Beautiful gazebo. Mika had grown a bit since you adopted her. I slow down once a week when I’m at one of the Park Service’s locations here in Philly (the volunteer’work’ gets me out of the house for four hours / it keeps me centered and sane). Today I’m at the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial Site; my usual site, The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site is closed for various upgrades & repairs for at least another month.
Amen! I’m in my mid 60s and having the best time of my life because I’m taking more time to pay attention to the beauty of the natural world. Consequently, I’m also at my most creatively productive because of the inspiration I receive from Nature.
May I suggest making that gazebo part of your everyday routine, no excuses.
I love your title ‘Too old for this sh*t’! This has become my mantra over the past few years, and this attitude has lead to more opportunities to create and share my work as a composer, including here on Substack. Just last week I received a significant grant to record one of my works, something that has never happened before in my 45 years as a musician.
I look forward to delving back through your posts for more inspiration.
So beautiful. And yes, I too hope that you take the time to sit back there. You’ll be amazed.
I was forced by my medical condition to slow my life. And I hope one day to be up and about again.. but for now I’ve lived my last 4+ years, flat on my back. It has brought many gifts along with the intense pain I live in, one of which is doing so much less. I hope that you are also able to do less now. I learned one “trick” that began the choice to do less. Which is to walk more slowly all the time. That, and to only single task. Like meditation, where I’m to continue to gently nudge the mind back into what I’m doing, I continue to practice. I think I’m getting a little better at it. 💞
I absolutely agree, if you don’t slow down you don’t see life. I hope very much you can find a routine in your life to regularly enjoy that beautiful space ☺️💚
Bless your wise dog. My dog , Mickey, has taught me about wandering in the woods, instead of making our walk something to get done so I can get to work. I have the time in this part of my life to wander, and to sit on the back porch watching clouds drift. Yet the notion of living an active life also pulls at me. Your piece made me think, "how many beautiful Septembers do I have left?" Later this morning, Mickey and I will drive to a trail that I love and I will do my best to breathe it in, wandering and wondering all the way. For me though, it's still an exercise in having a balanced life -- and that's where I often fall short. May the breeze tangle your hair and kiss your cheeks. May you get lost in wonder of the natural world. I always love reading your work.
My dad is 93 and living independently. He drives himself to the nursing home, where my mum was until she died in 2016, twice a week to play the piano for the residents. The fact that he is able to bring some joy into their lives gives him a purpose to still be here, even at this age. I can only hope to emulate him in some way or other.
I bought my current house because of the giant eucalyptus on the dunes in front of me. When I bush walk now I go slow … looking out for each of nature’s beauties. I think as we age that is more important than the destination. Thanks for the reminder.
Loved this article! I have learned to slow down in the past few years. I just turned 68. We gave two nice decks front and back. We've lived in our home since 2005 and never spent time just sitting out there. Now we do it all the time. Watching and listening to the birds and feeling the cool autumn air or a summer breeze. I can completely relate to your article.
Ha, I said about the same thing in my last post. About the need to fight back against the DNA and life experiences that cause me to always, always be in too much of a rush. I'm too old for that, you're right! Let's do this. We can do this. Takes work, takes practice. Great piece!
Thank you, Julia. It’s wonderful to find someone writing about aging and its positive aspects. I feel it’s something of a privilege to be an ‘elder’ and perhaps even to have gained some wisdom to share with others.
Agree with both, Glyn. It's a privilege to live this long and to give back. So many of us don't understand that being able to live well into our later years is a true gift.
I adored this post ❤️❤️❤️ You're so right and Mika is even more right. We have a lot to learn about the pace of life from our dogs. It's difficult not to be impatient on morning walks because we know we have work to do.
The other morning, I was impatient while Dezi took her time. Then, out of nowhere I said the words out loud to myself..."Wait a minute. I RUN my business, my business doesn't run me."
Accept your own invitation, "slow down. Inspect the blades of grass," and see what's on a blade of grass, appreciate its shape, it's length, it's color, how it grows where it is. There's more to see than we might have first imagined and what it takes is time to pause, consider, and find the connections.
Thank you for this lovely mediation. I read it from my hammock under my lovely white oak.
And I have firs and feel soooo lucky....
Beautiful gazebo. Mika had grown a bit since you adopted her. I slow down once a week when I’m at one of the Park Service’s locations here in Philly (the volunteer’work’ gets me out of the house for four hours / it keeps me centered and sane). Today I’m at the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial Site; my usual site, The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site is closed for various upgrades & repairs for at least another month.
