My first fall happened in 2014 when I tripped on a slight ridge in the sidewalk, toppling to the ground in front of a few bystanders. I got to my feet and proceeded running (walking actually) my errands. Once home, I saw blood and grime on my face, as well as a huge shiner developing on my eye. My second fall […]
COLOUR OUR LIVES HAPPY
Imagine my surprise when I discovered Goethe of Faust fame (yes, who made a pact with the Devil) is known as an early colour analyst. He published Theory of Colours, his treatise on the nature, function and psychology of colours, in 1810. In the 1980s I pitched a story about colour to the now defunct Verve magazine, which published several of my freelance articles […]
TOO MUCH TOGETHERNESS?
When our son was young, we read several books from The Berenstain Bears series, formulaic children’s stories about a family of bears confronting common concerns. The stories often dealt with excess, for example, Too Much Teasing, Too Much TV and Too Much Junk Food. Although Glen and I analyzed various aspects of retirement, we didn’t really visualize day-to-day living. Like many couples, we […]
A PARTIAL PRESCRIPTION FOR HAPPINESS
In 2011 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution recognizing happiness as a “fundamental human goal” and called for “a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes the happiness and well-being of all people.” Since 2013 we observe the International Day of Happiness every year on March 20. At this stage, […]
THE BRAIN DRAIN
My title doesn’t refer to an exodus of talented individuals from our country. It alludes to the declining capability of the brain as we age. My friend Ian got me thinking about the brain with his email following: “While cogitating on retirement-related issues, pressed to the fore by your blog, I’ve been reading a “brain […]
BUSY IS AS BUSY DOES
About the word “busy,” we’ve all heard — or even uttered — these sentences: “I’d love to, but I’m too busy.” “Some other time, since I’m so busy.” “I’m as busy in retirement as I’ve ever been.” In 1986 sociologist David Ekerdt introduced the concept of the “busy ethic.” He claimed “retirement is morally managed and […]
ABOUT BABY BOOMERS
Why create a blog on the sunset years? Because I’m a baby boomer, part of the massive bubble of babies born between 1946 and 1964, and we’re booming our way into the later stage of life. In 2015 Canadians aged 65, the traditional age of retirement, and older constitute 16 percent of the population of […]
A TIME TO STAY AND A TIME TO GO
“Leave when people are sorry to say goodbye.” My mom coined this adage and most often followed it when visiting her family. Despite having to fly to three cities across Canada to see her children and their families, she restricted her visits to three nights. She chose not to overstay her welcome, especially in consideration of her in-laws. We eventually reach a time […]
RALLY ’ROUND RITUALS
“The domestic lives we live … make possible our writing lives; our imaginations are freed by the prospect of … a predictable and consoling routine.” Joyce Carol Oates Some individuals retire to escape routines yet, paradoxically, routines can form the very framework necessary for happiness in our sunset years. When I retired from my nine […]
ASPIRING TO PERFECTION
“It seems that perfection is reached not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” Antoine de Saint Exupéry We shy away from using the word “perfection,” given its meaning of flawlessness. Yet it’s an inspiring word, summoning the highest of aspirations. Unattainable perhaps? Not if we revise the definition. When our young son […]