Hi Gary - I feel like I've just entered the 3rd third of life (or maybe your 3rd quarter?) Retirement has begun, life is pleasant, I finally feel like a lot of things are coming together to form a whole and to make sense. I'm also realizing (much like yourself) that life is a series of choices that ultimately lead to a contented, loving, settled place......or a dry, miserable, lonely place - I know which one I'm intentionally aiming for. Life is getting shorter and I want to live it well. Thanks for your wise words.
Thanks, Leanne. Our choices bring us to exactly where we are. The 3rd third! That works too. Adult development doesn’t need to stop with retirement or getting older. We can continue to develop, learn, evolve, grow regardless of age. In fact, I think it helps with growing older gratefully.
Thanks, Chris. Of all 4 seasons, Autumn seems to come out tops for most. I'm not sure why and wonder if there are reasons beyond the senses, at some deeper unconscious level. Endings and preparing for the "winter" ahead, storing up food after harvest? A gradual transition in many places from hot to cold? Maybe something we hang onto from when we were kids? Pondering and curious....
I enjoyed listening to this one as I did some dishes. My amazing new hearing aids bring your words directly into my ears without anyone else hearing anything. I’m glad you didn’t use AI—at least, I believe that was the real you.
It's the real me....As I am, here and now, no AI, this post created from this human and jotted down here to share with others. Couple of edits. Now I wonder what AI might have done with it but not enough to go find out. AI doesn't have feelings as far as I can tell. I'll stick with my human friends. The A still stands for artificial. I prefer real. Never liked artificial ice cream either.
Thanks for this interesting perspective on breaking down our life into the seasons Gary. I am going to ponder this! Reflecting on the turning points may be a valuable way of healing and seeing what we've gone through in order to arrive at a greater acceptance of where we are now. Pinpointing our actual age is another interesting facet that offers increased clarity, as we tend to generalize the stages. And, well done on the cooking!
Thanks, Donna. Stages and seasons and seasonings for both cooking and living. Maybe next I should consider “The Spices Of Living.” What’s on our shelves, readily available? My mind works weirdly sometimes, off on its own tangent.
1) I hope when I get older I begin to like to cook (I have always liked baking). When did it start for you?
2) I love what you said about how rewarding this stage is, how you can read and walk and think and reach out to people. That is exactly what I find so fulfilling, even at 60, where I am just beginning to taste the pleasure of more time.
Thanks, Don. My interest in cooking started a long time ago in the kitchens of my grandmothers and mothers. I was intrigued by how they put all those ingredients together and then into the oven or onto the stove and what came onto the table and into our mouths was so tasty. My own “cooking” activities didn’t really catch fire (!) until grilling became a thing and then after retiring the third time I found recipes to be challenging and engaging. I also see it as one more creative activity that can be shared and enjoyed with others. Love your “tasting the pleasure of more time.” Some interest may have been stirred up by a couple of cooking shows on TV.
Thank you for a peek into the four stages and seasons of your life. I appreciate how your wove autumn with sensory memory and the present moment of your life. Reminds me to pause and do the same.
Thank you for this thoughtful post that speaks to me of the seasons of my life. Letting go is a challenge to me and autumn leaves 🍂 fall. The trees let go and invites us in the autumn of our lives to enter into the last season. One day I do want to visit San Miguel. Blessings!
Thanks, Linda. Seasons of change, seasons of our lives, fortunate to have many and celebrate each one. Yes, come visit SMA, it’s a treasure. We live about 8 miles north of the city in Rancho Los Labradores.
Thanks, Stephanie. I always marveled at how those decayed leaves went into compost and provided new growth in another season, the circle of life perhaps? Love the title of your Stack, "Creative Eldering." Thanks for that too!
Thanks, Kert. Once we can embrace and celebrate "impermanence" we have a greater sense of freedom to live more fully in the present. I am no Zen master. What I am is what my wife calls a master of the obvious.
Thank you Gary, this is heartfelt and helpful. I have done sessions via the Modern Elders Academy on the stage of life's transitions. You hit many of those notes and themes.
Thanks, Michael. We elders have much in common besides our ages and experiences. I think it's what we have learned along the way that provide some common threads of understanding and appreciation. I loved that insurance ad where J.K. Simmons says, "We know a lot of things because we have seen a lot of things." We've seen more than most others because we have lived longer and at different times in history that others only heard about.
Hi Gary - I feel like I've just entered the 3rd third of life (or maybe your 3rd quarter?) Retirement has begun, life is pleasant, I finally feel like a lot of things are coming together to form a whole and to make sense. I'm also realizing (much like yourself) that life is a series of choices that ultimately lead to a contented, loving, settled place......or a dry, miserable, lonely place - I know which one I'm intentionally aiming for. Life is getting shorter and I want to live it well. Thanks for your wise words.
Thanks, Leanne. Our choices bring us to exactly where we are. The 3rd third! That works too. Adult development doesn’t need to stop with retirement or getting older. We can continue to develop, learn, evolve, grow regardless of age. In fact, I think it helps with growing older gratefully.