Linda, I was also pleasantly surprised to see how big she's gotten in that pic!
She's approaching 70 lbs. Wow.
Amen! I’m in my mid 60s and having the best time of my life because I’m taking more time to pay attention to the beauty of the natural world. Consequently, I’m also at my most creatively productive because of the inspiration I receive from Nature.
May I suggest making that gazebo part of your everyday routine, no excuses.
I love your title ‘Too old for this sh*t’! This has become my mantra over the past few years, and this attitude has lead to more opportunities to create and share my work as a composer, including here on Substack. Just last week I received a significant grant to record one of my works, something that has never happened before in my 45 years as a musician.
I look forward to delving back through your posts for more inspiration.
thank you and so many congratulations!
So beautiful. And yes, I too hope that you take the time to sit back there. You’ll be amazed.
I was forced by my medical condition to slow my life. And I hope one day to be up and about again.. but for now I’ve lived my last 4+ years, flat on my back. It has brought many gifts along with the intense pain I live in, one of which is doing so much less. I hope that you are also able to do less now. I learned one “trick” that began the choice to do less. Which is to walk more slowly all the time. That, and to only single task. Like meditation, where I’m to continue to gently nudge the mind back into what I’m doing, I continue to practice. I think I’m getting a little better at it. 💞
I absolutely agree, if you don’t slow down you don’t see life. I hope very much you can find a routine in your life to regularly enjoy that beautiful space ☺️💚
Bless your wise dog. My dog , Mickey, has taught me about wandering in the woods, instead of making our walk something to get done so I can get to work. I have the time in this part of my life to wander, and to sit on the back porch watching clouds drift. Yet the notion of living an active life also pulls at me. Your piece made me think, "how many beautiful Septembers do I have left?" Later this morning, Mickey and I will drive to a trail that I love and I will do my best to breathe it in, wandering and wondering all the way. For me though, it's still an exercise in having a balanced life -- and that's where I often fall short. May the breeze tangle your hair and kiss your cheeks. May you get lost in wonder of the natural world. I always love reading your work.
I may steal a bit of this, Stephanie. Thank you so much.
My dad is 93 and living independently. He drives himself to the nursing home, where my mum was until she died in 2016, twice a week to play the piano for the residents. The fact that he is able to bring some joy into their lives gives him a purpose to still be here, even at this age. I can only hope to emulate him in some way or other.
We are so very fortunate when we have such examples, Glyn. Thanks again.
I bought my current house because of the giant eucalyptus on the dunes in front of me. When I bush walk now I go slow … looking out for each of nature’s beauties. I think as we age that is more important than the destination. Thanks for the reminder.
Thank you for this! Trees are a gift and should be treated as such. I hope you make time to enjoy many happy hours in the shade.
I have a 2.5kg chihuahua and I need to slow down too. Thank you for the lesson Julia. It's just what I needed right now. Timely indeed.
As the debate looms and the screaming increases, I. NEED. QUIET.
Loved this article! I have learned to slow down in the past few years. I just turned 68. We gave two nice decks front and back. We've lived in our home since 2005 and never spent time just sitting out there. Now we do it all the time. Watching and listening to the birds and feeling the cool autumn air or a summer breeze. I can completely relate to your article.
That is precisely what I am starting to do myself, now that the triple digits are mostly behind us!
Ha, I said about the same thing in my last post. About the need to fight back against the DNA and life experiences that cause me to always, always be in too much of a rush. I'm too old for that, you're right! Let's do this. We can do this. Takes work, takes practice. Great piece!
Thank you! Now I’m off to the gym!
Thank you, Julia. It’s wonderful to find someone writing about aging and its positive aspects. I feel it’s something of a privilege to be an ‘elder’ and perhaps even to have gained some wisdom to share with others.
Agree with both, Glyn. It's a privilege to live this long and to give back. So many of us don't understand that being able to live well into our later years is a true gift.
I adored this post ❤️❤️❤️ You're so right and Mika is even more right. We have a lot to learn about the pace of life from our dogs. It's difficult not to be impatient on morning walks because we know we have work to do.
The other morning, I was impatient while Dezi took her time. Then, out of nowhere I said the words out loud to myself..."Wait a minute. I RUN my business, my business doesn't run me."
It was a real eye-opener.
Precisely!
Lovely reminder for taking time while I still have some.
Accept your own invitation, "slow down. Inspect the blades of grass," and see what's on a blade of grass, appreciate its shape, it's length, it's color, how it grows where it is. There's more to see than we might have first imagined and what it takes is time to pause, consider, and find the connections.