I realize more this year than perhaps any other that I have reached the stage of Elderhood. And it is an honor. Or it can be if we make it so.
I have perhaps more loved ones and friends and beloved pets in Heaven than I do down here. And though I look forward to when it is my turn to go to True Home, I keep waking up every day, and though I do not feel any urgency around getting things done, I feel a kind of peace about synthesizing my skills, talents, passions, and abilities and a strong desire to "do" things rather than collect things. It feels excellent.
With the recent passing of my beloved sister, who was an amazing person - nurturing, loving, so smart, fierce, independent, and giving, I have been on hiatus. I had to stop. And I stopped a lot, while I loved her the best I could during her long illness. And during that time I didn't know it, but something was happening inside of me that has brought me to this place just a bit beyond reflection to action in each of my days.
What was happening was that I was receiving very beautiful messages from all kinds of sources, including books, movies, Nature, relationships, and things I witnessed happening to others all over the planet and those close to me as well. These messages led me to this place where I find myself evaluating myself and my life, to a synthesis of all that I have experienced, both good and "bad," and to stepping into a sort of new way of being where I no longer react, but choose very deliberately and consciously to ACT.
So this brand new year, 2024, brings about lots of changes in my life that are most welcome indeed. They include successfully getting 100% out of debt, having funds to devote to our home renovations which were put off during the years we devoted ourselves to the kids who are now grown and doing well on their own, and coming into the position where I am now "rebranding" my professional self, my business, called Dreamkeeper Creations, and all the activities involved, which have always included writing, painting, and beadworking, and will hopefully continue to include each of these. I am very excited to see new changes as they come about and very excited to be going one step at a time on this new pathway built upon all the years that have come before this one.
I consider it an honor to be granted this time that brings me to Elderhood. In our American youth-oriented society and culture it is not well respected. But I know that in other cultures Elderhood is very much respected and revered. And I choose to adopt many of their beautiful teachings and carry them as blessings as I learn how to do this with grace and serenity and joy.
I am proud of my wrinkles and I am focusing on the positives as I navigate my new experiences of Elderhood, and I wish joy to all of those who have also managed to stay with their Earth journeys to reach Elderhood.
May we love the Littles, and the Youngsters and the Adolescents and the Young Adults and other kindred Elders with all of ourselves XO May we be good examples of what is possible despite the challenges. May we receive love that warms our hearts and keeps us excited about all the possibilities of Life on our wonderful blue planet XO
These are my prayers for today.
Namaste,
Jen
Dear Jen,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. You are on a very interesting journey and I love your attitude about aging. Life is what we make it, through the good and most challenging times. Keep on creating and using your talents. You are an inspiration.
Sandy
“It's paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn't appeal to anyone.” ― Andy Rooney
When I was a kid, I wanted very much to live to be 90. That was my magic number. I loved so very much of just everything. As I grew older, like most others I learned that the world and other people do not perceive us as special or important or even valuable. I saw and experienced things that broke my heart, not just when they happened to me, but when they happened (and happen) to complete strangers. I never will accept the mistaken propaganda that this is the way the world is meant to be. I searched and searched (starting at a verrry young age) for a culture that had the knowing that this is not the way the world is meant to be, and I found it in the tribal peoples. All the positives - equality, respect, reverence, individuality, deep love of all things, and magnificent wisdom. They are the ones who have always been able to inspire me to be some kind of a reasonable example of what the world can be and what we can be to each other.
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