Aug 27
As much as I hate to see the end of these luxurious summer days, I often find I am energized in the Fall. Maybe it’s the residual effect of fall always signaling the start of a new school year. But the feel of fall is also invigorating. The slight coolness in the air and wonderful earthy smells invite you to step outdoors. I particularly enjoy trail walking in the fall, when the bugs are down and the colours are spectacular. Fall is also a time when I like to start new projects. Sometimes this involves taking a class. At other times this might just be taking on a new house project or resolving to exercise more. Actually, I think there should be Fall resolutions (rather than New Year’s resolutions.) I am much more motivated in the Fall. I am wondering if others feel similarly invigorated in the Fall. Will you be starting something new? You can share your thoughts at our next coffee get-together. We’ll let you know the time and place sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Tagged with: Fall
Jul 07
Our next coffee break will happen in September. We have had fun getting these underway and look forward to seeing everyone in early September. Watch for details.
Jul 06
We’re celebrating the distribution of the 600th copy of our book!
Indie Book Writer says that
“according to Nielsen BookScan, fewer than 10 percent of new titles published in the U.S. in 2007 sold more than 1,000 copies in their first year.”
Based on this kind of statistic, we feel that this is quite an accomplishment for a self-published non-fiction book in Canada.
Jun 14
In the book, we give lots of pros and cons of volunteering and examples of opportunities and strategies.
Personally, I like being useful and getting a chance to show off my hard-won skills. I do go through cycles of enthusiasm and disinterest in volunteering. Just now, my current involvements are feeling a bit stale.
Any suggestions for something new and different?
What have been your experiences?
May 19
We were delighted to have a group of 10 retirees join us for a coffee get-together today in Ottawa at the Green Door restaurant.
This was an informal gathering, and conversation ranged from talking about the transition into retirement to how to regain some structure in your life once you stop working full-time. We talked a bit about how to avoid “busyness” in favour of activities that are rewarding and provide a sense of accomplishment. We did, however, agree that it is not necessary to feel productive all of the time. There was lots of commonality in our group and it was rewarding to talk to people who are pretty much at the same stage in retirement. Some were newly retired or about to retire, while others had been retired for a few years. Everyone still felt the need for vitality in their life – and most confessed to feeling bogged down sometimes as they searched for new avenues to explore. A couple of practical suggestions emerged. One of our participants indicated that the Ontario Volunteer Centre tries to find volunteer positions that are a good match for an individual’s skills. Several people felt that joining groups was a good way to maintain social contact and meet new people. The Art of Living was highly recommended. This is a group that offers courses aimed at reducing stress and learning to meditate. The Art of Living has Centres around the world.
Today’s get together was an experiment, but the group was a lively one and everyone had something interesting to contribute. We are hoping to run another similar coffee next month. Watch the website for details – or send us an e-mail if you would like a notice on when this is happening.
If you attended today’s coffee, we invite you to post your own thoughts on the event. Also – if you are hoping to attend an upcoming coffee hour, what kinds of topics would you like to see discussed? We’ll do the organizing, but we would like to see everyone join in to help make this type of gathering a rewarding “break” for busy retirees.
May 04
Recently, an article in a Canadian newspaper has sparked debate about the appropriate characterization of a “Zoomer”, otherwise known as a Boomer who has reached retirement age. The glossy magazine “Zommer” puts forward an image of retirees who are still full of zip. The articles try to inspire those 50+ not to think of themselves as aging, but instead to see endless potential for staying “youngish” and vital. Columnist Mireille Silcoff (who is not yet 50) thinks the effort is artificial and depressing.
I have mixed feelings. On the one hand, to strive to be endlessly youthful ignores some of the genuine pleasures of getting older: time, freedom and the confidence to be yourself. On the other hand society has in the past been too ready to put people out to pasture once they reach retirement age, and the idea of being a “Zoomer” is a good counter to that image. What do you think?
http://www.zoomermag.com/
You can check out Silcoff’s critique of Zoomer Magazine here: http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=2945784
And Zoomer Magazine’s founder’s (Moses Znaimer) response here: http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=2963361
Mar 24
Postings from my end have been sluggish lately as I have been basking in Florida climes — very enjoyable to do in winter, even if the weather is not as great as one might hope.
