After moving to London, Ontario last year, I’m faced with establishing a new social network, not an online network, as, thankfully, this network moved with me, but a network of real people. Previous to this move, my husband and I lived in the greater Toronto area for 26 years. After such a long time in […]
Love Relationships
Valentine’s day is a perfect time to consider the love relationships in your life. It’s a perfect time to think about the people who nurture and support us. You might be fortunate to have many love relationships in your life. On the other hand, you might stop reading right now thinking that love relationships are […]
Retirement Happiness — Breaking Winter’s Back
Last week I heard a climatologist proclaim that we’ve broken winter’s back! He explained that we are halfway through winter! Environment Canada says that mid January, known as the dead of winter, is the halfway point where more winter is behind us than ahead. The astronomical calendar tells us that winter began on December 21, […]
Retirement Happiness — Trying New Things
Trying new things changes your perspective. What you did previously, how you did it, and how it made you feel, change. My perspective on walking changed today as I experimented with walking poles. My husband felt that I would build more endurance and upper body strength if I challenged myself to walk differently. Hence, one […]
Dealing with Holiday Leftovers
With the hoopla of Christmas and New Year celebrations coming to a close, it’s time to deal with holiday leftovers. I’m thinking about leftover Christmas paraphernalia of all types — from food and decorations to leftover feelings. Dealing with either, or both, physical and emotional leftovers is sometimes rather unpleasant. Unfortunately, I know of no solution […]
Year-End Assessment
I’ve just finished a year-end assessment. Before anticipating what a new year will bring and considering outcomes for 2017, it’s useful to look back at 2016 aspirations, celebrate accomplishments, and consider major lessons learned. As I grow older, I grow more determined to live life on my own terms. I spent the first part of […]
Boxing Day — My Favourite Day of the Year
Boxing Day is my favourite day of the year. It’s a day when I sit quietly and contemplate the holidays. Nothing must be accomplished on Boxing Day. It’s a day for sleeping in to catch up on the late nights during the hectic week before Christmas. Getting dressed is optional as there are no commitments. […]
Retirement Happiness — A Knitting Journey
A few years ago I returned to knitting. This forgotten hobby was something I taught myself during pregnancy more than 30 years ago. To teach myself, I bought needles, yarn and a ‘how to’ book designed for children. I struggled with holding the needles and maneuvering the yarn to achieve consistent tension. With no online […]
How do you assess your life’s work in retirement?
As we grow older, it’s common to assess your life’s work. In the past six weeks as I’ve recovered from the flu and another bout of pneumonia, there’s been too much time for staring at the bedroom ceiling and thinking. I’ve assessed my life’s work since retirement six years ago. I’ve also been thinking about plans […]
What will you do with an extra hour?
What will you do with the extra hour this weekend? The gift of an extra hour with the end of daylight saving time feels like hearing from a long-lost friend, finding a $20 bill in a coat pocket, or discovering an empty drawer in the cupboard. It makes for an extra long day with every […]