Blog Posts

NEW LIFE, OLD LIFE

31/5/2021

New Life, Old Life … A circular journey, one day at a time, in deep appreciation.

Now at 71 years of age, I am alive and well, observing and safeguarding a young person who is sleeping in her bedroom, quite a privileged position to be in. It is 4.50am on a winter’s morning. Soon, I will be driving home to catch up on my own sleep after a 12-hour night shift.

IS TIME 'RUNNING OUT'?

31/3/2021

I remember when I reached my thirties having a sense of urgency that it was now or never if I wanted to have children. There was a distinct sense that ‘time was running out’ and as the years ticked by the pressure of the burning question increased. My husband obviously felt the pressure of my need and was not open to having a child.

"I'm LATE, I'M LATE, FOR A VERY IMPORTANT DATE!"

28/2/2021

Artist: Leigh Matson

I have a habit of being late. Not for an interview or work – I am fully responsible there, but for something that might be enjoyable for me such as a session, an outing, an exercise class. I try to fit in all sorts of little things that seem to suddenly become important to do before I go. I get on a momentum and start rushing. Time seems to speed up and I need to hurry to get out the door.

THE QUESTION OF PURPOSE

28/2/2021

When I first heard the word purpose the big question was, “What does this mean to me?” After much wondering and pondering, I considered that purpose maybe meant voluntary work, something within the community, or painting or perhaps a walking group. Then all of a sudden Covid-19 arrived, isolation rules were set in place.

MAGNIFICENCE AT PLAY

31/12/2020

Nursing my 86 year-old mother, I noticed there were some days where she looked old and shrivelled and others where there was an ageless quality about her. On those days she appeared magnificent. I observed this over nine months as her body was preparing to pass over.

LETTING GO OF THE NEED TO GET IT RIGHT

30/10/2020

Artist: Bernadette Curtin

A while back I was offered a job as a dental assistant and, before I knew it, a Yes had popped out of my mouth even though I had never had any training for this work. My first day on the job was such fun as I arrived in the innocence of not knowing and with an openness and willingness to learn and bring what I could. I also had the support of the dental nurse who was about to leave.

UNFOLDING FROM WITHIN – UN-RETIRING

30/10/2020

When I reflect back on my life, I can see a deeper plan that has been evolving over the years, deeper than the roles and experiences that I have lived. It feels to me that as we grow older and if we allow it, we are unfolding from within.

I did not always have this awareness.

FINDING STILLNESS IN ISOLATION

1/10/2020

Living in isolation for these past months during Melbourne's lockdown has given me a settlement, an opportunity to develop inner stillness, therefore more space both within and without to reflect on a deeper level at the choices I made that were detrimental to the health of my physical body and sense of well-being.

ENTITLED TO BE HUMAN

1/9/2020

Artist: Leigh Matson

What does ‘entitled to be human’ mean? My understanding is that it means we are entitled to think whatever we like about our self or another, entitled to react, entitled to be better or lesser, to be judgemental, entitled to eat whatever the taste buds want even if it may not agree with the body, entitled to drive the body and override its messages – all of this shows us that the human being has a sense of entitlement at the expense of our body and our health.

EVERYDAY SELF-ENTITLEMENT

1/9/2020

As we age, the study of self becomes more meaningful, or perhaps it is just that we finally have the time for more self-reflection than we did when we were younger. In those younger years, we were working full time, raising the family, going on outdoor and definitely more physically challenging adventures. I wouldn’t have had a clue or the time to find a clue as to what self-entitlement meant when I was younger.

COMFORT IN OUR LATER YEARS – AN ENTITLEMENT?

1/9/2020

As a student of The Way of The Livingness, and in my elder years, I am aware of the joy and sheer energy with which other students of this Way embrace life. A younger friend spoke one day of how she was in awe of this energy and commitment to life shown in the elder group and we discussed the different attitudes in society to old age and what is seen as retirement. Two words were predominant in the discussion. entitlement and comfort.

WITHDRAWING OR FEELING THE GLORY OF STILLNESS?

1/8/2020

I’ve been pondering on the probability that many folk in their later years tend to hold back, withdraw, or perhaps lose the will, if one would like to call it that, to continue life with a physical purpose, with joy or with any thought of continuing to explore the possibility of having a plan to fulfil the ‘what’s next’ on the To Do List.
It seems to me that some may think there is a requirement to keep going, no matter the cost to what the body is truly feeling.

DEEP APPRECIATION AND ACCEPTANCE

1/8/2020

Six months ago, I had a fall and broke my left hip and my left wrist and I knew straight away that this was an opportunity – that it was part of an unfolding for me to reconnect deeper within and let go of the drive that has run my body for way too long.
I would not have looked at an accident as being an opportunity when I was younger. However, in 2008 I began to change when my mother died.

THE HARM OF KEEPING THE PEACE

1/7/2020

Artist: Joseph Barker

Recently I had a realisation. I was having a conversation with a member of my family, after which I was able to reflect on what had occurred. I saw that her past hurts were still being played out in the present, and the part I played was that I enjoined in that by allowing these conversations to continue taking place.

VULNERABILITY – A STRENGTH OR A WEAKNESS?

