“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face” — Victor Hugo With retirement comes the opportunity to swat a worried face and to swap those long ‘to do’ lists for serious fun. This is the time to re-discover play and to spend time every day just having fun — and replacing frowns […]
Author: Jeanette Lewis
Imagine your Perfect Retirement
Imagine there’s no heaven It’s easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today These lyrics, from John Lennon’s famous song ‘Imagine’ written during the Vietnam War and echoing the aspirations of the peace movement, speak to the dreams of many postworksavvy readers for a […]
Are you happy in your retirement?
Aristotle claimed that happiness is the ultimate purpose in life. Finding happiness, especially during retirement, means different things for different people. After reading Gretchen Rubin’s inspiring book The Happiness Project I have thought about the meaning of happiness — especially the meaning of happiness during retirement. I’ve also tried applying some of her tips to my […]
Preventing Falls– Your best (and cheapest) health insurance
As I was sipping coffee and staring at the lake this morning, an ambulance siren interrupted my reverie. To my surprise the ambulance stopped only a short way down the lake. Along with 2 or 3 others, I walked over to see what happened in our cottage neighbourhood. To our surprise, one of our neighbours […]
Your Retirement Persona — Are you an Introvert or an Extrovert?
Since retirement, I realize that aspects of my personality are gradually changing. In my former identity as a CEO I was usually at centre stage and expected to respond with out-going friendliness to everyone. I was expected to speak knowledgeably and contemporaneously, to respond with wit, and to show decisiveness in the face of uncertainty. […]
Retirement Transitions — Stages of Retirement
Finding a post retirement identity is a process that involves transitions. I realize that I am slowly making these transitions during this wonderful third stage of life. Just over a year ago when I retired from work, I was gaga with all the new-found time and freedom that was suddenly available. Now I realize that […]
Aging 'Successfully'
Each of us is growing older. Sometimes aging feels like a gift — more wisdom, less striving, more acceptance. Sometimes aging is a drag — more aches, more stiff joints, some forgetfulness. Advice about how to stay youthful abounds in the media. It seems that society is afraid of getting old — even the word […]
Petty Annoyances — Don't let the small stuff get to you
During the past two weeks a small contractor has repaired the 25-year-old wooden fence along the backyard. Because our house is on a crescent, the back fence spans the length of two neighboring houses. These neighbours are cooperating with the repairs and are also having repairs done to their side fences. The contractor is working […]
Canada Day — celebrate your country
Canadians are known for down-playing their nationalism. This often leads to ignoring events that allow us to celebrate the many advantages we take for granted as Canadians. As someone born in Canada, who had the priviledge of attending three excellent Canadian universities, who experienced many career opportunities in various provinces and who is now retired and living […]
Do you make time for silence in your life?
Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose. — Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Last weekend my husband and I arrived at our cottage late on Saturday afternoon after attending yet another funeral. As we grow older, these funerals and memorials happen too frequently. We were both drained […]
