So many times in my life, the words that have come out of my mouth have not expressed the intention in my brain. There is immediate regret or embarrassment because the words have been harsh, or awkward, or just plain opposite to what I intended. I’ve cut people off, sounded ungrateful and appeared to celebrate… Continue reading Why Does Your Foot Like Your Mouth?
Author: Caroline@retiredandnowwhat.ca
I'm a life coach discovering the opportunities and growth in midlife and beyond.
Who’s Pushing Me?
As a good friend reminded me, the only one pushing me is me. I’m doing the pushing. I get to choose to move along this path. No one is forcing me to take this route or travel down it at a certain speed. When I worry if I’m doing enough and making progress, I try… Continue reading Who’s Pushing Me?
Intentional Music Medicine
In recent years, music has entered my life as background sound: a catchy tune on the radio in among all the other daily noise. I sing along, or not, and life goes on. Recently on a long trip home, I realized that I may have been overlooking the power that it has to be medicine… Continue reading Intentional Music Medicine
When Your Plans Get Cancelled
Having plans for the day is a joy. The anticipation can carry you through the mundane or difficult stuff that you have to do in life. Having them cancelled by something out of your control, such as forest fire smoke, is crushing.* It’s not just a simple case of rescheduling or adjusting. It’s a full… Continue reading When Your Plans Get Cancelled
Cheerleading At Any Age
I love my cheerleaders, but I don’t tell them often enough. Our cheerleaders are the people who support us and cheer us on, when we embark on new projects. As a teacher, they were the ones who supported me when I tried new lessons, or methods to teach the harder to reach students. As a… Continue reading Cheerleading At Any Age
Going BIG
How much space do you take up in the world? I am staying small. It’s a choice. After three years of the pandemic telling me to keep my world small to stay safe (remain home, avoid others), I’ve found that it’s become my normal state. But unless there’s a pandemic, a war, or a lion… Continue reading Going BIG
A Day Of Wander
A few years ago, I found myself alone downtown on a Saturday morning. I had to drop something off before nine. Done. Suddenly, there I was with my notebook, a novel and a water bottle in my bag on a sunny, warm morning, and no plans for the rest of the day. No one needed… Continue reading A Day Of Wander
The Un-Becoming
Am I becoming a new me or just un-becoming the old me? It’s a matter of perspective. Is the path forward after retirement a time to gather new resources and skills and roles, or is it a time to take all that I am now and edit it until I find my true self? Either… Continue reading The Un-Becoming
Profile Picture Youth
Have you ever looked at photos of yourself and thought, “Wow, I look young in that picture?” I often keep my profile pictures for many years without changing them because I just forget about them. My face stays the same. Most of the time I don’t even notice it when I log in. But when… Continue reading Profile Picture Youth
Jumping Into The Unknown: Building Courage
There is scary-excitement that comes with trying something new. When I’m doing something challenging for the first time, it’s frightening to be faced with so much newness. I’ve been using this year to look at times that I’ve forged ahead with unfamiliar things that scared me. I would never have described myself as adventurous, but… Continue reading Jumping Into The Unknown: Building Courage
Retired, And Now What? 