The Joy of Ageing Esoterically team meet weekly on zoom throughout the year to bring new videos, audios and articles to the website. It is always a full agenda for each meeting with little time to chat socially about what is going on in our lives. Regardless of not spending time talking about our personal lives, we appreciate that we know each other intimately because of our shared Way of Living. |
As often happens when one year concludes and another begins, we reflect on how things have been unfolding for each of us this past year. We asked each member of the team to write a few sentences about their experience and the joy of being engaged.
We share their comments with you below.
Gayle
Having recently turned 70, I am perhaps paying closer attention to how my body is moving, what brings more settlement or what disrupts the rhythm and flow of how I am feeling. I find I am in constant appreciation of simple daily domestic tasks that create order and cleanliness, in awe of the beauty of life’s twists and turns. I’m grateful for evolving relationships, a reflection that we are transparent and bringing gentle truth without fear of repercussions because we come with no malice. Ahh, the joy of ageing esoterically.
Sandra
As I get older I find I am doing things as I am impulsed to do them rather than because they are something that should be done. I notice that if do that I am given the energy to complete the task or project and it does not require any push or control. Things seem to come together in harmony with the flow and a lot can get done without effort. It’s very settling to no longer have to try to work things out or make things happen. At 75, it seems to go hand in hand with not needing so much recognition because I am valuing myself more.
Annie
Recently I turned 60 and I had to take a huge gulp! If I am totally honest with myself, I was not ready to be in the decade where, according to convention, one retires. Fortunately having my own business means retirement will not be forced upon me. However, what I have come to understand over the last few months is that it is so very important to look after and nurture myself way more than what I did in the past and if I feel to end the day earlier than usual or start a bit later, then that is absolutely 100% OK. In other words no critique or judgement, just loving acceptance.
Ingrid
Being 67 and living with a life-threatening illness for 18 years I have never felt better within myself and lived more joy-fully than now. Incredible, even to me sometimes. How has this come about? Having lived most of my younger years like a feather in the wind, living here then there, doing this then that without any purpose or idea of what I was actually doing on this planet, I have turned my whole life upside down and changed every aspect of it, learned about myself and energy, healed old hurts and said YES to a life of purpose and commitment to life. It did not happen overnight but is definitely worth it. My life makes sense now and it is a joy to live. So, for me the Joy of Ageing is taking this opportunity to keep evolving to a more and more loving way to live and share the joy with the community.
Bernadette
The year 2020 marked the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new one. Selling our home and moving interstate was a huge physical process of decluttering, packing, and unpacking. As the year ended we were settling into our new home and getting to know a new environment. Throughout this process my body made me very aware that it was also undergoing change, reconfiguring, adapting to whatever was required to make the move as flowing and graceful as possible. I am now enjoying the changes and new opportunities to grow and learn. I am appreciating how supported I am by a way of life that provides many tools to guide me on my way through the 73rd cycle of life. There is a feeling of wonderment and expansion with what is on offer each day.
Judy
2020 has been a year of constant adaptation and change. My usual face-to-face teaching at university went online due to Covid. This was a new experience that, surprisingly, I adapted to quite readily, feeling the same level of connection and intimacy with the students as I would have face-to-face. And they felt it too! At the end of the year, I sold my house and with a couple of unexpected changes of direction, I moved interstate. It has been interesting to reflect, at age 74, how I am not looking back as I once might have done, but have been moving forward and adapting to each and every change that has presented itself. What will 2021 bring?
Lynne
At the age of 67, the thing I’m most aware of is the letting go of perfection (without perfection ha ha). It has plagued me all my life and it is so liberating to not have that constant inner critic always yapping in my ear. I’m feeling more settled within myself and therefore more able to enjoy the company of others without feeling that I don’t measure up. I still have my moments, but I’ve noticed how I now hold myself with more acceptance, appreciation and grace. This has been my first year of being part of the Joy of Ageing Esoterically team and I’m loving the experience and really appreciate the opportunity to be able to work with these gorgeous women. I too have had a year of moving house. My husband and I are now living in a truly beautiful place and can feel how we are being prepared foundationally to be all set for stepping into a deeper level of purpose in 2021.
