WILDLY FREE ELDER
The Artistry of Aging
Category: Resilience
In A Time of Destruction…
“It might be easy, and at times compelling, to concentrate our attention on the destruction happening in almost every facet of human and nature based life on this amazing interconnected planet of ours. Our media constantly broadcasts the negative and destructive forces in our face without any restriction or hesitation. Destruction is nothing new to the millions of years of life on this planet.
Yet, if we focus exclusively there we not only lose ourselves but forget what our contributions and offerings might be to the world. We forget that creation can be an antidote to destruction…..”
Seeing Through the Lens of Perspective
“It feels to me that curiosity and resilience are critical qualities to have these days. We, being humans, bemoan the state of the world – indeed it is in dire straits ecologically, politically, socially and in so many other ways. Yet, there is a great deal of good, untold beauty, and an abundance of innovation as well – much more than the trauma and violence, war mongering and power struggles.”
We Are All In This Together
“It was never supposed to happen here. In fact I remember saying that to a friend who did not live here, the week before it hit. That we are protected by the Blue Ridge Mountains and are a known place for climate change refugees to relocate to. I was one of those in 2021 from the wild fires of N. California. Hurricaines and tornados simply don’t make it to this area. And then Helene…..”
Elder Muse/Day 22: Coming To Our Senses
“Nature constantly reminds us how vulnerable and fragile humans are in the face of changing weather patterns often wiping away our efforts to encroach upon the wild. A highly wise force to bring us back to taking care of and respecting what gives us life.”
Elder Muse/Day14: Be Water, My Friend
“These days it seems to many of us that the world has “gone crazy”. We can hear about what is happening in seconds from across the planet through news sources that are most often based on assumptions that are not grounded, appealing to our human need for “survival at any cost”, and cloaked in fear.
I have been thinking recently that maybe now we just have a different kind of “crazy” with all of the technological “advances” that translate to being instantly connected on so many different levels. A very stressful “flight or fight” crazy.
DAY 18: Joy of Food: Overcoming the Odds
“As I watched each segment telling stories of people who have not only overcome immense odds, but in addition turned them into lifelong service to their communities with devotion, resilience and generosity of spirit, I couldn’t help but smile. This is what we should see on the daily news and in our social media for it is abundantly happening all over the world.”
DAY 8: The Sound of Silence
“Hiking on a mountain trail enveloped in clouds on a cold nearing Winter Day. The bare trees holding a beauty that somehow combined movement, grace, texture, and shades of varying color all at the same time. Majestic presence that tell stories of communion and dance with the elements and seasons. An energetic resilience that conveys without words.”
The Honorable Harvest
“Robin Wall Kimmerer, an indigenous elder, in the beautiful video below, reminds us that a culture of sharing is a culture of resilience. And that every breath you take is a breath given to you by plants. That we only take what we need from the natural world and always ask permission first, respecting when the clear message is no or not now. “
Coming To Ground
“Bear with me while I tell you about tiredness. It can creep up on you when you’re not watching
or hit you like falling off a cliff….”
Finding “Home”
“Have you ever found yourself wondering what “home” means to you personally? The mystics say it resides inside and I agree with this. Yet, there is much more to this journey to reflect upon, let go into and be present to. Perhaps this is a quest we are on our entire lives.
I love the term “wild divinity” in the excerpt below – “resting in the house of our own heart”. As we age this somehow becomes easier to do as the striving and outward focused actions fall away and the inner “home guidance system” takes precedence.”
WILDLY FREE ELDER 