Keeping it simple
August 4, 2012 * * * * * Posted by: Susan 
This is one of the books that I'm reading right now, written by a Zen Buddhist priest. I have always paid attention to the books that want to come home with me from the library or bookstore and the ones that friends pass along. I figure I may not be into it enough to read the whole thing but there could be a tiny bit of information that I'm supposed to get.
I sure get that I'm getting older. All the signs are there, from just now starting to need reading glasses to the familiar ache in my hip. Lately, instead of saying I do yoga I refer to it as trying to do some stretches in the morning. And sometimes I miss the dark reddish brown of my young hair but don't mind too much this non color, it's certanily easy to maintain (I made mention of this when I had my fun turn of being a guest here!) and I've been able to rock the eccentric elder persona, easy to do when you live in an old hippie town and call yourself an artist.
I've been a bit slow to make big changes, maybe some form of denial, although I have never had a problem with the idea of aging ... it does mean you are still around. Since early mornings have always been my special time of the day I started there. With so much information available to us now I pay attention to what makes sense and just try to be as gentle with myself as possible. So instead of turning the computer on first thing and sitting down with a cup of coffee, seeing whose turn it is here and checking email, I sit quietly and sip a cup of warm lemon water, say my morning prayer as usual, asking for patience and kindness, remembering to have good intentions and hopefully create some beauty to send out into the world. After twenty minutes or so I try those stretches.
As far as changes of what I put in my body, two new things I'm adding daily are lemons and coconut oil in any way I can. I won't make praises here but if it interest you, just google ~ you'll be amazed at the benefits, so easy and simple. And the older I get the more I like easy and simple!
Aging. Life
Reader Comments (17)
This is sucb good insight into a better way to start the day. I do the coffee and emails right away and it doesn't send my spirit or intention off on the right foot. The book looks good too.
Aging as a Spiritual Practice! You got me at hello, Susan. I love that way of thinking...and that it means we're still around. So much better than the alternative! I love picturing you and Larry in your artistic, hippie community. Keep it simple. Keeping it simple. Lemon water. Coconut oil. Anything that works makes sense to me. You know I'm a fan. :)
Aaaah...so perfect! I love thinking of aging as a spiritual practice. What are - after all - the choices??? Like all other ages and stages of life - it's so important to be present and appreciate it for what it is.
Beautiful..inspiring post!
My morning usually starts with a stroll through my garden; the place for my morning 'prayers.' (Prayers CAN take many different forms, right?) I'm OK with most aspects of aging...except looking at myself in the mirror. In my mind's eye, I see me around 40 or 50; the mirror reminds me that was many years ago!!!
I guess I'd better go Google lemons and coconut oil! LOL
Oh now that sounds a perfect way to start the day perhaps I should try it myself. The book sounds really interesting too.
I think I'm going to have to find this book. Just the title alone has me thinking of this time of my life in a new way.
Good morning ladies ~ I'm so happy that we can all relate to this, no matter our numbers we're still on this path.
and Sue, a walk in your garden first thing in the morning would make any prayer, of any kind, more than perfect!
Have a wonderful weekend, friends.
A woman after my heart! Thanks for the book title, always looking for a good read and when it involves Buddhism...all the better!
Maybe the name of the book should be "Aging IS a spiritual practice". Haha. I'm with you, Susan, I'm not really fighting the changes or harboring resentment of aging. It's just that sometimes it's a bit of a surprise to realize how many changes I have made. I must continue to believe that wisdom and acceptance are the gifts that aging brings to me. Although, the acceptance should be enough, shouldn't it?
Easy and simple... yes, I find myself drawn to these words more and more.
I have already started down this road to acceptance, agreeing with you, it means we are still around. My husband is having a much harder time being okay with the limitations age is placing on his athletic body... and I am always reminding him that it is better than the alternative.
Here's to embracing whatever age we are at!
There's nothing contemplative about my mornings. The routine never varies: up, make coffee, check emails, check weather, drink coffee, brush cat. Then, once the sun is up, it's off to work before the heat begins to rise.
Well, perhaps that cat-brushing is contemplative. I certainly have contemplated with amusement the question of just how long she would lay there and let me brush if I didn't decide to stop first!
I have a hard time getting my mind around aging as a spiritual practice. It's a physical reality, of course, but one I give little thought to . Of course, I've been blessed, and at 65 am struggling with nothing more than the challenge of getting off a few extra pounds. Gray hair and sun wrinkles? I figure I've earned every one of them, and display them without any shame and not much thought. I do, however, try to avoid neon lighted mirrors at all costs!
i love this.....sunshine and a shot of B-12 to my soul.
thank you.....glad, bright thanks.
-Jennifer
Susan, I've been reading so many books lately geared towards spiritual practice or in other words, using meditative/being-present practices to help still all the turmoil and chitter chatter beating my up internally. I keep trying to find the right mix in my day of quiet contemplation and getting things done that need to be done. I'm starting my day out in a similar way but drinking fresh coffee while I read a bit and do a mind dump in my journal, then walk my two dogs by the river, and then get ready to run off to work. It's not as slow-paced and quiet as I'd like my mornings to be, but it's the best I can come up with right now.
I'm thankful that so far, aging has simply resulted in some knee and shoulder aches and I seem to wear out more quickly than I used to. But the advantage of slowing down is that taking quiet time to reflect seems to come easier.
Yes, I googled it. Thanks for the lesson
i am a couple of days late getting to the post, and that is because i have not been on the internet! i have 9 family members visiting me. when i came to v&v, i saw the book image, exhaled, and prepared for a zen post.
thanks for keeping it simple.
Susan, I like your mornings - they sound like a really good start into the day. As for changes - I don't think they have to be big, it's the small changes that add up. And are easier to incorporate.
I'm slowly embracing getting older. I have decided to not dye my hair for the time being and letting it grow again and see how I like it. So far so good. I've stopped caffein, but not coffee - I love the taste of coffee too much! So it's decaf for me, and obviously it does me good. I drink less wine these days and thus enjoy it even more. Little changes.
That book sounds interesting. I will look out for it at my next visit to the library.
Great tips. I've heard about the benefits of lemons and coconut oil. Must try them. I love that you start your day asking for patience and kindness. That is beautiful!