Conscious Aging: Pausing

As we age, move into what is sometimes called the second phase of adulthood (moving out of career and family building), we may find that pausing and noticing has a different quality for us now. In this short talk and poem, we can reflect upon the value of pausing and noticing in our lives as we choose to approach our aging more consciously. (Music by Piano Calm from Pixabay; photo by ELG21)

Transcript

Welcome, Friends. As we move into the latter phases of adulthood, Past career and family building, Of world shaping to whatever degree our lives have allowed and demanded, We may find that accepting what is and living in the present moment has a different quality than it did when we were younger and driven by different ambitions. Then acceptance and being present may well have been suffused with a more vital energy that of doing and anticipation. Now we may find that we exhibit a greater calm, A greater stillness, And that we sense in all things all around us a certain softening and deepening. With that may come at times a sense of melancholy, A bit of sadness, But in that sadness we may find a kind of quiet joy that our younger selves may not have been able to know. We were striving then. Now to whatever degree, We have accomplished our tasks as much as we might. We may find then that whether we are willing to believe it or not, We have done enough. This is a short poem about that experience of accepting what arises and allowing ourselves to cease striving, About the tenor of the present moment for us now as we seek to age more consciously. As you listen, I hope you'll allow the words to suffuse you with a sense of acceptance and peace. After, I'll offer a short reflection for us to meditate upon. The poem is titled, Pausing, Whatever Arises. Whatever arises I shall allow. Whatever arises I shall allow. Here well beyond the halfway point on the arc of the journey of my life, As the sun lures in the sky through the faltering leaves, I shall pause, Allow my breath to leave me and pause and wait. Let others bear the burdens of the world, Let others fight the fires of first things, Let each find their own way forward. Here now, Beneath this high and thin sky, I shall raise my eyes to the peak of this dome of blue and white and let my lungs fill with air as crisp as the knife wind of winter. Here so far from the corrosive burn of work and busyness I can rest, I have come this far, This far, I have done enough. And now as the sun settles further into the horizon, As the twilight looms from beneath the earth's gray shadow, I shall pause, Let my lungs empty of air and wait again to breathe. Whatever arises I shall allow. Whatever arises I shall allow. Let us take a moment and consider the impulse of the poem, Which asks us to accept our own unfinished business as good enough. Having lived so long with striving, Most of us have probably never felt a complete sense of accomplishment. There has always been more to do, More to take on, More to complete, But here, As we move into the latter phases of life, We may find ourselves needing to set down that sense of striving, To be here now in a new awareness of acceptance of the incompleteness of things in life. Let us take a few moments now to reflect upon whatever images, Voices, Or feelings arise. Hope you have found this experience helpful as you move into the next phase of your life. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below. I'll try to reply to all. Be well, My friends.

Reviews

Thank you..I needed to hear this ...comforting and gentle.

Thank you. It’s ok to just breathe and not be in the rat race. It feels so so good.