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
Category: Growth And Change
Personal Long Range Plans/Vision Board
At the beginning of 2025, I created a Personal Long Range Plan for the year. Some might call it a Vision Board. It was my first time making one. When I messed about with collage and paints to create it during the quiet days before New Years’, I didn’t realize how helpful it would be.… Continue reading Personal Long Range Plans/Vision Board
What Do You Reach For In Stressful Times?
I’m rekindling part of my cultural heritage, in times of stress. Recently, I was reading a wonderful book about building resilience by deepening your relationship with your body. Who doesn’t want to be able to bounce back a bit more often from the stress and tension of everyday life? (I’ll link the book below.*) I’m… Continue reading What Do You Reach For In Stressful Times?
Productivity Reframe
Doing something useful with my time is something I value. It feels good to be productive. There’s a feeling of satisfaction when I get to the end of the day and look back at projects completed. My time wasn’t wasted. It’s my personal values and beliefs that determine what’s useful and whether I’ve spent my… Continue reading Productivity Reframe
Returning To Learning In Midlife
There are very few things that need only be stated once for us to learn and remember them. Usually these things are connected to an extreme emotion – a time that hits us as a core memory. When you’re learning to drive, there’s nothing like the panic of almost hitting a car for you to… Continue reading Returning To Learning In Midlife
Are You Successful?
Re-thinking Success And Self-Worth How do we measure success these days when it’s not as easy to identify using wages or position? I didn’t realize until recently that I was measuring my success in numbers, trying to quantify it. I also didn’t acknowledge how much my self-worth was connected to my measure of success. … Continue reading Are You Successful?
A Very Good Place To Start
For creative people, for life-long learners, and for those eager to discover what they’re capable of after retiring in midlife, this is a very good place to start. Julia Cameron’s, It’s Never Too Late To Begin Again was recommended to me when I first retired and it gave me direction and opened possibilities to me… Continue reading A Very Good Place To Start
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
Life Balance Is A Moving Target
Life balance is a moving target. No one secures a bullseye in life balance. Our life circumstances are too changeable and varied from one week to the next. However, it is a worthy target to aim for because it keeps us readjusting and moving in a direction that feeds us with energy and keeps us… Continue reading Life Balance Is A Moving Target
Processing Bittersweet Times
Bittersweet has to be one of the most painful emotions that I’ve experienced. Moments that brought it on included my retirement, my daughter leaving for university, and when we moved homes. These are major life events that change things forever, but have at their core both joy and grief. Feeling The Confusion Of Bittersweet… Continue reading Processing Bittersweet Times
Retired, And Now What? 