I didn’t question how I spent my time and energy for most of my life. I just did the things: work, family, running a home. I was on automatic pilot. There were plenty of signals in society that pointed me to what I was supposed to be doing. “It’s the right thing to be successful,… Continue reading Banishing The “Shoulds”
Category: Connections
Caregiver Corps
Are you part of the caregiver corps of mostly women, who quietly flow in and out of the doors of every retirement home?* I’ve joined you carrying large bags of laundry, and assorted groceries. Sometimes, we bring hot coffee and snacks. Sometimes, it’s a commode or compression socks. If you watch the doors of a… Continue reading Caregiver Corps
Buy Nothing Summer Fun
It’s so easy and convenient to spend money when I’m enjoying the Summer. Grabbing an iced drink while I explore the local flea market with my daughter, meeting a friend for lunch, or even enjoying an ice cream after watching a movie at our local revue cinema, means spending a shocking amount of money. It… Continue reading Buy Nothing Summer Fun
Goodbye Miss
Transforming from a teacher into something new is not as simple as saying goodbye to your last class of students, and heading off into the sunset of Summer vacation. Perhaps not surprisingly, nothing at all happens to you over your first summer after retiring. Nothing. It feels like every summer you’ve ever experienced in your… Continue reading Goodbye Miss
Life Is Different Now
Life will not be easier when you retire. There. I’ve said it. Despite what financial institutions might tell you in their ads about living a free and easy life, life isn’t easier. It’s different. The Good Stuff There are many, benefits. The flexibility to do things when you want to and not when your job… Continue reading Life Is Different Now
Cultivating Three Spaces For Your Wellbeing
A friendly smile as I walked down the hall, and sharing frustrations with a co-worker while un-jamming the photocopier, are two of the daily interactions that disappeared when I retired. At the time they seemed fairly insignificant to my overall wellbeing. How could venting to a colleague about the construction that delayed our commute, support… Continue reading Cultivating Three Spaces For Your Wellbeing
Reclaiming My Holiday Spirit
My holiday spirit is slowly returning after an all-time low several years ago. I was resentful of all the obligations of the season. I was burnt out from teaching during a pandemic. I was numb. It’s taken years of intentional changes to get here. But this December, I don’t feel panicked and overwhelmed for the… Continue reading Reclaiming My Holiday Spirit
The Caring Entrepreneur Isn’t An Oxymoron
As a solo entrepreneur, I work in a different space. It’s unfamiliar to most people who travel along the corporate hallways of business. It moves at a different pace, it has different objectives, and it needs different communities of support. It’s not the space of power points, HR, and team-building exercises. Communities where those tools… Continue reading The Caring Entrepreneur Isn’t An Oxymoron
People From Strange New Worlds
Trying new things means meeting new people from worlds that you’ve never even imagined. That may seem like hyperbole. I’ve worked in a people-facing career all my life. How can I have been unaware of these worlds? I didn’t think I was. I tried to keep up with current events. But understanding what peoples’ experiences… Continue reading People From Strange New Worlds
The World Will Fill Your Time
The other day I heard these words, “The world will fill your time.” As the summer winds to an end, I find myself realizing the truth of this statement. My sunny summer days are filled. I drift from one thing to another and suddenly it’s bedtime again. I have no trouble filling my time with… Continue reading The World Will Fill Your Time
