It's foggy again this morning - very atmospheric and Hitchcockian. I have totally mundane pursuits in mind, however, including going to the post office and ordering some stuff online. Since the dogs are outside my door I'd better include walking them. Our son returned from the cabin last night and evidently had a great time with his friends. We'd saved him some turkey and trimmings per his request, so he returned home to eat them for dinner. Our younger daughter leaves this coming week for a wedding back east, and generally things are gearing up for the holidays. I had a nice walk yesterday with an old friend, and the dharma talk yesterday was still floating around in my head, so it was a peaceful day.
I think it's difficult for us to adjust to being older and not doing so much. We judge ourselves and don't feel productive, which is the yardstick we've been measuring ourselves by. My friend is having trouble adjusting, and it's a dilemna for most of us. How do you slow down? How do you feel you have a place in the world if you're not out doing something? And what we have to offer in terms of wisdom and experience is not valued in our culture. I believe our lives become about the tiny interactions we have with others out in the world, and our gentle support to those of our own generation about what is true and right: a good heart, compassion, generousity, and good humor, which we have in more abundance than younger people. We have PERSPECTIVE. We can listen and see that what is truly important is addressed, in a gentle way, so others don't flounder in shoulds and coulds. You have to be still sometimes to drink from the well of your own being. Without the resource of your own beautiful self, well, then you feel lost. It's our time of life to stop and smell the roses, daffodils, irises and other hidden joys right around us. And perhaps nudge our friends and family to do likewise.
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