About this blog
Retirement has given me the gift of time to reflect and write about life, gratitude, humor, body and spirit, sometimes seriously and sometimes with a touch of humor, irony, or just plain silliness.-
Recent Posts
Archives
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
Meta
- aging aging and appearance arts and crafts books and movies books or movies changes after retirement current events/themes exercise festivals friends and family grief and loss health humor inspiration intergenerational letting go of work luxury of time memories no escape from goals personal reflections seasons stress support and caring technology the unscheduled life touring town travel Uncategorized volunteering writing
Blogs I Follow
Blogroll
Category Archives: inspiration
Spanish and the new me
Since returning from Europe I haven’t blogged. First came jet lag, then the cold and cough, and then all the other activities that make up an ordinary life, but don’t always inspire me to write. Three weeks passed, and friends … Continue reading
Posted in inspiration, personal reflections, travel
Tagged Andalucia travel, flamenco, Seville, speaking a second language
4 Comments
How to stop watching TV
In my last post, I mentioned wanting to eliminate TV watching as a way to pare down habits that interfere with accomplishing… not sure what, but accomplishing something. At least it would offer a way to keep me out of … Continue reading
Happiness around the world
Lately, when I’m not in doctor’s offices or the emergency room, I’ve had a bit of time on my hands, some of which I’ve put to reading. (All these medical adventures relate to small fractures on my ankle and a … Continue reading
Posted in changes after retirement, inspiration, travel
Leave a comment
How our brains mess with us
Donald Trump says the news media lie. In most instances he’s wrong, but that’s not the focus of today’s blog. Many of us face a bigger threat to receiving honest information than from the so-called fake media. What could that … Continue reading
Posted in health, inspiration, memories, personal reflections, stress
Tagged mental-health, self-confidence, stress, the brain
4 Comments
Happiness eludes most Americans
Ever since Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence and declared that the pursuit of happiness was our inalienable right, many Americans have felt the need to make this pursuit their number one priority. So that must make us a happy lot. Right? … Continue reading
Posted in current events/themes, inspiration, personal reflections
Tagged happiness, happy countries, joy, quest for happiness
Leave a comment
Who inspired you?
Who helped you find a direction, got you thinking along different lines about your future, and built your confidence along the way? I am at the stage of life where I enjoy looking back and attempting to answer these questions. It … Continue reading
The satisfaction of doing it yourself
Have you held on to something you created earlier in your life, maybe an elementary school finger painting or a junior high wood shop birdhouse? I have collections of greeting cards I made and never sent, and booklets I made … Continue reading
Suddenly I’m a fan of Chick Lit
I’ve pitched my novel to literary agents and editors for the past five years at the Pacific Northwest Writers’ Association conference. Over time, these professionals have been gracious, and most asked me to send them something, sometimes only a synopsis … Continue reading
Posted in inspiration, writing
Tagged editors, getting published, literary agents, sales pitch, writers' conference
3 Comments
When nature isn’t nurtured
Last week, when the rain stopped for a few days and the long-hidden sun reappeared, I decided that I couldn’t afford to let spring pass me by. I had to get outside and out of town, even if only a … Continue reading
Posted in inspiration, personal reflections
1 Comment
Good reason to pretend to be an extrovert
I see myself as a closet introvert, someone who would rather stay home and read a good book and not go to a party with strangers. Still, as I get older I find it a little easier to pretend I’m … Continue reading
Posted in inspiration, personal reflections
4 Comments