One of my delights was visiting the Lightener Museum in St. Augustine. Otto Lightner was the founder and publisher of Hobbies magazine, which I think dates back to the 30′s. He himself had an amazing collection of “stuff” — some of it purchased as very weather people were selling things after the stock market crash. Now his collections and many additional donations are housed in the museum.
Lightner Museum (former Hotel Alcazar) in St. AugustineLighter was a hobby enthusiast and encouraged everyone to get a hobby. Given our discussion of hobbies in Happily Retired, I was intrigued by the kinds of hobbies that might have been prevalant in the 30′s. What was such fun was not so much the stuff itself, but the way these “collected” collectioins reflected an earlier era.
Collecting things in the 30′s and through the 50′s seemed to be an endless source of amusement for many people. There were button collections, money collections, Valentines, dolls, music boxes, samplers, shaving mugs — and (my personal favourite) cigar labels. People collected shiney cigar labels and some used these to make decorative dishes by gluing the lables onto the back of a clear glass dish, and finishing off with a felt backing. I had to admire the ingenuity and creativity of the collectors who managed to find sources of amusement in a pre-TV era and a time when there was little money. If you travel to St. Augustine, do not miss the Lighter Museum — the building itself (a former hotel built by Henry Flagler), is a classic example of the architecture and lushness of the Guilded Age.
Here’s a link where you can find out more: http://www.lightnermuseum.org/
This brings me back to a question I wanted to put to you. Do you have a hobby, and if yes, what avenues for enjoyment does the hobby offer give you?
Feb 18
Julie Chahal (Photo c. S Gaur Photography)
I’ve just discovered Brian Johnson’s Philosopher’s Notes: More Wisdom in Less Time at http://tv.philosophersnotes.com/ He has distilled the main ideas of the books that have most influenced him. Now why didn’t I think of doing that?
Jan 27
O.K. So every day does not go as planned. I have a long list of stuff that needs doing, but somehow getting things done efficiently is increasingly rare for me. I suspect that part of the problem is being retired. I know that if I do not get that Stroganoff made today, I can still do it tomorrow.
Sometimes there are constraints. If you are flying to Mexico on Thursday a.m., you will need to get packed and do most of the stuff that needs doing by Wednesday evening. No problem! At work, I often found I did my best work when I had to meet a deadline. I miss the feeling of accomplishment you get when you have completed something and done it well. Now that there just are not that many deadlines, I find some tasks just drag on and on (cleaning my office, for one . . . getting books together to donate to a local book sale . . . contacting a friend I have not seen for a while.)
So, what tricks can we use in retirement that give us that energy burst needed to get things done – without feeling tied to a rigid schedule? I use an online todo list (TaDa at http://tadalist.com/ ) – which I find very handy, but in my world writing down what needs to be done is the easy part. I think making a commitment to someone (like having an exercise partner) can also help with moving forward. I have just discovered the Website 43Things (about goalsetting.) Maybe some of the tips here will help: http://www.43things.com/resolutions/advice . What are your thoughts on this?
Jan 05
Happy New Year. Do you still make resolutions? I do, but I also feel less driven by them than was the case when I was younger. These days, I think resolutions should be positive things – doing things you will enjoy – rather than negatives (losing weight) or things that are hard work (40 minutes on the treadmill everyday!)
My positive resolutions for this year are:
- To make meditation a regular habit (starting with 20 minutes three times a week).
- Decluttering (This sounds like work, but I am looking forward to it.. There is often a feeling of release in getting rid of unwanted stuff and a refreshing calm that comes with organizing your living space.
- Writing memoirs. I am hoping to use this as a way for self-discovery.
- To pursue new experiences. Now that my husband is retired, there is more opportunity for travel, so travel will be a part of this.
At this point, I am optimistic about 2010. How about you? Will you use resolutions to make changes in your life? Here is a good article on keeping New Year’s resolutions: http://tiny.cc/4hZTc .