Not If, But When, You Exercise

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Did you know that the time of day that you exercise effects the results that you achieve? I didn’t. Like most people, I’ve struggled to find a consistent time to exercise. When I was working, there were only a few spots in my schedule where exercise would fit. There wasn’t much choice. As a retired… Continue reading Not If, But When, You Exercise

Deep Conversations

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There’s nothing I like more than sitting down, cup of tea in hand, to have a meaningful chat with someone. When I was teaching, having even a moment in the week to sit down with someone was almost unheard of. Life was too busy, too rushed, for conversations. Now, there is time for meeting at… Continue reading Deep Conversations

Barriers To Asking For Help

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Part 2 in Rethinking Help (click here to read part 1) I see the value of accepting help for the giver, who shares their support, and the receiver, who is supported. It builds connection between friends and family and is mutually beneficial. Accepting help is like accepting a gift, it strengthens bonds. But my independent… Continue reading Barriers To Asking For Help

Rethinking Accepting Help

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I will admit that I’m not great at accepting help. Recently, it came as a revelation that allowing others to help me, may be truly meaningful to them.  I’d never considered help from the perspective of the giver before. I thought that I was “taking” from others when I asked for their assistance. I resisted… Continue reading Rethinking Accepting Help

Celebrate Your Wins

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It’s both physically and literally difficult to pat yourself on the back. When you accomplish small steps, do you celebrate?  It’s a foreign idea for me to get my head around. It seems like bragging or “blowing your own horn:” embarrassingly self-serving. However, there is value in celebrating those wins. A Checklist Is Not Sufficient… Continue reading Celebrate Your Wins

Who Inspires You?

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Older women who are living their lives authentically without a worry about cultural norms or fashions, are inspiring to me. They are folks who have designed their life to suit them, not their partners or children or society. Some start businesses, some sell their homes and travel, some learn new skills, and others continue to… Continue reading Who Inspires You?

Your Ship Has Not Sailed

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I was guilty of this too. I thought that because I was retired there were certain ships that had left my harbour forever: boats that I would never travel on, and places I would never explore. This year, I’ve learned a lot, but the biggest ah-ha moment came when I realized that this thinking was… Continue reading Your Ship Has Not Sailed

Retiring The Excuse

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It’s a lot harder to say NO these days.  I used to have a ready excuse for not wanting to do something: “Sorry, I’m so busy with work.” It was a legitimate reason. I was often extremely busy and had difficulty balancing any added commitments. But if I’m honest, it was also a handy excuse.… Continue reading Retiring The Excuse

Righting My Life/Work Balance

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It is wonderful to be retired. I’m not going to lie. I love having the flexibility in my day to take care of my own needs for exercise, daylight, writing, nutrition, hydration and social interaction. I’m no longer trying to wedge self-care into a bulging work schedule of teaching, planning, marking, reports and paperwork. But… Continue reading Righting My Life/Work Balance

Learning What You Don’t Know: step two in the process

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According to psychology, there are four steps to acquiring mastery over a new set of skills.* At first, you don’t know what you don’t know: ignorance is bliss. But then the thorny second stage begins, and there’s a wave of overwhelm as you realize just how much you don’t know.  I’m in this stage now… Continue reading Learning What You Don’t Know: step two in the process