The Grateful Cellist

Spotlight on Dirje Childs

Greetings Sunny Optimists,

Today I would like to introduce you to Dirje Childs, The Grateful Cellist.

Dirje is a wonderful improvisational musician, composer, licensed professional counselor, and certified music practitioner. Whether recording or supporting musicians in concert, playing in hospitals and nursing homes, leading a soulful retreat, or enhancing a yoga class or gallery event, Dirje's lush, multi-layer soundscapes touch the heartstrings and breathe calm into any space. There is a gentleness to her music that opens the heart and brings us beautifully into the present moment.

Dirje's passion is to celebrate life by creating original cello music that awakens us to a deeper connection with ourselves. Her life purpose is to let her music companion us as we move through whatever is unfolding in our lives. Be it times of sorrow or joy, Dirje offers a loving musical embrace that enables us to rest easy into moments of beauty.

Before we move on, I would like to let Dirje's music speak to you. I invite you to settle back into your chair and let her music soothe your soul. Mmmmmm.

Click here to listen. 

I would love to hear about this experience with Dirje’s music.

How does it touch into your gratitude today?

Active Wisdom as our Guide

Recently in sharing our life experiences, Dirje in her mid 60's and me heading for 70, we became aware of how many aspects of our lives intersect. Before I say more on this, I would love to introduce research that opens up these intersections in an exciting way. 

In 2016 I came across a book called Composing a Further Life by Mary Catherine Bateson (1939 - 2021). In this book, she documents how baby boomers, like Dirje and I, are adapting to the gift of increasing longevity. Our generation can now live well into our 90's which opens up many possibilities for us to consider. This new stage of the human life cycle is emerging in that nobody has lived through it the way we are now. So as the baby boomer generation, Dirje and I, are actually pioneers. Woo hoo! We really loved that!

Mary Catherine identified that this new stage had the virtue of Active Wisdom. She lays down the challenge to step up to what we might do with this time. It might be travel, study, or retirement, but it could also be about a refreshed interest in giving back to others and leaving a legacy. Active Wisdom is about appreciating the gifts of our lives so far, sharing these in the service of others, and being prepared to step into new adventures. The vulnerability of this time is to withdraw from living as fully as possible with all that we are and have. You can hear Mary Catherine discuss this here.

This research really opened up the conversation between Dirje and me. It helped us to take more meaning from it than we might have otherwise. Before I write more about this, I thought you might like to hear Dirje speak. 

Here is an interview from 2015 where she shares her life, work, and intentions. I love the confidence and gentleness that emanates from her. 

Click here or on the photo to listen. 

Elders in Conversation

Below are some of the intersections that were illuminated for us by Mary Catherine's writing.

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We both had an identity crisis that started us questing from our early 50's to reveal the next iteration of our life purpose: one that needed to reflect our deepest spiritual calling. Over time, there was also the realisation that there were more risks to be taken to live fully into this purpose, notably leaving the security of paid employment.

Dirje spoke about Susan Jeffers's book Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway. We laughed out loud as we remembered the sense of adventure this represents. Dirje said, 'I imagine I am a pirate, taking hold of the rope and launching myself out into the unknown.' This spirit of adventure is a cornerstone of the virtue of Active Wisdom. We saw that this time of Active Wisdom brings a lightening of the need to achieve and less concern about what others might think. 

Another intersection was how we stepped wholeheartedly into caring responsibilities that brought deep healing to family dynamics. This companioning of loved ones in the final stages of their lives was a territory we found challenging yet so life-affirming. We saw how our life experiences gave us a ground to be patient, the skills to recognise tensions as they arose, and the maturity to lean into what could, at times, be difficult conversations. 

We spoke about how awareness of our mortality through serious illness can spur us into bigger adventures than we thought possible. Dirje has recently begun a two-year Masters of Fine Arts in Music Composition. This academic study is a big step for her as she balances her health challenges with her intention to step powerfully into this next adventure. She is open and curious about what is emerging. 

Her dream for this time of study is a calling to deepen and extend her composing capabilities. To be more able to fully express the music that comes through her from Spirit. At the same time, she wants to be well versed in the leading-edge composition technologies that are now available. This is the kind of stretch that is part of the pioneering nature of Active Wisdom.

I found it remarkable to engage with Dirje. She knows she has a gift that comes from beyond the ordinary, and she is grateful. My experience is she connects with you in a quite remarkable way. Even over the Zoom platform, I could feel her paying close attention to what I was saying. When someone listens to you with all of their attention, it is so life-affirming. A deep bow of appreciation to Dirje for the time we have spent together. It has been a joy.

Questions for this Week

When someone plays music for you that comes from the very essence of life, be it the Divine, God, Spirit, then you feel held in love. This is the gift of this delightful human being Dirje Childs, the Grateful Cellist.  

Here is Dirje playing for you to take you into this week’s questions. 

Today as you listen.

• Who comes to mind that you are grateful for in your life?

• What one action might you take today that brings you joy?

Dirje and I would love to hear from you.

Ann