Human to Human

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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.

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And Another Thing About “Now”

I love this photo. Taken last week on a bus ride into the Swiss Alps. It’s the man standing in the boat that most catches my attention. Something about the color. On still water. Against a backdrop of rather impressive and steep mountain. I imagine him pensive. Reflective. Maybe, just maybe, reflecting on some version of “now”. Maybe calmed by it.

The poem below is a repost from last summer. Given the belly imperative of “now,” I notice I’m returning to writings and to conversations that lift relationship with “now.”

Enjoy. The original context of post is here. Thx for reading.

What now
in this great, great journey?

What now
that is slow, steady?

What now
that is quickened, changed?

What now
in this great, great unfurling?

Perhaps, just one now.
And then another.

Perhaps the journey
knows itself to unfurl.

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Learn Now

Learn Now.

It’s a theme that keeps coming for me. When I’m trying to get at what lives underneath. Sometimes in my own learning. Sometimes with others. Sometimes in Life’s unfolding simplicity and complexity.

Learn Now.

From the path. From the blossoms so abundant in Spring. From the people blossoming near and far. From the distant view. From the close in. From what is smooth. From what is rough. From what is constant. From what changes.

Learn Now. There’s always something. And somethings.

It’s a call to the belly for me. That brings heart alive. That brings intuition alive. That brings wonder alive. That brings contribution alive.

Learn Now.

Learn Nowness. Learn Now, in present moment. Of present moment. Learn of what is alive. Of patterns. Of unfolded life. Of Life coming to claim us.

Learn Now.

To be people in connection, sorting it all. The best we can.

Learn Now. Yup. Pretty themed on this one.

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Today Is A Return Day

Today is a return day.

From travel. It’s been 13 days of cathedrals, vineyards, castles, and rivers. It’s been dear ones. Thank you France, Luxembourg, Germany, and Switzerland.

Today is a return day.

To this laptop. To emails needing attention. To projects and people ready to go. To sorting details left in short pause.

I prefer returns that “bring with” more than returns that “chunk” parts of me to leave behind. Or to forget.

I prefer remembering the coffees together. The immensity of cathedral and castle. The smooth glide of river boat. The feel of cobblestone under feet. The newness of love. The awe of things and peoples from very long ago.

Today is a return day.

From unique spaciousness of holiday.

Today is a return day.

To ongoing everythings.

It means start somewhere. It means celebrate. It means integrate. With added attention to kindness. With added and deliberate appreciation.

Today is a return day.

To life flowing in the other ways. Some small. Some large. Some simple. Some complex. Some with difficult sorrow. Some with exquisite joy flowing.

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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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asd
Most Mornings is a collection of 37 poems. I loved writing them. From the introduction: "This collection of poems comes from some of my sense-making that so often happens in the morning, nurtured by overnight sleep. The poems sample practices. They sample learnings. They sample insights and discoveries. They sample dilemmas and concerns."

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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