Hey Ana, I recently decided to learn a new musical instrument, because I can, for no "good" reason and even though I am past my prime. Or whatever. I plan to be good at it, too.
Go, Anna, GO! I am back in school to steer my career in another direction. I also plan to excel in my decrepitude. Look at us, in our prime, or whatever.
Life does not end, and the possibility of growth and change do not stop until rigor mortis sets in. Those who say certain things are only appropriate for certain times in life do not understand that gracefully surrendering the things of youth does not mean surrendering the life of the mind, curiosity, the urge to explore, or the need to take on new challenges. Heedless enthusiasm is replaced by considered wisdom, which opens a greater possibility of experience. Even when some faculties are diminished, others are enhanced, and we at 40, 50, 60, 70 can achieve things with ease that someone younger might need brute strength to fight through. Grace, wisdom, and acuity are the gifts that replace youth and enthusiasm. Don’t take those strengths lightly.
I feel I must once again share this anthem for those of us who, at age 80 or 90, intend to fly into a mountainside at Mach 2 with our hair on fire:
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieve it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. - Dylan Thomas
1. You should definitely get your pilot’s license. There will be a few sweaty palm moments, but there will also those airplane smile moments that are like no others.
2. There was nothing at all clumsy about what you tried to say. Proof? I was moved by what you wrote and it fermented in me into related ideas, but you started the process and I was grateful. I often depend on others to get my thoughts started, which is positive proof that the intent to communicate tricky ideas was achieved.
The precursor to the book above was "Composing A Life" (1989) and this is how the author of the Medium piece references it: "In the earliest publication she adopts an emphatic female perspective to explore the underlying grammar of an improvisatory life. The rationale is that women, more than men, have always lived discontinuous and contingent lives." That reminds me of you. Great piece! Be you! People may judge you out of an unconscious sense of fear and disappointment and shame that they are less like you than they'd truly like to be so it's easier to knock down a model that we want but can't be, than it is to praise the model for being different than us.
Nice! Who recommended that song? 😒 in the original Valencian I find it cruel... I feel what you say is hopeful and it brings me joy... Life is worth getting all the juice until the last minute. Next time I doubt if I should learn a new technique or piece of knowledge I am not going to feel ashamed. Muaks
Gracias por la canción! No la había escuchado pero viendo el título y que la música me resulta tan visceral (soy muy mala describiendo música) me recuerda a que la noche de San Juan, que es en realidad la víspera de San Juan, va de quemar lo que ya no te sirve y empezar de nuevo. So it makes sense, right?
You can never know but trying to find out is surely most of the fun. Go Ana go !
Like the wind.
Hey Ana, I recently decided to learn a new musical instrument, because I can, for no "good" reason and even though I am past my prime. Or whatever. I plan to be good at it, too.
Go, Anna, GO! I am back in school to steer my career in another direction. I also plan to excel in my decrepitude. Look at us, in our prime, or whatever.
Life does not end, and the possibility of growth and change do not stop until rigor mortis sets in. Those who say certain things are only appropriate for certain times in life do not understand that gracefully surrendering the things of youth does not mean surrendering the life of the mind, curiosity, the urge to explore, or the need to take on new challenges. Heedless enthusiasm is replaced by considered wisdom, which opens a greater possibility of experience. Even when some faculties are diminished, others are enhanced, and we at 40, 50, 60, 70 can achieve things with ease that someone younger might need brute strength to fight through. Grace, wisdom, and acuity are the gifts that replace youth and enthusiasm. Don’t take those strengths lightly.
I feel I must once again share this anthem for those of us who, at age 80 or 90, intend to fly into a mountainside at Mach 2 with our hair on fire:
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieve it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light. - Dylan Thomas
I feel I need to get a pilot license now. Thank you for posting the Dylan Thomas sublime way of saying what I so clumsily tried to explain.
1. You should definitely get your pilot’s license. There will be a few sweaty palm moments, but there will also those airplane smile moments that are like no others.
2. There was nothing at all clumsy about what you tried to say. Proof? I was moved by what you wrote and it fermented in me into related ideas, but you started the process and I was grateful. I often depend on others to get my thoughts started, which is positive proof that the intent to communicate tricky ideas was achieved.
You win 3 awards just for using the term FEMINAZI 🙌🏽. Very relatable read.
Well, thank you.
I'm reading a book called "Composing a Further Life" (2010) by Bateson and while it's focus is on people older than you, i think you'd appreciate it's approach. Both these Medium pieces - by the same author - will provide a good sense of the book. . .https://philippevandenbroeck.medium.com/navigating-a-life-stage-of-active-wisdom-805e93d24ba1 and https://philippevandenbroeck.medium.com/mary-catherine-bateson-composing-a-further-life-1989-2010-48c7ab928dde
The precursor to the book above was "Composing A Life" (1989) and this is how the author of the Medium piece references it: "In the earliest publication she adopts an emphatic female perspective to explore the underlying grammar of an improvisatory life. The rationale is that women, more than men, have always lived discontinuous and contingent lives." That reminds me of you. Great piece! Be you! People may judge you out of an unconscious sense of fear and disappointment and shame that they are less like you than they'd truly like to be so it's easier to knock down a model that we want but can't be, than it is to praise the model for being different than us.
Thank you for the recommendation Trilety. I read one of the posts and now am eager to read the book.
Nice! Who recommended that song? 😒 in the original Valencian I find it cruel... I feel what you say is hopeful and it brings me joy... Life is worth getting all the juice until the last minute. Next time I doubt if I should learn a new technique or piece of knowledge I am not going to feel ashamed. Muaks
Gracias por la canción! No la había escuchado pero viendo el título y que la música me resulta tan visceral (soy muy mala describiendo música) me recuerda a que la noche de San Juan, que es en realidad la víspera de San Juan, va de quemar lo que ya no te sirve y empezar de nuevo. So it makes sense, right?