As I grow older, I realize that my daily energy stores are in decline. I’m more aware of the need to manage personal energy levels to improve happiness. This usually means planning only one or two things for the day besides the usual time for exercise, writing, cooking, and a few basic housekeeping tasks. Just […]
Lifestyle
Guilty Pleasures of Summer
Ontario’s civic holiday weekend at the beginning of August is history. Half of the summer is over which leaves only 4 to 6 weeks to enjoy summer treats. Days are shorter. This is a good time to consider the pleasures of summer — yes, some of these pleasures feel guilty — others, bring no guilt! […]
Farewell to Small Town Bakeries
Today I say farewell to another small town bakery that’s closing. When we recently arrived in Grand Bend for a summer of cottage life, Uncle Jimmy’s Scottish Bakery was boarded up with a For Sale sign in the front parking lot. No more will fresh sausage rolls, oat cakes, whole wheat loaves, fresh buns, pies, […]
Pursue Neglected Interests in Retirement
Retirement is a great time to pursue neglected interests. The busy years of parenting and career building often leave no time to pursue hobbies, go to movies, read best sellers, or learn new skills. These are also years where interests get postponed due to costs in terms of money and/or time. Mortgages and post-secondary education costs […]
What does it mean to be rich?
What does being rich mean to you? Being rich is an arbitrary and discretionary concept. Everyone has their own idea of what it means. For many, being rich means having a certain sum of money — like a million dollars, or, perhaps five million dollars. A large amount of money creates financial security with no […]
Nurture your inner child with playtime
Each of us has an inner child that’s waiting for a tweak to come out for some playtime. Yes, play — as in doing silly things, running, jumping, telling jokes, laughing, and having fun. As adults, especially as older adults, we often forget about play. Play is for kids! But what about the kid in […]
A Day With My Granddaughter
Twice in the past month, I’ve spent a day with my 5-year-old granddaughter. Professional development days for teachers mean parents must find alternate care. In our family, that means a day when grandmother duties take precedence over other events in my calendar. Bleary-eyed and tired when I pick her up in the morning, she proposes […]
Embracing Hygge to Enjoy Winter
This post is primarily for readers in the Northern hemisphere. Let’s resolve to survive this winter in good spirits by adopting a hygge lifestyle to embrace the season instead of searching for ways to endure or escape the cold. When I’m out and about I often hear people talk about how much they hate the […]
Have You Outgrown Yourself?
When your retirement life feels constricted, you might ask whether you have outgrown yourself. Whaaaat — you ask? How can that happen? In all likelihood, you have outgrown your retirement lifestyle. You planned a fulfilling and exciting retirement — not one that feels smaller with each passing year. Outgrowing oneself may be a natural progression of […]
Planning for a Successful New Year
Planning for a successful new year can happen anytime as each day signals the beginning of another year. However, most people use late December and early January for reflection about the past year and for musing about the year to come. Taking stock of the past year is useful. Looking back prepares the brain for […]