website and community was being born in June, 2020 a long time… Continue Reading “Walking Each Other Home – Tribute to Ankya Klay”
Day 30: Elder Muse – “Death Walker”
“On this next to last post for 2022 what appeared, and insisted on being the focus, was something we don’t usually talk about with others. Something that we are closer to than we have ever been as elders even though it can come at any time in our lives. Death.
Death has been stalking me recently and asking me to pay attention to living fully NOW in this moment…..”
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
“I was well aware of the work that now 75-year-old Patch Adams, M.D. with his red clown nose has done, and is still doing, who’s message for health care providers has been “lighten the mood and you will lighten the struggle”. And Norman Cousins (Cancer Laughter Cure). had done on laughter and the simple act of smiling to raise endorphin levels, decrease pain, and augment healing even from a cancer diagnosis he was given. Yet, it appeared that I needed a reminder…”
DAY 13: Uber Elders
“As we increasingly rely on technology to problem solve, conceptual designer Barbara Beskind is a testament to the power of personal input. Using her experience as an occupational therapist, Barbara, then aged eighty-nine, instigated the role of advisor for aging-related projects for the international design firm, IDEO. Inventive, practical, playful and always human-centered, Barbara and her can-do spirit set the stage for an exploration of design values that honor, respect and expand our understanding of ourselves and others.”
Celebrating This Precious Life
“Talking about Death. Some people love it, others shy away. In this online program, which is freely offered, we get to explore a depth of conversation in a way that feels safe, natural and engaging.”