There is a lot of science behind the creative act. It is quite broad. Also, there are many philosophical discussions about where inspiration for creating comes from. But for me, the important aspect is the creative act itself and how it makes us feel. For this blog, I'm not interested in where our unique ideas from creativity might come from—from within or without—like happy "aha!" moments or capturing a passing thought (like seeing hummingbirds flitting around a feeder). If

Retirement often feels like entering a new world with different rules. While our own minds or society may suggest we now face boundaries—health limitations, financial realities, expectations about what "retired people" should do—the truth is quite different. There are, in fact, no boundaries. Retirement offers us perhaps even enhanced choices about how we'll live, what we'll pursue, and what mark we'll leave. Three extraordinary women from history understood the power of rej

A Note to Readers: This is the 7th blog in the Zest Full Life series. The first six blogs were presented thematically to introduce the foundations of living vibrantly in retirement. Beginning with this post, all future blogs will be presented in reverse chronological order (newest first), as is traditional with blog formats. Welcome to our ongoing journey toward a zestful life! Over 4,000 years ago, the Babylonians made promises to their gods, hoping for good fortune. Later,

A funny thing happened a few years ago. An employed, hard-working woman walks into a room and comes out…RETIRED! Parties, farewells and pats on the back ensued. I just gained the freedom to: · Travel · Skip the daily grind, and · Pursue my interests. But then what? I had a plan. Three years later I have a culinary certificate and a failed catering business. The covid lockdown aside, I realized that catering was a highly competitive business wit

Imagine we are in a magical carriage soaring through time and space. You are the passenger/tourist, and I am the driver/tour guide. Our journey is to explore the vast landscape of ageism and to answer the following questions: · What is ageism · How far does it reach · Why do I care · Why you should care · Why ageism does not exist in a vacuum Point of interest 1 What is ageism? Almost forty years ago a man named Robert Butler, MD, coine

For some reason, the word "retirement" has always been problematic to me. Just a niggle in the back of my mind, if I thought much about it at all, while I was involved in my long-term job. Now that I have left my long-term job and am in my first decade of the concept, the conundrum has moved further into my consciousness. Just what do we mean by the word "retirement?" Dictionary.com defines retirement as "the act of retiring or of leaving one's job, career, or occupation per

In Blog 3, we talked about rethinking what "retirement" really means and shifting our mindset from ending to beginning. But here's the reality: even with the best attitude in the world, you need a solid foundation to build that new chapter on. And that foundation starts with practical planning - ideally at least six months before you leave your long-term job. Now, if you're someone who plans a year or more in advance, that's fantastic. But even six months gives you enough run

In Blog 4, we talked about the practical steps you need to take before leaving your long-term job. Now let's get to the exciting part - the doors that open up when you have time, curiosity, and the freedom to explore. Today, we're diving into two of the most rewarding opportunities available in this life stage: going back to school tuition-free and traveling the world. Going Back to School: A Gift That Keeps Giving Several years ago, someone mentioned to me that after a certa

In previous blogs, we've discussed the importance of planning ahead and getting all those important details lined up - the finances, the insurance, the practical logistics. We've explored the exciting opportunities like tuition-free education and travel that open up in this new chapter. But now let's talk about something that's perhaps the biggest challenge of all: the daily part of your life. The day-to-day reality of who you are when you're no longer defined by your job tit