As I am now 66, these words of Gary Snyder are comforting and challenge me to reach inside and take hold of the courage within, to be the person am born to be. What do you think?
he human community, when healthy, is like an ancient forest. The little ones are in the shade and shelter of the big ones, even rooted in their lost old bodies. All ages and all together growing and dying…But let there be really old trees who can give up all sense of propriety and begin
throwing their limbs out in extravagant gestures,
dance like poses…. holding themselves available to whatever the world
and the weather might propose…They are like the Chinese Immortals,
to have lived that long is to have permission to be eccentric…To be the poets and painters among trees, laughing, ragged, and fearless.They make me almost look forward to old age.
Gary Snyder
he human community, when healthy, is like an ancient forest. The little ones are in the shade and shelter of the big ones, even rooted in their lost old bodies. All ages and all together growing and dying…But let there be really old trees who can give up all sense of propriety and begin
throwing their limbs out in extravagant gestures,
dance like poses…. holding themselves available to whatever the world
and the weather might propose…They are like the Chinese Immortals,
to have lived that long is to have permission to be eccentric…To be the poets and painters among trees, laughing, ragged, and fearless.They make me almost look forward to old age.
Gary Snyder
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