WILDLY FREE ELDER
The Artistry of Aging
Tag: Resilience
Being Present
“Every single day is filled with possible ways to make a positive, compassionate and perhaps innovative and creative impact. It comes in the form of connection – to each other, to ourselves, to the animal and natural world and our environment that we are an integral and interconnected part of.”
Courage With Self-Compassion
“As elders we are often asked, consciously or unconsciously, to be invisible and not take up too much space as our younger counterparts or adult children seem to simply not have time for us. It takes courage to speak out and take care of ourselves and each other by not hiding. By bringing our wisdom, compassion, humor, consciousness, our heart – and yes, our courage to every interaction we have each and every day.”
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.”
Vulnerability: The Gift of Being Seen
“As the years accumulate at some point we start recognizing that we have entered the last part of our embodied lives. This often comes with a feeling of great vulnerability as passing the mid-point there are now more years we have lived than to be lived.
It all becomes so very precious….”
The Ancient 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…..”
Reseeding The World
“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.”
Just One Day
“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.”
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.”
WILDLY FREE ELDER 