"I seem to be waking to a larger world of wonderment – to catch little glimpses of the immensity and diversity of creation. More than at any other time of my life, I seem to be aware of the beauties of our spinning planet and the sky above. Old age is sharpening my awareness." * ~ Ram Dass, Being With What Is*
I wish I would have written the above paragraph; maybe I'm not quite old enough yet. Each year I feel more and more aware of life!
Ram Das will be 84 on April 6, 2015. In 1971, his seminal book, Be Here Now, was published. I remember having a copy years ago but now I can't locate it. Today everyone writes about being in the moment!
As you get older, do you appreciate the immensity and diversity of life? I do. Do you appreciate the beauty of the present moment? I do.
Let me know how you cope with aging - no matter what your age.
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Now that would be an interesting study — what are the characteristics of a growing awareness in/of life. In my 50th year I appreciate more that things go on as they will without my efforts and that there are cycles of how people see things - what questions people ask - and what we all get bothered about. Kind of like how fashion cycles for clothing, maybe we all only have so many things to think about and so we cycle back through them over time. That’s what i notice more of.
ReplyDeleteI love your question Matthew - what are the characteristics of growing awareness? It seems to me one might be awareness of how connected we all are. Did you have other ideas for this study?
DeleteTo use old age as a time to explore the mystery is what it’s all about. I had always hoped that aging would make me wiser and it has. But I’d like to believe that I am wiser because I have kept the childlike wonder and awe of the world around me and that I have had the curiosity to explore it.
ReplyDeleteYes. I love your first sentence! This may be a new focus for this blog who knows? And you will be the person that solidified this idea in my mind! Thank you! Your recent move is inspiring me to explore all the options for healthy living.
DeleteAs far as coping with aging,at least for this 61 year old woman,I am totally fine with it...well with the exception of groaning due to stairs,tight jeans,the unexpected sneeze or belly laugh...you get the picture...what Absolutely always saddened me was seeing my parents looking older and older..I especially had a humorous connection with my father....laughter hid a lot of anxiety about getting the "phone call ".
ReplyDeleteYes, I do get the picture - I experience the exceptions too!
DeleteSeeing people we love get older can be difficult. It reminds us that they won't be around forever. It can also remind us to cherish them every moment.
Thanks for your comment - good to hear from you!