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 […]
retirement happiness
Managing Personal Energy for Happiness
As I grow older, I realize that my daily energy stores are in decline. I’m more aware of the need to manage personal energy levels to improve happiness. This usually means planning only one or two things for the day besides the usual time for exercise, writing, cooking, and a few basic housekeeping tasks. Just […]
Shot of Happiness
What is a shot of happiness? Other than a recipe for what seemed a very sweet drink with liqueurs and pineapple juice, I found no answers from a Google search. I found a couple of Facebook business pages, a blog with this title, but no definitions. I believe in shots of happiness. They serve as […]
Retirement Happiness — Good Endings
In the final days before moving I’m aware that good endings are important. Good endings involve letting go of people, places and traditions. Endings mean difficult good-byes. As we say good-bye, we worry that inevitable life changes will alter relationships. We know the future won’t be the same. We resist good-byes because we don’t want […]
Positive Self-Talk and Positive Thinking
One of the secrets of a happy retirement is using positive self-talk and positive thinking. I’ve had a reminder of this truth in the last few days. After their annual health examination, our veterinarian recommended that our 13-year-old cats needed to be anesthetized to have their teeth cleaned and to have extractions of decayed teeth. […]
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 […]
10 November Gratitudes to Increase Happiness
Gratitudes during the month of November are difficult for those who live in Northern climes. The skies are a wintry grey. Dampness makes the cool air feel downright cold. The trees have shed most of their autumn beauty. Day light is scarce. For me, November means blah days and low energy levels. I’m challenged to keep […]
Why Some Reunions Make You Happy
Some reunions make you happy. Contact with people who have influenced your life validates and energizes you. In terms of retirement happiness, some reunions are worthwhile — others, not so much. The big ‘home-coming’ reunions at universities I’ve attended never attract me. It’s not worth the time or expense to attend these events to re-kindle relationships […]
Life Changes — Embracing Retirement
Retirement comes in many forms. It’s a time when life changes. Sometimes the changes come gradually. Sometimes the changes are deliberate and happen through personal choice. Sometimes the changes come due to circumstances that force retirement. When job loss drives the retirement decision, embracing retirement is inconceivable for most people. Finding work again — in a known […]
Retirement Happiness — Get pleasure from your habits
Let’s face the truth — we get pleasure from our habits. Habits govern most aspects of our daily lives. They give us a sense of security. Our internal GPS loves habits and drives us to repeat them. Habits give us pleasure because we are emotionally and psychologically attached to certain behaviours and activities. We do […]
