Creating Conscious Aging?

Hmmm. Not quite sure where this one is going. But it matters to me. Keeps calling to me.

I quite like this photo from last week. Of Cedars. Felt like a council. Standing in circle. I suppose I wish to age with the wisdom of Cedars.

I was on a recent Zoom call with a friend that I respect and admire. He’s in his mid 70s. We’ve been exploring together monthly ish over the last three years. On this day, it was exploring a topic we both hold with genuineness — aging consciously. He at his mid 70s age. Me at my young 60s age.

He names three learnings. “One, I’m a bit slower. Two, I’ve learned a bit more about when to keep my mouth shut. Three, I’m a bit more focussed on purpose.”

Conscious aging.

Yup.

Me too. It frustrates me to need be so quick. More accurately, it scares me a bit that I can’t be quite as quick as I have been. Not quite as quick mind. Hmm…, not quite as quick heart. I’m asking questions about what I hope is natural transition from the speed of it, so required in contemporary world, to the clarity. Hmm… Clarity is a form of speed. Hmmm?

Me too. I’ve needed to learn what is mine to take on, and what isn’t. It’s boundaries. It’s guiding when invited. Or inspired. But it’s also knowing that people need to be in their own paths of learning. Honoring that. Maybe coaching a bit.

Me too. It’s got to have clarity of purpose. I suppose this is back to the first point. Again, in transparency, it scares me a bit to lose sight of purpose. For myself. In a group. I notice I start to feel impatient. Hmm… Might be that aging with consciousness invites more focus — that’s a gift. But also the surrender to less breadth. Hmmm?

Yah. So, standing with these questions. And with a few friends. In a council. With patience. I hope with wisdom. Like with the Cedars.

4 Replies to “Creating Conscious Aging?”

  1. I take this straight to heart at age 59…thanks Tenneson. I’ll especially recall and keep relating with: “It frustrates me to need be so quick. More accurately, it scares me a bit that I can’t be quite as quick as I have been. Not quite as quick mind. Hmm…, not quite as quick heart. I’m asking questions about what I hope is natural transition from the speed of it, so required in contemporary world, to the clarity. Hmm… Clarity is a form of speed. Hmmm?”
    Spot on in my current experience.

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Gifts of Circle - Question Cardsasd
Gifts of Circle is 30 short essays divided into 4 sections: 1) Circle's Bigger Purpose, 2) Circle's Practice, 3) Circle's First Requirements, and 4) Circle's Possibility for Men. From the Introduction: "Circle is what I turn to in the most comprehensive stories I know -- the stories of human beings trying to be kind and aware together, trying to make a difference in varied causes for which we need to go well together. Circle is also what I turn to in the most immediate needs that live right in front of me and in front of most of us -- sharing dreams and difficulties, exploring conflicts and coherences. Circle is what I turn to. Circle is what turns us to each other."

Question Cards is an accompanying tool to Gifts of Circle. Each card (34) offers a quote from the corresponding chapter in the book, followed by sample questions to grow your Circle hosting skills and to create connection, courage, and compassionate action among groups you host in Circle.

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In My Nature
is a collection of 10 poems. From A Note of Beginning: "This collection of poems arises from the many conversations I've been having about nature. Nature as guide. Nature as wild. Nature as organized. I remain a human being that so appreciates a curious nature in people. That so appreciates questions that pick fruit from inner being, that gather insights and intuitions to a basket, and then brings the to table to be enjoyed and shared over the next week."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in In My Nature. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in Most Mornings. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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