“Physical things are eloquent tokens of ideas,enriched by new meanings through time even when the tokens are no more than evanescent paper… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
When parents die, all of the partings of the past are reevoked with the realization that this time they will not return. — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
The past empowers the present, and the sweeping footsteps leading to this present mark the pathways to the future. — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
In many ways, constancy is an illusion. After all, our ancestors were immigrants, many of them moving on every few years; today… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
Every loss recapitulates earlier losses, but every affirmation of identity echoes earlier moments of clarity. — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
“As people grow older, some of the ways they have contributed in the past may no longer be possible, but the challenge… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
I had repeatedly accepted inappropriate burdens, stepping in to do what needed to be done. In retrospect, I think I carried them… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
“Sorting gets harder as time goes on--it requires a sort of ruthless decisiveness, while indecision results in endless dithering. Five moves, they… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
“It's all about being in control of myself as an older woman who lives alone, and it's all about how I am going to… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
The critical question about regret is whether experience led to growth and new learning. Some people seem to keep on making the same mistakes,… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
Monotony and repetition are characteristic of many parts of life, but these do not become sources of conscious discomfort until novelty and entertainment are… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
“ We never promised we would stay the same,/But only we would shape our change/From this now single clay. [p. 82]” — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
“Moving is both liberating and debilitating. Undertaken too late, it is a very stressful process, one that sometimes seems to catapult people into frail… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
Improvisation and new learning are not private processes; they are shared with others at every age. We are called to join in a dance… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
“Real winners in a rapidly changing world will be those who are open to alternatives and able to respect and value those who are… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
“Self-care should include the cold shower as well as the scented tub.” — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
A suprising number of physicians manage to continue to care about persons even after the rigors of medical training. — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
Worlds can be found by a child and an adult bending down and looking together under the grass stems or at the skittering crabs… — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
“Physical things are eloquent tokens of ideas,enriched by new meanings through time even when the tokens are no more than evanescent paper representations.” — Mary Catherine Bateson Copy Share Image
![“As people grow older, some of the ways they have contributed in the past may no longer be possible, but the challenge to society is not only to provide help and care where these are needed but also to offer the opportunity to contribute and care for others [p. 8]” quote by Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/96e/mary-catherine-bateson-11582_age_as-people-grow-older-some-of-the-ways-th_1947701.jpg)
![“Sorting gets harder as time goes on--it requires a sort of ruthless decisiveness, while indecision results in endless dithering. Five moves, they say, equal a fire. But those who haven't moved may begin to need a fire. [p. 38]” quote by Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1df/mary-catherine-bateson-11582_age_sorting-gets-harder-as-time-goes-on-it-r_2636387.jpg)
![“It's all about being in control of myself as an older woman who lives alone, and it's all about how I am going to do what I have to do to be as strong as I can be and be confident that I can do what I need to do as an older person. [p. 62]” quote by Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/94e/mary-catherine-bateson-11582_age_it-s-all-about-being-in-control-of-mysel_17830.jpg)
![“The critical question about regret is whether experience led to growth and new learning. Some people seem to keep on making the same mistakes, while others at least make new ones. Regret and remorse can be either paralyzing or inspiring. [p. 199]” quote by Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/72f/mary-catherine-bateson-11582_critical_the-critical-question-about-regret-is-wh_20978.jpg)
![“We never promised we would stay the same,/But only we would shape our change/From this now single clay. [p. 82]” quote by Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/011/mary-catherine-bateson-11582_age_we-never-promised-we-would-stay-the-same_209661.jpg)
![“Moving is both liberating and debilitating. Undertaken too late, it is a very stressful process, one that sometimes seems to catapult people into frail old age, and undertaken too soon, it may preempt other possibilities. [p. 38]” quote by Mary Catherine Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d68/mary-catherine-bateson-11582_age_moving-is-both-liberating-and-debilitati_277245.jpg)
