It’s a sad truth that every retirement choice has a price. The choice may have a financial price tag or an emotional price tag. In planning for retirement, most people try to make choices that will reward a lifetime of hard work with a care-free, stress-free lifestyle. They recognize that all choices come with price […]
Enjoying Retirement
Powerful Thinking and Positive Thinking
Is there a difference between powerful thinking and positive thinking? When I posed this question at the dinner table, my family’s responses were interesting. There was consensus that powerful thinking had a Machiavellian quality to it related to getting and keeping power in organizations or among friends. Positive thinking, however, was equated with success and […]
Resilience and Dealing with Change
Resilience is important when dealing with change. Change happens all the time. Dealing with change effectively is a key component for retirement happiness. Every day of your life brings change. Sometimes the change is subtle; it may be a small event like wearing a new shoes or eating a new food or meeting someone you […]
Retirement Happiness — Keep Loneliness At Bay
One of the secrets of retirement happiness is to keep loneliness at bay. Unmet social needs often lead to emotional distress and/or physical health problems. You might wonder why I think about loneliness when I am fortunate to live happily with my husband. I am also blessed with close relationships with my son, daughter-in-law, and […]
Oh Canada — Celebrating Canada Day
“Oh Canada, our home and native land” — we’ll sing these words of the national anthem tomorrow as we celebrate Canada Day, our national holiday. Canada Day is a time to contemplate the benefits and privileges of Canadian citizenship. Here are my top ten. 1. I value the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which forms […]
Boredom — or Too Many Choices?
Is there a link between boredom and too many choices? Does choice overload lead to boredom? Does it lead to longing for more simplicity? No matter what decision is needed, there are many options to consider before choosing. At the grocery store, the cereal aisle features box after attractive box of cereal. The varieties are […]
Retirement Indulgences
Retirement indulgences are highly individualistic pleasures. Some consider them ‘guilty pleasures’. I consider retirement indulgences the benefits of life after work. Retirement indulgences are those pleasures that give enjoyment and make life worth living. There is no guilt involved. Retirement is the time in life to indulge in freedoms that come with growing older, […]
Is retirement easier for women than for men?
Is it true that retirement is easier for women than for men? It’s commonly believed that women, regardless of marital status, find retirement easier. A happy retirement depends on more than gender. Health, family, and financial circumstances derail retirement plans for men and women alike. Once retired, however, women tend to find retirement easier. In […]
How to Enjoy the May Two-Four Weekend
It may be presumptuous to write about how to enjoy the May Two Four weekend. This weekend marks the unofficial beginning of summer in most of Canada. Temperature-wise, it may not feel like summer but Canadians typically use this weekend to celebrate the end of winter. The May Two-Four weekend comes early this year with […]
Are busy people happier in retirement?
Are busy people happier in retirement? Does keeping busy create good feelings? Does keeping busy give purpose and meaning to every day? Most retired people are admonished to ‘take it easy’. We are told to relax and ‘smell the roses’. Yet, for many, idleness creates boredom. If you, like me, learned to regard busyness as […]
