There are many ageist beliefs that I’ve seen at work, but the idea that older teachers are more conservative in their methods than the younger ones is a pet peeve of mine. Perhaps you’ve seen it in your job, where the younger employees assume that the older ones are out of touch and backwards? They’ll… Continue reading Older And Progressive
Tag: retiredteacher
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
Learning The Truth and Reconciling
I’ve lived in Canada all of my adult life and worked in the education system for decades, but I wasn’t aware of the history and issues impacting Indigenous People until very recently. I am grateful for the patience of an Indigenous student teacher who began my education 7 years ago. She taught me about land… Continue reading Learning The Truth and Reconciling
Growing From A Caretaker To A Listener
I’ve recently become aware of the caretaker role and how much I have invested in being a caretaker for family and friends. I thought it was a good thing, but now I’m seeing it differently and realizing that caretaking has a harmful side that I never intended. As Maya Angelou said, “Do the best you… Continue reading Growing From A Caretaker To A Listener
Re-thinking Recycling
The state of recycling makes me sad and frustrated. Recently, while eating breakfast at a chain hotel, I watched as an employee emptied the recycling and garbage into the same bags. It happens all the time in hotels, the community and at work: recycling gets tossed out with the garbage after the consumer has dutifully… Continue reading Re-thinking Recycling
Your Home Serves You
What if your home’s purpose is to be a space where you can function? If it’s a place that serves me and my family, and what we want to do in the space, then I’ve been thinking about my home the wrong way for years. Assumed The Room’s Function. When the real estate agent described… Continue reading Your Home Serves You
Rest Is A Right, Not A Reward
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
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”
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
No News Is Good News
My mother has a saying that applies to people who are far away from us, “No news is good news.” It implies that if the news about our loved ones is bad, we will hear about it. Bad news travels quickly and good news does not. Therefore, no news means they are safe. These days… Continue reading No News Is Good News
Retired, And Now What? 