I was listening to therapist, KC Davis on a podcast this morning,* when she said something that was mind-blowing to me. When we were kids, we were raised to finish our chores first and then we’d get to play. Rest was seen as a reward for getting our work done. Davis pointed out that as… Continue reading Rest Is A Right, Not A Reward
Tag: retired
Health Saboteur
There are times in my life when I’m feeling great and have a good balance of exercise, stretches and meditation…and then I stop. I feel good and so I stop doing all the things that were helping to make me feel good. I’ve repeated this cycle for years. I know friends who are on medication,… Continue reading Health Saboteur
The Power Of Age
Getting older is a good thing. I know that can be difficult to believe at times when you look in the mirror and barely recognize the face looking back at you. People will say that they feel the same inside as they did when they were 30 or 40 years younger. But do they really?… Continue reading The Power Of Age
What Is Valuable To Us?
“Hand over your valuables!” would have been a terrifying thing to hear when your stage coach was suddenly stopped on a deserted country road. In the past, things of value were tangible and could be taken from you and held by another. Friends were commenting that they had very little these days that would be… Continue reading What Is Valuable To Us?
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
Beyond The Grocery List: An Antidote To Over-Thinking
I love a list! They give me that sense of accomplishment and organize my day. When I was teaching, I used them all the time to keep track of the vast number of things I needed to do in a day. As I try to make decisions about my next steps after retiring, I often… Continue reading Beyond The Grocery List: An Antidote To Over-Thinking
“You Are Not Alone”
“You are not alone.” This is one of the most powerful statements I’ve ever heard. Knowing that my experience and struggles are shared by others, brings us all into a community. We share the same challenges and therefore feel less isolated. We don’t even need to talk to each other. Just knowing that we exist… Continue reading “You Are Not Alone”
Libraries: More Than Just Books
Somehow I forgot that public libraries are more than just books. I’ve always had a library card. These days I borrow my books digitally and only occasionally step foot inside a library. I used to recommend the summer library reading programmes to my students. I was aware that they had more to offer others but,… Continue reading Libraries: More Than Just Books
From Scarcity To Abundance
It takes conscious effort for me to turn from the prevailing perspective of scarcity. It’s easy to feel afraid because of the way things are in the world today. The economy, climate change, and artificial intelligence cause most people to feel like they’re losing things that are precious to them: financial security, a healthy planet… Continue reading From Scarcity To Abundance
Retired, And Now What? 