P – PATH

attention teacher

Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.
C.S. Lewis

This time of aging is a time of preoccupation and paying attention. The paradox is that it is a paradox. Feeling the time constraint, do possibilities really become limited or do we delude ourselves and use this as an excuse? Is this line of reasoning not at peril to the personality? The development of self has no time limit and is lodged more in the sacred space than the profane one. Our lives continue to have purpose, even when we are depressed, in despair, feel lost and unable to find the path. Like any stage of life, as we age, we have the possibility of progression through it or the choice to be overwhelmed and succumb to the emotional conflicts and distress. Our projects and activities mean keeping an active dialogue with the unconscious and using it as our guide. There are so few guides given about aging and its process of unfolding and becoming. We could consult our dreams…

 What are the priorities now? They change as life does; and moves with the rhythm of our existence. We want to take pride in where we are and what we have done and plan to do. We want to use the present to reflect our persona with a connection to the depths of our being. We do not want to be bound by what ‘should’ be but by how we are, really and authentically. Our sense of self is more definite now, just like how we have definitely developed a certain preference for our coffee or tea.

 We are on a path. It has twists and turns and each day and each moment we select this one and not that. We are limited and expanded at the same time. One moment we are private, passive, personal and protected and then at another, public and seen.  One enhances the other. The path alters but in honesty we will prefer this over that. In time we are what we have chosen. The path defines us as much as we do it. In a way it is a relief to narrow the choices and be a specialist.

And, our path also holds surprises like when we post-menopausal women, older than the age of fertility, dream of being pregnant. Actually, it is not uncommon for many women after menopause to have dreams of pregnancy, giving birth, caring for children, breast feeding. Of course this makes sense, as inner creativity, or new birth, is not contingent on having an actual child. It is representative of potential that continues through the life cycle if we remain true to our fate and live with consciousness, in the flowering of our being.

 Lastly, in order to do all this, we have the gift and problem of patience. Patience is a hard road. It makes for slow travel, minute attention, personal reflection, feeling. It is a requirement and a form of glue for the rest to work. Nothing happens fast anyhow. Why is this so hard to practise? Transformation and fulfilment is beyond age and time. Patience transcends both as well. The development of our psyche is unending and just keeps on going. The path is made more palatable with patience.

Are you patient on your path?

35 Comments on P – Path

  1. One moment we are private, passive, personal and protected and then at another, public and seen. One enhances the other. The path alters but in honesty we will prefer this over that. In time we are what we have chosen. The path defines us as much as we do it. In a way it is a relief to narrow the choices and be a specialist.”

  2. I know, I know … what do I have to learn from THIS experience? It’s like making our way through webs of giant spiders in a dark cave. Once we come out the other side, though, it is rewarding.

    As we age, I think most of us go with the philosophy that this, too, shall pass — we’ve been through it so many times before.

    Now that I am no longer of the childbearing age, I take great pleasure in giving birth to my creative projects, mainly my writing.

  3. Thank you Merlene. Yes, life offers us the gift of experiencing it with all its twists and turns – if we pay attention.

  4. Great quote from C S Lewis and thought provoking – as is your post. Life offers to many paths, each rich with experience when we take the time to pay attention.

  5. Hi,
    And I really believe that is what living is all about, as you have so aptly said and I quote, ” We are on a path. It has twists and turns and each day and each moment we select this one and not that. We are limited and expanded at the same time. One moment we are private, passive, personal and protected and then at another, public and seen. One enhances the other. The path alters but in honesty we will prefer this over that. In time we are what we have chosen. The path defines us as much as we do it. In a way it is a relief to narrow the choices and be a specialist.”

    This is a process that takes place throughout our entire journey on earth. As long as we live we will have to define ourselves as we go through each new passages. In many ways we become specialists not only in getting older but in each passage we go through.

    Shalom,
    Patricia

  6. Indeed priorities change all the time. Eight or nine years ago it was all about career and such, now family plays a much more central role and the job is the means to the end and not the other way around. Patience is still something I’m working on every day. 🙂

  7. a lovely post, and Patience is something that I’ve had to learn over the years, though as I approach the Wopause/menopause, I find myself with less patience than what I used to have. So have started saying…one, two breathe…one, two breathe…sometimes it works…

  9. I love this. Patience is *not* one of my (pathetically few) virtues–which is probably why Life keeps putting me in positions to exercise it (darn it). Life is like that, isn’t it? Age has taught me, however, that everything (and everyone) can be my teacher. Seeing that is, I guess, a form of patience: one needs it to listen, to observe, to mull over the happening in order to extract the lesson. So perhaps I’m more patient than I give myself credit for 😀

    Thanks for a lovely post, and also for stopping over at Life In Dogs — your comments are a pleasure to read.

    • Dear Debi;
      Patience may be one of those flowers along the path that look nondescript but is really full of amazing blooms…
      Thank you,
      Susan

  11. I especially love this post. I often wonder if I jumped off my path into a hole. But now I’m thinking that my path is not straight and narrow, but rather windy, and curvy. I may actually be where I need to be for who I am, provided I come out from hiding behind the bushes. Thanks for your very thought-provoking posts.

  12. I do try to be….and trust in what will be. Finding one’s path, to be authentic and true to who we are. To have the space to create and be creative, and importantly space to play and discover. Thanks for your writing. Always thought provoking and happy I found this blog 🙂

  13. Patient? not sure. Clear that elders are done with childbirth? definitelyl! My daughter just gave birth and I know I couldn’t do that (never mind what comes next) at my age! So, dreams of childbirth etc would be funny!

  14. Caminante, no hay camino,
    Se hace camino al andar.

    Traveler, there is no path,
    Paths are made by walking.

    – Antonio Machado

    Patience is the real challenge.

    “If… you can keep your head, while all those around you are losing their’s.”

    – Joni Mitchell

    Patience is desirable.

    Path, Patience and Pursuit…

    Thank you for this most meaningful post.

    Ever,

    R.

  16. Patience was a lesson I had to learn because my nature is “to see is to do.” If I have a task, I tackle it right away. Over the years, I have had to take more time to make decisions before I act.
    I love the C,S, Lewis quotation. I think I make up my own fairy tales now. I’m taking my aging more slowly and patiently, taking time to enjoy my family, friends, home, and garden. I suppose knowledge of the fact that each year really counts causes me to look more carefully at my world and extend the time of enjoyment.

    • That is so lovely Patricia, making your own fairy tales, thank you. Fairy tales have unexpected twists and turns, with unexpected guides along the way as they lead us ever onwards and upwards. May yours bring you peace.

    • Thank you Patricia. Fairy tales have unexpected twists and turns as they lead us ever onwards and upwards with guides along the way to assist as we travel the path. May your own fairy tales as you create them bring you joy.

  17. I’ve always loved the quote from CS Lewis. Thank you for reminding me of it, and patience is definitely a virtue. It’s a lovely post Susan, and I’ve enjoyed reading all of your A-Z posts on age. They are interesting and thought provoking. I can also now see that I’m not so unusual in the many different ways I feel as I’ve become older! 🙂

    • Thank you Sharon. There is some unusual-ness in this age and stage of life if only becoming more of who we are. Our character surely shows more than ever. What is ‘usual’ is that this is a path to be tread – in consciousness and awareness – and hopefully, patience.

  18. Well I’d love to say I have patience, I think I do at times as long as I remember to stop off the roller coaster of life and choose to take a different path.

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