Who has a blind date when happily married and 77 years old? I did! Last week, a lady I met when attending Unitarian Church services on Zoom came with her daughter for lunch and a visit. I will refer to her by the initial (M) of her given name. She lives in Toronto and her […]
Enjoying Retirement
Shopping for a New Car
After discussing the need for a new vehicle for several weeks, we decided that it was time to go shopping for a new car. When my husband needed leg braces for mobility, he stopped driving and we gave his car to our son. Since then, we’ve used my older, but reliable Toyota Venza for our […]
Time — Indomitable Opponent or Friend?
The passage of time sometimes feels like an indomitable opponent and other times it brings a sense of possibility. Regardless of how it’s viewed, it can’t be overcome. Those of us living in life’s last decades know there’s no bargaining with time. We know our past, understand our present but don’t know our future. The […]
Talking to Myself — Out Loud
As I grow older, I find I’m talking to myself more often. I’ve always had rich conversations using my inner voice and, as a former social worker, I know this is perfectly normal. Thankfully, most of my conversations are in my head and nobody can hear what I’m saying. Recently, I’ve begun speaking out loud […]
Childhood Food Memories
Since following podcaster and author Gretchen Rubin’s work urging awareness of the five senses, I have focused on sensory experiences for more happiness. In the past month, the focus is taste. I’ve tried to replicate the tastes of various foods from my childhood. Remembering the tastes of certain foods evokes a strong connection with my […]
Old Lady Shoes
Since my recent hip surgery, I’m loving my old lady shoes. These shoes are flat-soled lace-up styles or flat-soled shoes with a MaryJane-type strap across the arch. They give stability rather than style. I’ve traded style for comfort and it hasn’t been easy. However, if I want to walk through the rest of my days, […]
Happiness and the Five Senses
Prompted by one of my favourite podcasters, Gretchen Rubin, a happiness guru, I’ve been thinking about how appreciating the five senses affects our happiness. Rubin is publishing a book on the five senses sometime in 2023. Her promotion of this book prompted me to consider how fully experiencing various sensations influences happiness. This is especially […]
Easing Into A New Year
After taking the holidays to pause, it’s time to grasp the new year. The days before and after the December celebrations offer an opportunity to evaluate what’s essential in life in preparation for the months ahead. It’s time to ease into another year — slowly. Over the holidays I thought about the health challenges faced […]
Holiday Plans
It’s the holiday season. At our house, that means Christmas and New Year celebrations. For some of my readers, it means Hannukkah or Kwanza. The holidays will be different because I’m still recovering from hip surgery. Sadly, decorating Christmas cookies with grandchildren won’t happen this year. Definitely, there won’t be dancing! I will focus on […]
Darkest Time of the Year
This is the darkest time of year in the Northern Hemisphere where we live. The sun sets early every evening as we move toward the Winter Solstice. After adjusting to Daylight Savings Time and turning clocks back, we are faced with shorter days and longer nights. Shortly after 4:00 pm, I’m switching on the lights. […]