V – Vision

These are very short excerpts from Susan E. Schwartz’s and my recently published book ‘Aging & Becoming ~ A Reflective Enquiry’. Susan E. Schwartz is identified as SES and Susan Scott (me) as SS and italicised. This is from the chapter Vision & Value.

SES: It is possible to have a vision that regards each day as a small but significant unfolding, like the various plants growing in the garden. We plant them when small and now they are older and have taken another shape, maybe gnarly, maybe vibrant with bloom, sometimes needing pruning. We tend to them on a regular basis. Our system, like a garden, needs care to remain vibrant and full rather than sickly or unkempt. pg 123

SS: What has been my version of life up until now? What will help me come into a fuller expression of myself? Will I have to go into the void, or the cave or dungeon, or enter a dense forest? Is this the way to find the treasure? Do I need armor? What awaits? Do I have the capacity for being vulnerable towards myself and others? Can I permit the breaking down of my previous attitudes and attachments? Is it time to show up if I haven’t already? pg 124

Madeleine L’Engle

The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.

24 Comments on #AtoZ Blog Challenge V Vision

  1. I like the example SES gives of plants, we need to prune and tend to them on a regular basis…. so true… we need to constantly keep ourselves healthy constantly checking and sometimes even redefining the vision as we age:)

    • Thanks Genevive – we can tend to ourselves in a similar way we do to the garden. And re-visioning – ah that’s lovely!

  2. “Without vision the people perish,” says scripture. But that doesn’t mean such vision needs to be fully defined. A challenge for me is to take what comes just one step at a time.

    Sometimes I use your Madeleine l’Engle quote on birthday cards. Today I’ll choose 47 – ha!

  3. Hi Susan – this is interesting … I can visualise if I have challenges and work out a few scenarios that prepare me for the future … but now I will still do that ‘forward thinking’ yet of course … starting as new growth I can visualise the new growing stronger, and filling out all the time – what a great thought … I’m a happy bunny now – with visualising built into the days ahead … watching as I live and learn building those new skills and creating what I need to do … thank you – cheers Hilary

    http://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/w-is-for-whistlejacket.html

    • Thanks for coming by Hilary! Visualising scenarios is a helpful exercise using skills you already have and building on them. I must try that myself 🙂 – live and learn, I like that too! Susan

  4. “The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.”

    Now that gives me pause for further thought.

  5. I like the garden analogy. It makes so much sense.
    “Can I permit the breaking down of my previous attitudes and attachments?” A recurring question as I carry on living.
    Thank you Susan.
    V is for Ventriloquist

  6. I especially LOVE this post. Life does give us much to examine as we age. Also, how do I constructively use the lessons I’m seeing in order to reframe my life? This seems especially timely for me. Thanks for your wisdom!

    • Thanks Gwynn, you ask an important question re re-framing your life and using the lessons learned. Maybe consult your dreams as a way of accessing your own inner wisdom?

  7. Susan, once again love your post. I am wondering any plans on translating this book in Indian national language Hindi? I want my mom to read this book. Otherwise I will have to wait to read it to her till I visit next year. Sharing about this book with my soul sister and awesome friend. She would love it. Unfortunately she is going through electronics detox mode, so will personal message her.

    • Hello Mita and thank you for coming by and your lovely comment! Lovely thought about our book being translated into Hindi. That would be wonderful. Interestingly, someone asked in a private email to me about it being translated into Spanish. Thank you for passing on to your friend and soul sister.

  8. I don’t worry too much any more about my vision of the future. I trust what I’ve done will make it work right. Though, I may be making a mistake. I often wonder that.

    • We do what we can do Jacqui, and trust that whatever it is that we’ve stood for, for ourselves and others keeps on us on the straight and ever widening path. Though I too am beset by doubts …

  9. Our vision should encompass not only what’s ahead of us, but where we’ve been and everything that’s around us. After all, where we think we are going can change. We are entitled to take a different route if we see a better way to go. However, if we don’t stay aware and keep our minds open to some degree, we can miss some great opportunities. Tunnel vision can limit us to the loss of a more enriching life.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    • Thanks Arlee, you broaden the field beautifully and note the narrowness of tunnel vision and thereby a less enriching life.

  11. I love how the L’Engle quote wraps what both you and Susan Schwartz are saying, I think this is a key issue to remember, and one that we often forget. We rue and mourn the loses and changes and maybe even celebrate some of them, but not matter what changes externally, the soul imprints are there always accessible.

    • I agree Deborah – we are the sum of our parts and what is imprinted on our souls and what it yet may become – and be accessible to us. Thank you for coming by.

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