FootprintsintheWind.com

There are not simply losses in old age, but gains as well. The subtle and nuanced thing is you cannot always tell one from the other.

:- Doug.

The meaning harvesting has shifted later—in part because of the speed up in adult years, in part because there is time and health and inclination to reflect. What used to happen in adult years now happens in elder years—and perhaps it happens better. Because there is more focused attention for longer the results will be different and more.

:- Doug.

Elders: there is much to be—for others.

:- Doug.

Some old folks become elders.

:- Doug.

Be safe, but not too much.

:- Doug.

Vaillant’s conclusion that spirituality does not deepen with age is probably partially right and partially wrong. Again there is a factor of choice. I was spiritual in my single digit years, religious in my teens and twenties. Then in my fifties I became spiritual and a mystic and have continued to deepen and develop since then. So yes, I was always spiritual and that did not change. At the same time, there has been development, growth. Perhaps we do not have the scales with which to measure. If we needed to measure.

:- Doug.

In big name college football they seem less to be playing a game than doing business.

:- Doug.

What is the attitude of play? The stance? How does a curmudgeon or a non-curmudgeon develop play and fun? Are there elements or steps to take? Or is it simply in the genes? Playfulness, says Bernie DeKoven. He is on to something.

:- Doug.

What are the stages of being an elder? What’s now? What’s ahead?

:- Doug.

Eldering is the art of befriending grandchildren and raising up community.

:- Doug.

Eldering is asking “What am I doing for the next generation?” and starting. And becoming thin like mist.

:- Doug.

Eldering is the art and activity of being generative of grandchildren and evocative of meaning for the community.

:- Doug.

What will you miss if you don’t elder the grandchildren and community?

:- Doug.

Exploration, asking questions, from a glimpse takes energy. If you don’t have it, the finger pointing is not followed, perhaps not even seen. So when you are ill to the extent that your energy is depleted, it affects your muse, too.

:- Doug.

It takes energy to follow your muse—to go up the path she points you.

:- Doug.

A life in words
mine
and numbers—O!

:- Doug.

Are we open to being unclear?

:- Doug.

The big secret is that people
keep on growing past adulthood

:- Doug.

It’s a pretty domain
with sun on the green
me it looks out upon

:- Doug.

What are the questions we need to ask ourselves to make our map of eldering truer? How complex and simple need it be?

:- Doug.

What are some tasks of your elderhood?

:- Doug.

Safety is a sales pitch to adult children.

:- Doug.

The big news that should not be news is that we continue to develop as we age. The secondary news is that in all adult development is an element of choice.

:- Doug.