Poetic Revelations: The Grace of Age
Being You-er than You
"When I grow up I want to be an old woman. Oh an o-o-o-o-old, an old, old woman." ~ Michelle Shocked, lyrics When I Grow Up
SELECTED POEMS
Utopia, Wislawa Szymborska
Possibilities, Wislawa Szymborska
Dear Embodied Hearts and Dancing Souls,
The graphic above incorporaes a quote by Dr. Suess. When we embrace our real self, we are willing to stand up for our proclivaties and preferences.
In the moment. One of my playmates in the current Playgroup was struck by how words just show up in the moment. In response, I chose to attribute it to Body Wisdom. But the next day, I realized that wasn’t quite right. My playmate’s words held value but I didn’t take it in the right direction.
She was speaking to the information and possibility available to us in the moment. In the here and now. This is the gift of creative play. The more YOU are in the moment, the MORE there is possible FOR you (and others). Another way to say this is:
The more of YOU there is in this moment, the MORE that is possible for everyone.
How cool is this? All I know is: this world is better with more of the real YOU in it.
The Grace of Age. I used the phrase, “the Grace of Age” alot this week. All around, people are struggling with permitting themselves to grow, coming up against limiting beliefs around change and aging.
The Grace of Age is we can begin a relationship with our real self once our societal works and obligations have dissolved. Its not spiritual. I’ve had an internal bent my whole life, yet it took turning 55 for me to realize my unique wiring, the necessity of Creativity in my life, and …a distinct force is Alive in me that is its own Being.
The Grace of Age is a place we can go beyond society’s expectations, perhaps even our own. We tend to bend into a certain shape from adversity and expectations. This shape becomes an identity. Its the doorknob people turn to interact with us. We might not even know who we are without it. Only where old structures go away (child-rearing, marriage, a full-time job) do we find the pause to honor something more real and true within.
Sometimes we need a bit of assistance here…to help untangle the mental belief of identity and find out who we really are. Someone to listen and affirm our truth. The stumbling about when we lose an identity is normal and human. Let’s usher in the miracle of You that awaits. As the mermaid knows: its the only way through.
On my terms. With the felt experience of our inherent richness, we open up to making choices in line with our heart and soul. Choices that are invincible. Increasingly, Life is asking me to better discern what is right for me, sometimes in sticky social situations. What I love about the process is that once I am clear about my Yes’s and No’s, I can be honest, direct and concise with those involved.
This would never have happened 10 years ago. I would have been in a subconscious tug of war – my truth versus my fear of rejection. As I lean into this miraculous layer of Being Alive, a door is opening. At work, my new manager looked at me and said, “Give me a list of your wants. Let me see what I can make happen.” Life is showing me a way to live on my terms. I am sure there are many wizened women reading this who already know this magic, but this is quite new to me.
Stay #heartwoke. To your exquisite unfolding.
Monisha, I love the invitations here in The Grace Of Age, in being a wizened woman. You put words to my lived experience of the invitation that awaits when structures change,for example retiring from a teaching career. Thank you for this offering, and I love that a new boss asked for your wants!
beautiful!! so glad you are on substack