It’s embarrassing to admit it, but for a long time I struggled with opening jars, and taps, and anything that involved turning to open. It wasn’t that the jars were too tightly closed (although that can happen these days). It was the direction I needed to turn the lid. It was so useful when I… Continue reading “Common” Knowledge: Ok Boomer
Category: Retirement Tools
Invisible Woman Syndrome And The Right To Be Seen
At a certain point in my thirties, I think it was around the time I became a parent, I also discovered I was becoming invisible. It started when I ceased being referred to by my name and became someone’s mom. Then over time, store clerks stopped noticing that I was the next one in line.… Continue reading Invisible Woman Syndrome And The Right To Be Seen
Getting Familiar With Discomfort
I didn’t realize how important discomfort would be during my journey from retired teacher to something else. I knew there would be challenges and change but I didn’t understand how essential it would be to accept not feeling comfortable, to realize that it’s a good thing. The Familiar Is Comfortable. My automatic reaction to discomfort… Continue reading Getting Familiar With Discomfort
Enjoying A Sideways Move
In my early years of teaching I made my first move from teaching kindergarten to teaching grade one, and I was met with a strange response from the parent community: congratulations. It made me laugh, and slightly annoyed. People outside the field of education equate an opportunity to teach a higher grade as a promotion.… Continue reading Enjoying A Sideways Move
Senior People
Senior management. Senior partner. Put the word “senior” in front of “judge” or “senator” and it conjures up an image of extensive experience, vast knowledge, and confident leadership. Now, place the word “senior” in front of domestic labels: senior care, senior portion and senior home. The image is one of fragility. Gone is the impact… Continue reading Senior People
Letting Go Of Control And Trusting Your Intentions
Changing my intention and trusting that this will help has been a tough lesson to learn. It’s been difficult because I resist letting go. I want to control the situation and make it happen. But the truth is that all I need to do is change my intention and then trust the process and the… Continue reading Letting Go Of Control And Trusting Your Intentions
When/Then Thinking
“When it’s a special occasion, then I will use my mother’s china dishes.” This is an example of when/then thinking. I don’t use the dishes until there’s a holiday. It’s remarkable how much this mindset has reduced the joy I let myself experience as an adult! “When my body looks a certain way, then I’ll… Continue reading When/Then Thinking
Imperfect But Done
I keep completing things imperfectly. I get them done and then I do it again. Imperfect each time. I’ve noticed that when I keep going something special happens. Learn As You Go When I was teaching and I changed assignments to a different grade, it took several years in that new grade before I felt… Continue reading Imperfect But Done
Living in the “in between”
It’s an uncomfortable space to be in: the middle. With a career behind you and who-knows-what ahead, it is a place that feels lost and unsettling. Having retired from teaching over a year ago now, I’ve lived in this middle, liminal space. I thought it was a space to get through and get done with.… Continue reading Living in the “in between”
We All Need Play
Play has often been reserved for children and considered something superficial once our lives are filled with grown-up concerns. As an elementary school teacher, I arranged my science lessons as play-based investigations. The students would have fun exploring stable structures and quickly learn how to create a secure base with the materials. However, play is… Continue reading We All Need Play
Retired, And Now What? 