27/5/2020

At a time in history when the world is experiencing the outplay of the pandemic known as Covid-19, I am sure that there are many amongst us who are feeling very vulnerable; from our wonderful elders, to those whose health may be already compromised in some way, and others who constantly live with various degrees of anxiousness, no matter what is going in the world around them.

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON ISOLATION

27/5/2020

Artist: Leigh Matson

It was day one in isolation in The Hoi An Beach Resort Hotel, sitting on the steps looking out to the river front contemplating how on earth I would manage the next nine days… I was watching a very small fishing boat in the middle of the river. I had noticed it the day before, sitting for hours in the full sun.

UNDERSTANDING SENSITIVITY

30/4/2020

What do we mean when we talk about being sensitive and how does sensitivity feel in our body? I realize that I have used this word for a long time without having an understanding of the true meaning – and that I sometimes use words without due respect and integrity. I have ‘used’ words carelessly for so long and now I am feeling that I want to connect to the truth of the words that I use. Without this connection words become worthless and meaningless.

FLEXIBILITY AND ADAPTABILITY IN MY 70’S

31/3/2020

Like giving birth to a baby, no-one can prepare you for what lies ahead – you can’t see how your life will be in your 70’s. It’s up to you to live it your way. It’s about how you have lived and how flexible you are able to be in adapting to this later cycle of your life – it’s a work in progress. So, what does this look like for me and how important is it for me to remain flexible and adaptable in my 70’s?

NEVER TOO OLD TO GET TO WHERE I WANT TO GO

31/3/2020

On my favourite gorge walk recently, with steep cliffs and rocks going down to the water I saw two younger people snorkelling and swimming. I noticed two other women standing on the edge of the water also. I was wondering how did these ‘young ones’ – I am 66 – get down there? There were no stairs, paths, or any easy way visible to get down there.

TAKING STOCK OF LIFE

30/1/2020

When I was 19 and 20 I felt like I was invincible – abundant with energy and passion. I thought I was going to live forever and nothing was going to get in my way. I was living for the experience of what I saw around me, I was reckless and did not really care for myself or for others. My recklessness led me to a bad car accident and a few other reality checks.

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS – WHY IS IT SO HARD TO STICK TO THEM?

30/12/2019

How often have you made a new year’s resolution and within a few weeks or months found yourself back in the old pattern doing exactly what you resolved not to do? You may have had the best of intentions but why is it so hard to stick to your resolve?

The first question to ask is: Where is the resolve coming from?

IMPERMANENCE - WHAT IS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH IT?

30/8/2019

Impermanence is the nature of human existence. We might think impermanence relates particularly to situations where we fear losing something or someone, e.g. the death of a parent or partner, the end of a relationship or the loss of a job.

BEAUTY IN FULL BLOOM - CELEBRATION IN OUR ELDER YEARS.

31/7/2019

When we enter the cycle of redefining celebration in our elder years it may be hard for us to acknowledge it as a time for celebration due to the conditioning of our beliefs and ideals. However, if we look at the true meaning of celebration there is much to celebrate as we grow older – our beauty in full bloom.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? PART 3: HOW CAN WE PREPARE FOR OUR FUTURE?

30/5/2019

So, what does the futurehold for us? Will it mean that elders will need to be proactive in all decision-making processes whether it is personal, physical or political?

Yes, definitely – empowerment for elders is in our hands – now and in the future but only if we are actively engaged in our commitment to life during these final decades.

WHAT DOES OUR FUTURE HOLD? PART 2: EMPOWERMENT FOR ELDERS

29/4/2019

The need for empowerment for elders was made clear by our previous article, Part 1: What Does Our Future Hold.
The following statistics, quoted at the 2014 UN Convention for the Rights of Older Persons, reveal the urgency of looking at what the future holds for ageing in society: 'In Australia, the average life expectancy is now over 80 for both men and women and rising . . .

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Forward>>

NEW LIFE, OLD LIFE

IS TIME 'RUNNING OUT'?

"I'm LATE, I'M LATE, FOR A VERY IMPORTANT DATE!"

THE QUESTION OF PURPOSE

MAGNIFICENCE AT PLAY

LETTING GO OF THE NEED TO GET IT RIGHT

UNFOLDING FROM WITHIN – UN-RETIRING

FINDING STILLNESS IN ISOLATION

ENTITLED TO BE HUMAN

EVERYDAY SELF-ENTITLEMENT

COMFORT IN OUR LATER YEARS – AN ENTITLEMENT?

WITHDRAWING OR FEELING THE GLORY OF STILLNESS?

DEEP APPRECIATION AND ACCEPTANCE

THE HARM OF KEEPING THE PEACE

VULNERABILITY – A STRENGTH OR A WEAKNESS?

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON ISOLATION

UNDERSTANDING SENSITIVITY

FLEXIBILITY AND ADAPTABILITY IN MY 70’S

NEVER TOO OLD TO GET TO WHERE I WANT TO GO

TAKING STOCK OF LIFE

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS – WHY IS IT SO HARD TO STICK TO THEM?

IMPERMANENCE - WHAT IS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH IT?

BEAUTY IN FULL BLOOM - CELEBRATION IN OUR ELDER YEARS.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? PART 3: HOW CAN WE PREPARE FOR OUR FUTURE?

WHAT DOES OUR FUTURE HOLD? PART 2: EMPOWERMENT FOR ELDERS

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