The Artistry of Aging
“Our instinctual body knows exactly how to breathe and move with optimal grace and fluidity – like the moon shining without telling it to. You, as a piece of the moving, breathing natural world – as the landscape you walk upon. Have you fo forgotten?”
“And so it was that I took myself out to the N.Carolina Arboretum to hike the trails and commune with nature. The joy and laughter that I was to write about each day alluded me. Feeling lonely and somehow disconnected I put on my backpack to hike the trail down to Bent Creek and started the walk to the trailhead. Coming towards me was….”
“Three years ago I visited my home town of San Diego, California in the beach area of Ocean Beach/Point Loma where I was born, raised and brought three sons into the world – with the purpose of spending time with family still living there. It was like living my life backwards with so many memories arising as I walked my old haunts and the hard packed sand at the waters edge. On one of these walks I reflected on my entry experience at the airport a day before….”
“From a wider perspective, accepting life in all its pain, imperfection and beauty our stress and anxiety has the potential to shift us from expectations of how our life should be to acceptance of what is happening now. This creates a spaciousness for curiosity about what might happen next. Accepting the unfolding of life and embracing reality with gratitude. Being aware of the possibilities and opportunities that emerge. I consistently find this easier said than practiced in any given moment.”
“Awe, wonder and a bit of dancing around, just like the young child close to us, as we walked into the Winter Lights show outdoors at the N. Carolina Arboretum. What pure magic awaited us as we walked through hundreds of displays in the gardens spontaneously singing with the music and certainly with smiles on our faces the entire time!”
“Having spent most of my life with palm trees in Southern California or evergreens of some sort in Northern California the bare limb Winter hardwoods of Western N. Carolina are bewitching me. Have you ever just taken a walk to be with nature in such a way that you became part of the wild dance?”
“In the video below eco-therapist and guide Grant Hine takes us on his barefoot earth travels offering a time to breathe and of being present with all of our senses. “
“The holidays can be a slippery slope. As we honor Winter Solstice today, the darkest day of the year, we are aware that it also marks crossing over the threshold to a very gradual return to more light each day.Starting the day with candles lit watching the sunrise over the mountains I was suddenly awash with emotions…..”
“Giving ourselves time to be still enough to hear our own voice. To channel a prayer that is “big enough for your wild soul” as John O’Donohue speaks to the destiny we are here for. This day was filled with dropping in and letting go. Communing with the natural world. Engaging in spontaneous laughter with another as a small community walked the Full Moon celebration labyrinth.”