What's good about Getting Old?

What's good about having years under our belts? How do you feel about embracing the idea of being an Elder?

Permalink Reply by denise mooney on February 18, 2009 at 1:35pm: one thing is that sweet young people often pop out of no where in order to be helpful to me!...i love that!...

in some ways, i am already the elder in my circle...and part of that is helping the younger folks live a full happy life...i do that by example, and by sharing my perspective...also by sharing my resources...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by deerwoman on February 20, 2009 at 7:50am: Greetings Ellen and Denise,

I can relate to a degree to what you are asking and wish to respond, yet, I feel that there is something spoken in the question that conjures up a negative feeling. Is it possible that our language does not contain respectful words or phrases for the process of having more years on this earth and being wiser in the process?

With friendship,
deerwoman; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ellen Haas on February 26, 2009 at 10:01pm: Hi Deerwoman

I'm reading the conversation that followed this, intrigued. The way I put the question was, indeed, intended to provoke, and it did! But check this out. I might have asked:
"What's good about being young?" "What's good about being strong?" "What's good about getting smarter?"And because young, strong, and smart have "good" connotations those questions doesn't have the smack of negativity of the one I did ask, "What's good about getting older?" So, I think we folks with years under our belt need to take back the word "old" and make it good again. We do in our communities kind of agree that Elder is good. But I don't think we're there yet with Old. Unless we're talking about lace, antiques or old growth forests... Interesting.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by deerwoman on March 4, 2009 at 9:19am: Provoke vs. agitate! Hmmm. I say 'old' is 'old'. LOL

Well, as I find that here in cyberspace where we are known by our words, it makes the meaning of the 'Thanksgiving Address' all the more meaningful. The point there is 'words before all else'. But, as I look for ways to present my most positive self, I realize that the vocabulary we have is very limited. If we are to evolve, we may need more words to describe a more positive culture that we are reconditioning our world to become.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by denise mooney on February 20, 2009 at 9:23am: dear ellen and deerwoman and all...

i completely agree w u, deerwoman, that the language of the q frames the thoughts and therefore, the reply...

for instance, i bristled a little bit when i thought to myself, "whats good to me about my getting old?"...my first reaction, i think, stemmed from thinking of myself as "old"...part of my definition included "staleness"...and i reject that notion as it applies to aging!!!...

time is such an overrated dimension!...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by deerwoman on February 20, 2009 at 10:12am: time is such an overrated dimension!...

Denise my Sister,

You have already provided me with two wonderful quotes. Not only did it make me laugh, but I wil treasure them. The one I quoted above is one of them. The other you left for me at my camp. And I want to thank you for that.

Perhaps this is the benefit. Appreciation and depth of experience, with a healthy dose of laughing it all off.

I am still curious about the language we have that fails us to express that which we praise. Our language and expression seems to be outside the experience and talking about it from a distance.

With gratitude for this conversation,
deerwoman; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by denise mooney on February 21, 2009 at 5:37am: dear sister deerwoman and all others visiting here...

it really made me happy to hear that u liked the words i wrote...AND that they made u laugh!...no kidding, that is the best!...(what was the other thing?)...

we have been programmed to concentrate on criticizing (whether constuctively or not)...that is why our language is not YET adequate for expression of appreciation...

i intend that i will not be worried about my own personal so-called lack of appreciative language...i do know how to say "thank u"...and i intend that i say as many of them as i can comfortably say...

thank u all for being here and reading this,
denise...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by deerwoman on March 4, 2009 at 9:11am: time is such an overrated dimension!...

This one still makes me laugh! It really should be on a bumper sticker or t-shirt...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paul Tobin-coyote Song on February 26, 2009 at 2:21pm: It feels natural and good Especially if your in a mentoring community It's very rewarding I love it.
Coyote Song; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by deerwoman on March 4, 2009 at 9:07am: Greetings to all,

'hindsight' One realizes that there will be hindsight after a set of experiences, so no need to rush to judgement.

When I look at the photos of the younger members of this tribe at WAS, it seems to me a different lifetime all together when I was that age. Yet, I appreciate so much the personal wisdom I have gathered from my many years, and experiences in this life. It's like having a treasure chest of experience to dip into. Also, you see that time is limited. Many friends have already passed. Some never made it to full adulthood. So, you appreciate your time and know how precious it is. I think I can go on and on about this ....

Walk in beauty,
deerwoman; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paul Tobin-coyote Song on March 6, 2009 at 4:30pm: Well I'm your east cost counter part I don't know you personally but fell connected Spiritual.So Deer women maybe an elder getting to know each other in this setting would be good. What do you think?
Love
Coyote Song; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Helena Wu on March 6, 2009 at 6:30pm: I am getting older but not sure if I qualify as Elder. I suppose you grow into it like any other phase of living. In some ways I feel I have something to share and a responsibility to speak up and act. I love learning from those I teach. Life is still exciting and I wish I had more bodies so I could do everything I want to do!; ▶ Reply to This