Go to the Water

Welcome to the "250th" post that I have published  since I started my blog on September 12, 2022. At that time, I thought blogging would be time limited because I would run out of things to write about. I was totally unaware of how one thing leads to another and here we are at 250.  Blogging, or writing as I refer to it, has opened up my world. I find I am listening and watching people so much more than I ever used to. All the phrases I write about have come from a conversation with others. Every topic is inspired by something I've heard or seen. People are amazing and what they have taught me is profound. I am somewhat surprised at how passionate I have become about some topics. I think it is because I am now making a point of educating myself on those topics, and I have expanded my knowledge. It is important in retirement to keep on learning.  I have a process when I blog. I will hear a phrase or have an experience, and I think, "I should write about that". I ...

Since I retired, I often find myself involved in a conversation about retirement. Those conversations often lead to another topic, finding a purpose in life. Most people feel they need to find their purpose before they can retire. Some struggle with that and I wonder if their decision would be easier if they asked themselves, "where am I the happiest?".    I have several friends that say, "I'm in my happy place when I am in my garden or flower bed". They lose all track of time as they are transformed into a place of serenity. They are lost in their own world as they nurture their flowers and plants. I think this is probably the same for farmers. They can't wait to get going on the land in the spring. I think their happy place is in the tractor bringing the soil alive.   I recently asked a friend where she was the happiest. She said she is the happiest when she is doing volunteer work and helping others. I have to admit I am the same. It is not just the volun...

As I am closing in on 70, I often think, "how on earth did I get to be this old, so quickly?". Decades pass, just like years used to. I now have a better understanding and an appreciation for "how good some people are for their age".  It seems once a senior starts to crowd 80, you will hear them say, "Well, I'm almost 80 or 85 or 90", whatever the number may be. They like people to know their age, it is like a disclaimer for what they have just said or done. A common question is, "how old do you think I am?". Seniors should be proud of their age, only 2.3% of Canada's population is 85 years or older.   I have been blessed to have several 90-year-olds in my life. I come from a long line of longevity. My grandmas were 96 and 98 when they passed away. Many of their children lived well into their 90s. Mom turned 90 last September and it suits her very nicely. Of course, during my very long career, many inspirational 90-year-olds have crossed ...