Category: Daily Habits

Retirees’ Creative Reinvention: Day 1

Let’s shift gears a little.

Even before I retired, ‘reinvention’ crept into my consciousness. I was feeling fairly marginalized in a number of ways and it felt like it was the right time to redefine what I wanted to do with the ensuing years.

Especially as a creator.

So that will be my emphasis in February–your reinvention as a creator.

I will offer suggestions and include a few steps I’m taking in that direction–not in the vein of  ‘Hey! Look at me!’, but as a way to document [for myself] some forward steps.

Need a little nudge in this direction? Just click on and download the page below and print it out as often as you need. Nothing fancy here. No frills, just a little boost to your mindset. Here also is a link to the two-per-page version.

Creatives Journal Page
Clicking on this will generate a PDF version of the full page.

 

 

 

 

Retirement photo of the day 33: Look at the big picture.

milky way reduced

For some reason, every time I look up at the night sky [assuming the clouds have been whisked away and the stars are out], memories of long ago spring forth. Hide-and-go-seek with neighborhood kids well past dark, cheers from the football stadium down the street, watching G train under the streetlights… I can’t explain it, but there they are.

Give it a try and see what materializes.

Consider making this part of your daily wander.

Here’s a shot from my Friday ‘wander’.

yellow and white crocus
I courageously opened our front door and ventured to these first crocuses of the season.

Based on past winters, it would have taken me at least another couple of days before I homed in on these short-term visitors. But wanderings have landed on my daily habits list and, as a result, sharpened my instincts.

 

Photo-a-day 26: ‘Waive’ bye-bye to the boring stuff

certificate of prioritization
This certificate should be accompanied by a steady stream of willpower.

Yesterday, I wondered if there was a waiver that allowed us to at least temporarily shrug off nagging chores in favor of more meaningful activities.

Of course there is!

Just download a copy of the above masterpiece.

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I’m working on a short book about lessons and realizations during my first year of retirement.

If you’re interested in this and/or
and a fun [in development] community site for retirees, just add the information below.

 

 

A promise: Your email address will not be shared and will be used to inform you of the book’s status

Photo-a-day 25: Time yourself…

timer-macbook

Time yourself. Yes, set the timer for five minutes and see what gets done. I had to admit, I finished 90% of the dinner dishes recently in that span. Thus, no excuse for leaving them for later.

Well, that’s a lie…steering myself toward a writing project should give me a pass on the dishes…isn’t there a waiver we can sign so it somehow feels official?

If you want to look at the bigger picture of managing time during your days of retirement, take a look at these ten tips.

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And, in keeping with my ‘try new’ approach to life, here’s today’s list, so far:

Three new items at the farmer’s market:

A fancy kind of mustard green

Mondo-sized brioche with chocolate filling

A zucchini-and-refried bean pupusa

***

I’m working on a short book about lessons and realizations during my first year of retirement.

If you’re interested in this and/or
and a fun [in development] community site for retirees, just add the information below.

 

 

A promise: Your email address will not be shared and will be used to inform you of the book’s status

Photo-a-day 24: It’s been a good day when…

girl hugging lion
You overcame a fear.
beer bottles being tapped as a celebratory toast with setting sun in background
Enjoyed quality time with a friend
Boy and girl exulting over an activity on a MacBook laptop.
You savored the beauty and enthusiasm of youth.

Go ahead…fill in the blank: It’s been a good day when…

***

I’m working on a short book about lessons and realizations during my first year of retirement.

If you’re interested in this and/or
and a fun [in development] community site for retirees, just add the information below.

 

 

A promise: Your email address will not be shared and will be used to inform you of the book’s status

Photo-a-day 23: Shift your life…

bell tower at Oregon State University at dusk
Kind of sinister looking, isn’t it? I rarely take photos at dusk, but I couldn’t resist this shot of the imposing creature that hovered over the Oregon State University campus.

one small change at a time. When you think of it, every time you take a photo, you’ve made a small change. You’ve adjusted your perception of the world just a little bit.

Yes, here I am still harping on the ‘try new’ ethic.

It’s not as if we have tons of time left on our clocks.

I’m not trying to be a downer here, just a fact of life and the not-so-popular alternative.

So, why not ‘try new’?

They don’t have to be cataclysmic changes. Just anything different that makes your day of retirement a little bit more interesting.

And I’ve chosen to be intentional about it…

Yesterday…

  • I ordered an ‘Italiano’ for my afternoon coffee drink. [An Italiano is a strong Americano.]
  • I changed the route for Buddy’s and my midday walk.
  • I added sumac [love that herb’s lemony flavor] and a balsamic reduction to my sautéed kale and onions.
  • I added maple bbq sauce to my black bean soup.
  • I bought a new kind of coffee from a store where I had never considered buying it. [Note: Hawaiian…]
  • I’m listening to new music from a British acid jazz group Incognito.

Did I change anyone’s life?

Nope, but I changed my own.
And in retirement, why not make that a daily focus?

I’m working on a short book about lessons and realizations during my first year of retirement.

If you’re interested in this and/or
and a fun [in development] community site for retirees, just add the information below.

 

A promise: Your email address will not be shared and will be used to inform you of the book’s status