Can We Learn Planetary Dreaming from the Elderly?

“As long as there is life, there are dreams – and there is no life without nature.” This is how the elderly described the significance of dreaming and its connection to nature in Syrén’s (2024) thesis research. Saajanaho (2022) also illustrates how goals and dreams are a significant part of the meaningfulness of life. Dreaming is not just the privilege of the young and active; it can be a gateway to meaningfulness at any stage of life. Elderly people demonstrate that dreams can be big or small – everyday little goals or life-long aspirations – but their impact on well-being is indisputable. In Syrén’s (2024) research, the dreams of the elderly were often connected to relationships with other people and more broadly with the environment.

Thus, the question arises – can dreaming also be a planetary act, as it appears to support both ecological and social sustainability? Planetary well-being emphasizes the understanding of the interconnectedness between humans and nature and the joint responsibility to act within the planet's limits so that both humans and nature can thrive (THL 2024).

Meaningfulness & Nature as Part of Dreaming

The experience of meaningfulness is a profound sense of being part of something bigger and that our daily lives have a purpose. It is intertwined with a person’s values, beliefs, and interests, which guide our choices and ways of living. Solin, Heimonen, and Lukkarinen (2023, 26) define meaningfulness through an individual's life goals and determination: meaningfulness arises from the desire to pursue things that resonate with one's own wishes and values. Dreaming essentially makes meaningfulness visible, as it helps to imagine future possibilities and strengthens hope for the continuity of life’s path. Dreaming is not just fantasizing about a better future, but it is also a way to deepen connections with oneself, others, and the world. Both the feeling of connection and the experience of meaningfulness and self-actualization are considered basic human needs (Maslow 1943), which do not disappear with age.

Nature is a source of meaningfulness that is woven into the daily lives of people of all ages, including the elderly, in many ways. Studies (Capaldi, Dopko & Zelenski 2014; Nisbet, Shaw & Lachance 2020; Tabrizi, Lak & Moussavi 2023; Syrén 2024) show that nature brings peace, joy, and strength to the elderly, increases happiness, and offers space for wonder and aesthetic experiences. Pritchard, Richardson, Sheffield, & McEwan (2019, 1148) suggest that specifically experiencing a connection with nature strengthens perceived well-being benefits. Syrén’s (2024) thesis research highlights that for older elderly individuals, nature is particularly manifested through small everyday moments – landscapes that can be admired from indoors or natural elements brought inside, while for younger elderly individuals, the significance of nature emphasizes through activities: outdoor activities, hobbies, and caring for the environment. Nature is not seen only as a private experience but shared moments in natural settings, shared nature experiences, and sharing one’s knowledge with younger generations deepen the connection to other people and the world. This makes nature not only a personal but also a communal source of meaning.

Diverse Nature Wishes of the Elderly  

We see the multifaceted significance of nature to the elderly in our grassroots work. At IkiOma Ikä ry, we have responded to the nature wishes of over 65-year-olds, which enable either the desired nature contact or experience for the elderly who otherwise do not have the opportunity for various reasons. These reasons have included financial situation, various functional limitations, fear of moving alone in nearby nature, or longing for friends or a community with which to enjoy the diverse sensory experiences and fresh air that nature offers.

The nature-related wishes of the elderly have been varied: overnight trips with a group, learning something new on a canoeing trip, playful sledding, stargazing, and even more specific experiences such as hearing the booming call of the Eurasian bittern or feeling the touch of bare feet on solid rock. Some wishes were connected to a specific person with whom the experience was meant to be shared, while others hoped that the experience would include a group, emphasizing collective nature experiences. There are also those who feel lonely and long for like-minded people with whom they can share the meaningfulness of nature. Additionally, some wishes extended beyond personal experiences to the environment itself, such as the hope for the preservation of nearby forests. The range of nature-related wishes has been broad, but above all, they reflect a zest for life, joy, and pleasure, as well as a tradition of collectivity and responsibility.

Sustainable Connection Through Dreaming

We believe that the communal attitude of the older generation, the emphasis on local values, and the way they dream for the common good can serve as a source of strength for sustainable lifestyles. Recognizing the meaningfulness of nature, appreciating the simple joys of daily life, and maintaining connections with others are qualities that resonate with building a sustainable and meaningful future. Planetary dreaming could thus mean that individual dreams are linked to a larger whole: a better connection with nature, each other, and ourselves.

It is crucial to promote intergenerational interaction so that people of different ages can learn from one another and dream together. The elderly’s ability to see nature as a source of well-being and meaning can teach us to pause, dream, and care for our planet. Perhaps they—through decades of experience and the ability to appreciate the small but meaningful things—can show us how dreaming and actions that support a sustainable future are closely intertwined.

About the Authors

Laura Syrén, Executive Director, Occupational Therapist (MSc), IkiOma Ikä ry
Salla Partala, Project Specialist, Occupational Therapist (BSc), IkiOma Ikä ry

The authors work at IkiOma Ikä ry, a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening the well-being and health benefits of nature in the daily lives of the elderly. The organization operates in the Central Finland region.

Learn more about the organization and its work at: www.ikiomaika.fi

Sources:

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