I always appreciate your perspective on things, Gary. Autumn is my favorite season, and you've added to its beauty with this essay.
Thanks, Chris. Of all 4 seasons, Autumn seems to come out tops for most. I'm not sure why and wonder if there are reasons beyond the senses, at some deeper unconscious level. Endings and preparing for the "winter" ahead, storing up food after harvest? A gradual transition in many places from hot to cold? Maybe something we hang onto from when we were kids? Pondering and curious....
I enjoyed listening to this one as I did some dishes. My amazing new hearing aids bring your words directly into my ears without anyone else hearing anything. I’m glad you didn’t use AI—at least, I believe that was the real you.
It's the real me....As I am, here and now, no AI, this post created from this human and jotted down here to share with others. Couple of edits. Now I wonder what AI might have done with it but not enough to go find out. AI doesn't have feelings as far as I can tell. I'll stick with my human friends. The A still stands for artificial. I prefer real. Never liked artificial ice cream either.
Absolutely, Gary. Give me real life with all its imperfections any time. I hope you’ll do more audio posts.
Thanks for this interesting perspective on breaking down our life into the seasons Gary. I am going to ponder this! Reflecting on the turning points may be a valuable way of healing and seeing what we've gone through in order to arrive at a greater acceptance of where we are now. Pinpointing our actual age is another interesting facet that offers increased clarity, as we tend to generalize the stages. And, well done on the cooking!
Thanks, Donna. Stages and seasons and seasonings for both cooking and living. Maybe next I should consider “The Spices Of Living.” What’s on our shelves, readily available? My mind works weirdly sometimes, off on its own tangent.
I am grateful to be alive. Many of my friends have walked on, leaving me with memories and a desire to LIVE each day. Thanks for your writing, Gary.
Thanks for sharing your gratitude, Shana. Makes all the difference in how we live each day. Grateful for your presence here.
Great essay, Gary! I have two comments.
1) I hope when I get older I begin to like to cook (I have always liked baking). When did it start for you?
2) I love what you said about how rewarding this stage is, how you can read and walk and think and reach out to people. That is exactly what I find so fulfilling, even at 60, where I am just beginning to taste the pleasure of more time.
Thanks, Don. My interest in cooking started a long time ago in the kitchens of my grandmothers and mothers. I was intrigued by how they put all those ingredients together and then into the oven or onto the stove and what came onto the table and into our mouths was so tasty. My own “cooking” activities didn’t really catch fire (!) until grilling became a thing and then after retiring the third time I found recipes to be challenging and engaging. I also see it as one more creative activity that can be shared and enjoyed with others. Love your “tasting the pleasure of more time.” Some interest may have been stirred up by a couple of cooking shows on TV.
I love this, friend! I absolutely love fall and all that it symbolizes year after year. Renewal. I love Annie Dillard.
Thanks, Nessa. Seasons of change and renewal, year after year, and that’s something we can count on.
Thank you for a peek into the four stages and seasons of your life. I appreciate how your wove autumn with sensory memory and the present moment of your life. Reminds me to pause and do the same.
Thank you, Paulette. It is indeed the pause that refreshes and it’s not a Coca Cola. Here’s the history of how Coke created that iconic slogan:
https://www.historyoasis.com/post/the-pause-that-refreshes-campaign
I’ll look forward to reading, Gary.
Thank you for this thoughtful post that speaks to me of the seasons of my life. Letting go is a challenge to me and autumn leaves 🍂 fall. The trees let go and invites us in the autumn of our lives to enter into the last season. One day I do want to visit San Miguel. Blessings!
Thanks, Linda. Seasons of change, seasons of our lives, fortunate to have many and celebrate each one. Yes, come visit SMA, it’s a treasure. We live about 8 miles north of the city in Rancho Los Labradores.
Gary, Autumn is my favorite season -- finding beauty in the chance and decay.
Thanks, Stephanie. I always marveled at how those decayed leaves went into compost and provided new growth in another season, the circle of life perhaps? Love the title of your Stack, "Creative Eldering." Thanks for that too!
“I let go of what no longer serves me and find beauty in the impermanence of life.”.
Zen Masters don’t say it any better than that. Thanks Gary! Autumn is the daily teaching of impermanence.
Thanks, Kert. Once we can embrace and celebrate "impermanence" we have a greater sense of freedom to live more fully in the present. I am no Zen master. What I am is what my wife calls a master of the obvious.
A beautiful take on autumn. Made me feel grateful for where I’m at. Thank you for this offering, Gary! 🍂
Thanks, Isabel. Gratitude has a way of giving us a deeper sense of appreciation for what we have, where we are and and how to share that with others.
Thank you Gary, this is heartfelt and helpful. I have done sessions via the Modern Elders Academy on the stage of life's transitions. You hit many of those notes and themes.
Thanks, Michael. We elders have much in common besides our ages and experiences. I think it's what we have learned along the way that provide some common threads of understanding and appreciation. I loved that insurance ad where J.K. Simmons says, "We know a lot of things because we have seen a lot of things." We've seen more than most others because we have lived longer and at different times in history that others only heard about.