Decisions that Softened Aging’s Effect.
Another step on my Songline towards greater understanding.
Coffee Reflections.
Some just exist in never ending continuation of now, Same job, Same house, Aging together, Children come and children go seasons change, Big old tree always there, One day dreams silenced.
Many aspire same life Indeed once I was same, Trip to England forever changed, First time truly alone, Re-evaluate inherited family culture mostly mythology, Freed from dead past, Now over 70, Parents would never recognise me, Doubt I would recognise younger me.
Naturally over coffee, Wondered what changed me, Walking back songlines past, Found three seminal tipping points, Three leaps all happened close in time.
Leather Shoes — Making Health decisions.
“Leather Shoes Sign of Professional”, Mother was wont to say, Never worried by such fallacious drivel, Just liked shining them had black and brown ultra-mirror shined shoes, No I didn’t have leather fetish, just liked shiny leather shoes, Crow would understand.
Overweight, Knee Pain, Off to new doctor, “Knee replacement - I’ll book you in”, Shocked to leather soles, Started to think and did some reading, Leather shoes transmitted walking shock straight to knees made worse through being obese!
Went and bought padded walking shoes from Rivers, Put them on instant relief walking again, Binned leathers, Realised this was Just short term solution, Avoided stairs steepish slopes short walks at best, Mobile but clearly have to fix legs and feet cut the fat.
First clearly thought decision completely opposite to professional medical advice, Independent thinking medical matters precedent for me, No dad to ask, No more go with the flow, No more trusting without solid verifiable information that made sense in my predicament and time of life.
Freeing up Mind — Unchained thinking, open to Ideas.
Happy ‘90’s, Told should think “normally”, Tried that and mixed with other very trying experiences Led to depression.
Seemed like I was monitoring my mind, Two of me, Doctor’s appointment, Outside me saw doctor with tick-box checklist, Remembered leather shoes and knee replacement fiasco, Said nothing, Once outside ripped up and binned scripts.
Outside me told mind, You can think whatever you like, Whatever decision you make we’ll just do it, Took a few days depression left turmoil settled minds merged, Thought streams re-established once more, Clearer and concise thinking improved outcomes and income, Patents and finally PhD and research.
Usefulness — Accepting absolute responsibility for health.
In ’98 diabetes II diagnosed Father died diabetes hard way compromised organs strokes and cancer, Devastating news, Imagined future, Did the rounds dieticians and tick-box medicos.
Seemed to me emphasis on coping and maintaining status-quo, Dad’s experience disease progresses damage accumulates there is no status-quo.
Decided after consulting family doctor, First try eliminating blood glucose issues, Recent blood tests and examinations shows damage has not much progressed over last decade, Blood glucose levels normal for non-diabetic.
Feel confident walking and family participation, Independently making decisions, Standing up and being accountable, Convinced my decisions have extended my useful life.
Beauty — Balancing and Tempering Thoughts.
Love my snapdragons, Each day features new colours and shapes, Their beauty cleanses mind of negativities, Reinforces spiritual links with Gaia and grants me peace.
Beauty softens hardened attitudes, Helps collaborations working together leveraging strengths compensating weaknesses overcoming doubts.
Final Thoughts
Past two decades, Flexible mind exploring and critically thinking, Supported by healthier body bolstering confidence, Yet tempered by beauty and love.
In particular beauty has enabled me to be receptive to human spirituality abiding in Gaia.
Blessed be.