Anne
Covid lockdowns last year led to me suddenly being offered a redundancy in November, something that was not on my radar at the beginning of the year. At 71, leaving work effectively meant being ‘retired’. However, I love to work, and feared that I may never have work again. This revealed how much I had invested in the security of having a permanent position. I now realise that I had been over-riding feelings of increasing discontent and weariness due to hasty organisational changes and the increased pace required to make things ‘work’ in the university sector. It has been great to unpack my security issues and to face the fear of being unemployable at my age. In fact, I’m now busier than ever. My first job offer was childcare, something I never dreamed of doing, but to my surprise the slower pace and emphasis on the quality I bring to the children is a gift to me. I am now enjoying this transition period and the opportunity to really look after me with detailed care.
Ruth
I had lived a very busy, demanding and mostly stressful way of life as an educator, and now in my early seventies I found myself on the cusp of retiring and heading into the era of ‘The Joy of Ageing’ which seemed like an oxymoron to me! To my surprise, and great delight, I now know the truth in living each day in the beautiful qualities that bring forth the Joy of Ageing in my elder years. This new way of living is from a place of feeling and honouring how I feel, and then going about my day in a nurturing and self-caring way. I am finally living from the inside out instead of allowing outside influences to create unsettlement and distress in my body.
Deidre
My 72nd birthday is not far away and how am I feeling? In some areas of my life, I have had to accept the limitations of my body because of ongoing back pain. However, as I have deepened my relationship with the care I take of my body, I have been able to remain actively engaged, working a few days a week with a small child and one other day with a 94 year old lady. I love and deeply appreciate how my life has taken me to this point, which I know could have been very different if I had allowed the pain to rule my life. Of course, there will come a time when work will no longer be a part of my weekly activity but still there will always be a way we can contribute to life, just by simply being ourselves and not allowing ourselves to be dragged into the belief that we have nothing to offer. For indeed, whatever cycle of life we are in and whatever our age we are as valuable as at any other time.
We share their comments with you below.
Gayle
Having recently turned 70, I am perhaps paying closer attention to how my body is moving, what brings more settlement or what disrupts the rhythm and flow of how I am feeling. I find I am in constant appreciation of simple daily domestic tasks that create order and cleanliness, in awe of the beauty of life’s twists and turns. I’m grateful for evolving relationships, a reflection that we are transparent and bringing gentle truth without fear of repercussions because we come with no malice. Ahh, the joy of ageing esoterically.
Sandra
As I get older I find I am doing things as I am impulsed to do them rather than because they are something that should be done. I notice that if do that I am given the energy to complete the task or project and it does not require any push or control. Things seem to come together in harmony with the flow and a lot can get done without effort. It’s very settling to no longer have to try to work things out or make things happen. At 75, it seems to go hand in hand with not needing so much recognition because I am valuing myself more.
Annie
Recently I turned 60 and I had to take a huge gulp! If I am totally honest with myself, I was not ready to be in the decade where, according to convention, one retires. Fortunately having my own business means retirement will not be forced upon me. However, what I have come to understand over the last few months is that it is so very important to look after and nurture myself way more than what I did in the past and if I feel to end the day earlier than usual or start a bit later, then that is absolutely 100% OK. In other words no critique or judgement, just loving acceptance.
Ingrid
Being 67 and living with a life-threatening illness for 18 years I have never felt better within myself and lived more joy-fully than now. Incredible, even to me sometimes. How has this come about? Having lived most of my younger years like a feather in the wind, living here then there, doing this then that without any purpose or idea of what I was actually doing on this planet, I have turned my whole life upside down and changed every aspect of it, learned about myself and energy, healed old hurts and said YES to a life of purpose and commitment to life. It did not happen overnight but is definitely worth it. My life makes sense now and it is a joy to live. So, for me the Joy of Ageing is taking this opportunity to keep evolving to a more and more loving way to live and share the joy with the community.
