Common Wisdom
Common wisdom from the past showing up in current advice for “well-being.”
- As a child I recall daily life instructions pronounced with authority from my elders. Basic things such as:
- first thing in the morning, before breakfast, stepping outside onto the back porch to draw in 10 deep breaths of fresh air
- take a short stroll after the evening meal
- walk or ride your bike whenever possible
- eat lots of fresh vegetables
- enjoy fruit and berries in season
- drink water
- stare at the clouds and make up stories of what you see…
Why on earth does this come to mind? Because the “wellness industry” has invented the cure for everything. I get regular emails from universities, research centres, and popular culture on the new longevity research that emphasizes all of the above.
And I wonder about my grandparents, great grandparents and parents who treated all of these basics as common knowledge. They never suggested that they were “superpowers.” In other words, nothing special.
In most small towns in the 50’s we saw these behaviours as common sense. No one said do these “three things” so you can live longer. They might say “when you take that walk after dinner it helps with digestion, and your body will feel better.” The recommendations were made to up our chances to improve the quality of our daily lives, in the present, not to add ten years to our lifespan.
The post dinner walks for instance were not designed to count steps or get our heart rate up – they were a stroll. We got to admire neighbour’s gardens, see the sunset, tell stories of the day, laugh and lament depending on who you encountered. A wave, hello, and a smile, from across the street warmed up the remains of the day. It connected us with each other and if we were lucky enough to still be outside after dark, we or a neighbour might help identify a constellation or a sound. Was that an owl?
S0, I have revived the evening walks for my “constitution,” (as my grandmother called it) and I confess how much I enjoy these strolls. Not for the steps (maybe I am not totally honest) so let’s say, not just for the steps. More for the sheer joy of what it feels like to move my body in the evening, hear the birds’ choir, and to listen and look around and greet others who are out doing the same thing.
There is a quality to the evening, that soothes my mind. As does the early morning light.
The banner photo was taken shortly after 5:00AM last Thursday. My grandson was leaving on a trip that day and suggested that we get up early to watch the sun come up from the pedestrian bridge near where we both live. I also got to have a meeting with a red-winged blackbird, who rarely allows me to come close; yet, there he was perched on the railing of the Flora Bridge.
Certainly, compared to all the things we can do that require effort and money, the simplicity of an evening stroll after dinner costing absolutely nothing and requiring no special gear seems like a gift. One of those everyday miracles that is an act of kindness to ourselves on these warm summer evenings and does wonders for our well-being.
Notes
- I love this description that I read last week in a newsletter from the New York Zen Center. “A vow is not a project you complete. It’s a quiet orientation of the heart; a subtle but steady leaning, something you lean your life toward even when you’ve lost your footing.” Chodo Robert Campbell (the emphasis is mine)
- May you who is reading this blog post know how much that I appreciate your time and effort. You are a gift to me.
- May those of you who are struggling with treatments, limitations and difficult news of any kind find steady ground from which to move forward step by step. And please ask for a hand when that is what’s needed. None of us can do hard things alone. We are here to help and be helped, as I see it. All my best wishes, Trudy
Trudy what a lovely post. The wisdom of our grandparents was basic common sense and wasn’t dressed up in books on how to survive. One thing my gramma taught me was when you are unhappy or sad clean out a drawer or two. And it works. Again simple, just a remedy for feeling sad. On summer days she and I would lie on a blanket on the grass and study the shapes of clouds. We saw animals and angels and people. We also would roll over and search for four leaf clovers. Sheer bliss. Relax. Breathe. Be. Simple, free and time for just being. Thank you as always Trudy.
Thank you Pat for your description of the summer days of childhood.Truly amazing. An entirely different sense of time. With appreciation, Trudy
Morning Trudy,
I love this post. A short walk around the block can be very uplifting and we do it at least once a day. It has been a very difficult year in our household. My partner, Paul, was diagnosed with throat cancer about this time last year. He underwent 35 grueling radiation treatments, sometimes twice a day. He lost 50 pounds and has been left with some lymph damage and fluid build up, not to mention trouble swallowing, dry mouth and a sore throat, but he is cancer free! Then we had to say good-bye to our beloved Callie dog after 15 years of togetherness. In April, our 56 year old son, Keith, died unexpectedly. He had a lot of health issues and his body just gave out. We held a wonderful Celebration of Life for him this past Sunday. Our hearts were full knowing that he had many friends and clients who loved and missed him. I had one day where I felt some of my grief and pain lifting a bit. Then, yesterday my doctor called to give me the results of my latest CT scan. There are concerning nodules on my lungs and he has ordered a biopsy. I have had colon cancer twice and breast cancer once, so this isn’t my first rodeo. I am 78 now and I really don’t know if I want to undergo all the tests and procedures that lie ahead. I feel like I haven’t had time to really process any of these life changing events and they just keep piling on. I am working hard to stay in the “present”, but it’s hard. Any advice on this, my friend? Terri.
Dearest Terri:It is hard to take in what this past year has been for you. Yet, here you are, still standing, writing, walking and being with this pile on of devastating events in your life. Somehow, you are still managing, I suppose because you must and it is who you are. I can only imagine that it is exhausting. Life isn’t fair and ahead of time I have thought I could never manage X and then X unexpectedly arrives and after the cortisol settles down we seem to manage.Is it skills, genetics, disposition, grace, good luck…we don’t know for sure. But I do know that we can trust ourselves to manage, with help, because here we are. We look back and see that we have managed all these difficult things in the past. It isn’t easy and it isn’t what we wanted and we question,do research, reflect and ponder our options. A wise and legitimate thing to do. You have my admiration to turn over every stone and look at facts as facts and figure out what the options and next steps are.I will reach out by email.For now during this period of not knowing, I wish you continued strength and courage to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Your walks in nature are already one of the best things that you can do.If you can find the energy everyday to listen to a beautiful piece of music, read something hopeful, make something with your hands…do anything that you love if only for a few minutes.It doesn’t fix or cure anything but it can provide a brief mental reprieve. May you accept all the support that is offered and that you want and need (and this changes) from your friends who offer with no strings attached. I wish I had a magic wand but I don’t. When it comes to any advice, trust yourself. Do what makes sense to you. I am hoping for the best of all possible outcomes, Terri.Take heart.
Common wisdom keeps being repackaged as how to live longer, better, etc. – nothing new, just practical common sense 🙂 I’m loving ‘a quiet orientation of the heart’ Trudy. I will carry that forward with me. thanks as ever xoxox
Hi Janice: I thought you might like that expression or even more the gentle nuance of the meaning.Firefly season in Ottawa. So much fun to walk at dusk and see their little lights flashing. Warmly, Trudy
I appreciate your wise guidancepassed down in your family. So simple yet a practice (vow) one needs to live by. Thank you🙏
Thank you Mary. The last few nights I have been taking my walks at dusk and thrilled by the fireflies in neighbouring yards.It sends me flying back to my grandmother’s small farm and the joy we had as children going out in the dark to see the “fairies.” Best regards, Trudy
I always smile,at the wisdom of our younger.i am in drumheller for the weekend and just returned from the passion play.totally awed.so beautiful and totally grateful that I get to do this.it was outdoors and the birds at evening added to the experience. Wow is all I can say tonight.