Back when I taught kindergarten, I’d frequently spend Saturday gathering picture books from my local library to support the unit we were working on. Then, I’d stand at the checkout desk with my arms full of volcano, or bear, picture books waiting my turn behind an older woman. Inevitably, she’d have a huge stack of… Continue reading The Healing Of Romance
Category: aging
Drink More Water
I used to have a younger teaching colleague who had trained her class to help her drink more water using a light. She had a habit of forgetting to drink water while she was teaching, and her doctor had told her that it was contributing to some significant health issues. She had the idea to… Continue reading Drink More Water
Why Do I Need Purpose?
Find something that you can do slow, that you can do forever and still love it, that still gives you meaning.” – Christina Koch, Artemis II astronaut Why do I need purpose after I retire? Can’t I spend the rest of my days enjoying my life – just living it? What’s wrong with that? I… Continue reading Why Do I Need Purpose?
Investing In The Fitness Of My 90 Year Old Self
Over the years, I’ve done aerobics, step aerobics, fitness with weights, yoga, belly dancing, Zumba and, most recently, Pilates. I used to be in classes of all young people, mostly women. Now, my Pilates’ class contains many midlife women. We are the same people, raised on the fitness culture of the 70’s, and 80’s. Jane… Continue reading Investing In The Fitness Of My 90 Year Old Self
Reclaiming The Word Retire
It’s not a new idea. For more than a decade people have shunned using the word “retire.”* It creates a visceral gut-punch response from active, and engaged folks who find themselves at that point in their lives where they’re leaving full-time careers. We know that we’ve technically retired from our jobs, but don’t call us… Continue reading Reclaiming The Word Retire
What Do You Do With Their Room?
Everyday I walk into a room with spaces where pictures once lined the walls, a bookcase full of books that are not for me, and a closet of forgotten clothes and childhood memories. My cat has taken over a corner of the space with her litter box and cat tree, but the room still feels… Continue reading What Do You Do With Their Room?
Trusting Your Body As You Age
I don’t really trust my body. It has a habit of suddenly breaking down with no apparent warning. One day, I’m busy sitting at my desk for six hours, and the next day my back is in spasms the minute I put on a sock. Another day, I’m enjoying a long hike with the dog,… Continue reading Trusting Your Body As You Age
Too Independent
We did it ourselves. Those born in the 1960’s and 1970’s muddled through without the supports available now. We managed to take care of ourselves while our parents worked. We took ourselves places on our bikes, or on the bus, without the safety net of a cell phone to stay in touch. I hesitate to… Continue reading Too Independent
Working With Your Season
What season are you in? I’ve found that the new usage for the term “season of life,” to be quite useful. The traditional use for season of life referred to the age of the person, with Spring equating to childhood and Winter compared to old age: “Youth like summer morn, age like winter weather;” –… Continue reading Working With Your Season
More Accessible Travel For All!
I was chatting with a friend recently who loves to travel but has an invisible, physical disability that makes it a challenge. She has some tips that have enabled her to travel independently in the U.K. These tips are essential for her, but are useful for all of us. 1. Plan your route from the… Continue reading More Accessible Travel For All!
Retired, And Now What? 