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 […]
Personal Growth
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
Taking Sibling Relationships for Granted — until they are gone forever
‘Nobody knows you better than your siblings’ quote by unknown CBC broadcaster In late November my only sister died after a short fight with an aggressive cancer. Just a few years ago my dear younger brother also died of an aggressive cancer. With no living parents, the deaths of my only siblings have left me […]
Do you have the courage to make mistakes?
Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. — Albert Einstein As I was making lunch today I heard an interesting CBC interview with Brene Brown a social work professor and author of The Gifts of Imperfection. The discussion centred on the merits of accepting personal imperfections and learning that mistakes […]
Will you find the courage to enlarge your life?
The beginning of a new year usually means resolutions to make changes in your life. Goals common to many people include losing weight, stopping smoking, saving money, becoming physically active and developing a stress free lifestyle. Setting these goals often helps people to conquer habits and lifestyle issues. However goal setting may not be for […]
Have you 'taken stock' of your life aspirations
“And in the end, its not the years in you life that count. It’s the life in your years.” –Abraham Lincoln As I grow older, I realize how quickly the years come and go and how easy it is to coast along without reflecting on what is important. The beginning of another year provides an […]
What Everyone Ought to Know About Generosity
” You can share even if you have only a little”. Quote from an East African proverb. I was struck by the meaning of this a few years ago when our son was home for a brief visit at Christmas during the time he was studying abroad. He was unemployed, broke and looking to begin […]
Mental Toughness for life's setbacks
Deepak Chopra defines emotional resilience as the ability to bounce back from life’s setbacks. Regular readers of postworksavvy know that life handed me a setback just two weeks before I retired when I received a diagnosis of moderately severe osteo arthritis. Despite denial, searching for second and third opinions, and bargaining with myself to avoid the […]