Bernadette
The year 2020 marked the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new one. Selling our home and moving interstate was a huge physical process of decluttering, packing, and unpacking. As the year ended we were settling into our new home and getting to know a new environment. Throughout this process my body made me very aware that it was also undergoing change, reconfiguring, adapting to whatever was required to make the move as flowing and graceful as possible. I am now enjoying the changes and new opportunities to grow and learn. I am appreciating how supported I am by a way of life that provides many tools to guide me on my way through the 73rd cycle of life. There is a feeling of wonderment and expansion with what is on offer each day.
Judy
2020 has been a year of constant adaptation and change. My usual face-to-face teaching at university went online due to Covid. This was a new experience that, surprisingly, I adapted to quite readily, feeling the same level of connection and intimacy with the students as I would have face-to-face. And they felt it too! At the end of the year, I sold my house and with a couple of unexpected changes of direction, I moved interstate. It has been interesting to reflect, at age 74, how I am not looking back as I once might have done, but have been moving forward and adapting to each and every change that has presented itself. What will 2021 bring?
Lynne
At the age of 67, the thing I’m most aware of is the letting go of perfection (without perfection ha ha). It has plagued me all my life and it is so liberating to not have that constant inner critic always yapping in my ear. I’m feeling more settled within myself and therefore more able to enjoy the company of others without feeling that I don’t measure up. I still have my moments, but I’ve noticed how I now hold myself with more acceptance, appreciation and grace. This has been my first year of being part of the Joy of Ageing Esoterically team and I’m loving the experience and really appreciate the opportunity to be able to work with these gorgeous women. I too have had a year of moving house. My husband and I are now living in a truly beautiful place and can feel how we are being prepared foundationally to be all set for stepping into a deeper level of purpose in 2021.
Anne
Covid lockdowns last year led to me suddenly being offered a redundancy in November, something that was not on my radar at the beginning of the year. At 71, leaving work effectively meant being ‘retired’. However, I love to work, and feared that I may never have work again. This revealed how much I had invested in the security of having a permanent position. I now realise that I had been over-riding feelings of increasing discontent and weariness due to hasty organisational changes and the increased pace required to make things ‘work’ in the university sector. It has been great to unpack my security issues and to face the fear of being unemployable at my age. In fact, I’m now busier than ever. My first job offer was childcare, something I never dreamed of doing, but to my surprise the slower pace and emphasis on the quality I bring to the children is a gift to me. I am now enjoying this transition period and the opportunity to really look after me with detailed care.
Ruth
I had lived a very busy, demanding and mostly stressful way of life as an educator, and now in my early seventies I found myself on the cusp of retiring and heading into the era of ‘The Joy of Ageing’ which seemed like an oxymoron to me! To my surprise, and great delight, I now know the truth in living each day in the beautiful qualities that bring forth the Joy of Ageing in my elder years. This new way of living is from a place of feeling and honouring how I feel, and then going about my day in a nurturing and self-caring way. I am finally living from the inside out instead of allowing outside influences to create unsettlement and distress in my body.
Deidre
My 72nd birthday is not far away and how am I feeling? In some areas of my life, I have had to accept the limitations of my body because of ongoing back pain. However, as I have deepened my relationship with the care I take of my body, I have been able to remain actively engaged, working a few days a week with a small child and one other day with a 94 year old lady. I love and deeply appreciate how my life has taken me to this point, which I know could have been very different if I had allowed the pain to rule my life. Of course, there will come a time when work will no longer be a part of my weekly activity but still there will always be a way we can contribute to life, just by simply being ourselves and not allowing ourselves to be dragged into the belief that we have nothing to offer. For indeed, whatever cycle of life we are in and whatever our age we are as valuable as at any other time.