Redefining Older: A Time for Nourishment
Saying hello to an old growth Red Cedar on Salt Spring Island
I am exploring 12 words this year - one every month to savour. You can think of each blog post in this series as a mini-guide, connected to the season and full of both the magical & the practical. This month’s word is OLDER. I am offering an online mini-retreat for midlife women this autumn called Honoring the Queen. I’d love to have you join!
“Do you want to try a free sample of organic serum,” the young man asked me and my friend Angelique.
We were window shopping on a rainy day in Whitefish, Montana this past spring.
“Why not?” we said. I have a soft spot for organic skincare products.
He invited us into his shop, sat us down in two chairs, and before we knew it, he was applying an age-defying serum around my right eye.
Several thoughts rushed through me simultaneously:
I sure hope his hands are clean!
What the heck is he putting around my eye?
Oh…this is the free sample.
And then this surreal feeling - this young man talking to two women in their mid-fifties about looking young.
He then handed me a mirror and asked me to compare the eye that was beginning to feel tight from the age-defying serum with the one that didn’t have any serum on it.
After glancing at my 55 year old face, I said to him, “You should probably know….we are okay with aging and being older.”
I think he was a little shocked and wasn’t sure about what to say next.
A few minutes later, we left the shop - the skin around our eyes tight and taut with serum.
Angelique and I shared a small laugh about it all, but beneath the humor was a somber awareness that we live in a culture that fears the inevitability of growing older.
Redefining Old(er)
I turned 56 this July, and with each passing year, I’ve come to realize that growing older is one of life’s greatest privileges.
This August, I spent two weeks on Salt Spring Island where I hiked through forests filled with cedars and Douglas fir trees.
I thought a lot about the reverence we have for old trees. This reverence is a stark contrast to how our youth-obsessed culture perceives growing older…something to avoid at all costs.
I started to think about the word “old”. Where does it come from? What does it mean? And that’s when I discovered something really interesting.
The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots identifies that the ultimate source of the word “old” is a verb root, al, meaning “to grow” or “to nourish.”
Let that sink in for a moment. The word “old” isn’t about withering away or diminishment; it’s about growth and nourishment.
Growing older is a process of deepening, enriching, and nurturing.
The next time you think of the word “old(er),” remember the roots of its meaning. Remember, too, the ways you are growing and the ways you are nourishing your one wild and precious life.
Nourish yourself
A poem, some prompts, and a scent
You’ve been getting older since the day you were born.
You wished it faster for many a year,
now you wish it would slow down and stop.
But asking your body to stop getting older, is begging for your growth to stop too.
Your growth as a human, as a soul.
For it’s only when you accept how time affects your body,
that you can actually reap the benefits of the wisdom it brings with it.
Each line is a lesson learned or a hardship endured.
Those frown lines were once worries which you fought through.
Or perhaps it’s a line of laughter, a wonderful mark to bear.
Each grey hair is a shimmering stripe of life you have earned.
A story you can share with those who need to hear how you survived.
Your tale could be their saving.
Your purpose as a woman is to age my friend,
to grow more wise, more powerful, more beautiful.
Let the world see the beauty time has in store for you.
Trust that you are who you are meant to be now.
It’s time.
You’ve been ‘growing’ older, since the day you were born,
what a wonderful thing.
-Donna Ashworth
Prompts for deeper reflection
Take some time to reflect on these questions.
How does knowing that the word “old” is rooted in a verb meaning “to grow” or “to nourish” change your perspective on aging?
Think about someone you admire who is older than you. How have they embodied the idea of “growing” and “nourishing” as they’ve gotten older?
What parts of your life are you currently nourishing? How do you see this nourishment contributing to your growth in the years ahead?
How can you embrace the process of getting “older” as a continuation of your growth rather than an ending?
Reflect on the wisdom you’ve gained with age. How has this wisdom nourished you and those around you?
Old Growth: A Sensory Retreat
Old Growth captures the essence of ancient forests with its grounding blend of Virginian cedarwood, cardamom, and vetiver. This scent evokes a sense of calm and stability, encouraging deep-rooted emotional balance.
The warm, woody notes of cedarwood provide a comforting, earthy embrace, while the spicy hint of cardamom adds a touch of warmth. Vetiver, known for its grounding properties, anchors you to the present moment, helping to ease stress.
Old Growth offers a sensory retreat, inviting you to reconnect with nature and find peace in the strength of your own roots.
Ingredients:
6 drops cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana)
3 drops cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum)
2 drops vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides)
I suggest making this blend in a 5 ml glass bottle. Shake up the blend to ensure that the essential oils are well mixed. Then add 5 to 6 drops to your diffuser.
Diffusing Tip
Always diffuse essential oils intermittently. Do not run your essential oil diffuser all day long. It is best to diffuse for 30 – 60 minutes and then 30 – 60 minutes off. This is more effective as both our bodies and our nervous system habituate to essential oils after this time.
Do not take essential oils internally and do not apply undiluted on the skin. Always consult a professional aromatherapist if you have medical conditions. Use caution when using essential oils with children.
