Month: April 2024

It’s been a year now since I’ve been fully retired. Every morning when I was working (even on my days off), I would wake up and walk through the list in my head of what I needed to get accomplished that day. I loved my career, yet I still began each day chock full of anxiety. How was I ever going to get it all done?

Although the anxiety will never disappear, I start my days now in a much calmer place. There aren’t umpteen tasks to be accomplished across multiple roles. There is time to focus on my health and exercise without having to wake up at 5 am to get it done.

There is time in the day to journal. Time to read.

But… Are My Days Full?

I found myself wondering this one morning as I was taking my mother to a doctor’s appointment. One of the things that happened around the time I began fading out of work was that my mother got sick. Although she’s doing better overall than she was, helping her out is something that is on my schedule multiple times per week and it will continue to be that way.

Ours is a complicated relationship, so although being a caretaker for her is the right thing for me to do, it is not necessarily a joyful activity in my day. There is a myriad of other things that I’d rather be doing.

And, that’s where my thoughts went on that particular morning.

The Answer Is Yes

My days are most definitely full – on the days where I include activities and people who are aligned with my values and priorities. My husband, my kids and grandchildren, close friends, creating content for the women in my community, learning something new, and being outdoors and moving my body.

If my day has included any one of those things, it has been a full day.

This is not a big change from when I was a young mom! Back then, I also considered my day to have been full when it included activities that were in line with my priorities and values.

What’s Changed Since Retirement?

I’m Learning the Difference Between “Busy” and “Full”

Throughout my life, I’ve been busy in varying degrees and have prided myself on my ability to multitask and juggle various demands simultaneously. When my children were young and at home, my days were both busy and full from the moment I got up until the moment I went to bed.

My days were full of activities that were completely in line with my priorities (my children and family and school).

Upon retirement, I’ve had more down time in my daily schedule than I’ve ever had in my life. I’m not working, and my children are grown and gone. I’ve got projects going on with my husband, am helping my mom, and I see my grandchildren often but these are not daily activities. They happen in bits and spurts.

I’m coming to terms with the fact that I don’t have to have something planned for every minute of my day to be able to consider it “full.” There are days where I am very “busy” but would not call my day “full.”

There are days where I pick up a grandchild from school and hang out seemingly not doing a ton, when, in reality, I’m there listening to and playing with them and ready to help out when needed. That is a full day for me.

There are days when I get a 2-mile walk in, exercise, and finish a great book. That is a full day for me.

On the other hand, I can be non-stop busy for an entire day doing a myriad of activities that are not in line with my priorities or values and end the day tired but not feeling that my day has been “full.”

I’ve Learned How to Say “No”

Learning to say “no” has likely been the hugest and healthiest change I’ve made in my life in the past 5 years.  

Realizing that when I say “yes” to something or someone that is not in line with my values and priorities, I am saying “no” to something or someone that is.

At 62 years old, I’m done NOT spending time with people or doing activities that are not a priority for me.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What constitutes a full day for you? Does full equal productive? What are your priorities and values at this stage of the game?

I’ve spent a lot of time lately thinking about the value of songs. I’m thinking of songs that have a distinct and memorable melody and meaningful lyrics. Songs that trigger loving memories. Songs that speak of heartbreaks or hardships. Songs that make you laugh. Songs that reflect universal experiences and emotions. Mostly, I’m thinking of old songs.

Songs Today

People still write and record wonderful songs, but these days the melody and lyrics are often obscured by elaborate production. The artists who enjoy the greatest visibility and financial gain tend to be the ones who are assisted by the most effective marketing and a bigger-than-life image.

But the world still needs songs that can stand on their own, without additional glamor or glitz. I saw evidence of this at this year’s Grammy awards. As impressive a show as most of the artists made, Tracy Chapman and Joni Mitchell stole the show for a lot of people. They sang songs that you relate to. Songs that you want to – and can – sing along with.

Simple Songs

I have increasingly encouraged my guitar students of any level to learn more songs in the category that I define as simple songs. These are songs that have a common structure (verse/chorus) and use common chords. Because of this structure, they’re ideal for jam sessions or music circles or for singing with kids or grandkids.

Benefits to Musicians

When you learn and play simple songs, you gain a deep knowledge of basic chords and chord progressions. These chord progressions, which occur in many contexts and in all types of music, become ingrained not only under your fingers, but also in your ear. With enough time and repetition, you’ll probably find yourself picking out songs – or at least parts of songs – by ear. You’ll also begin making valid predictions regarding the direction a song will take as you listen to it the first time.

Benefits to Non-Musicians

Even if you don’t play an instrument, you may find that frequently turning your attention to these kinds of songs will enrich your listening experiences. Your ear will begin making the same sort of connections and predictions that a musician’s ear makes, even if you’re not aware of it. The music you listen to will seem more orderly and sensible. And when your unconscious predictions don’t pan out, you’ll feel surprised and excited without being able to name the reason.

Are the Old Songs Disappearing?

In recent years, I’ve encountered more and more people who are unfamiliar with the songs that were ubiquitous before the 2000s. Unfortunately, those who lack familiarity with that music have a tendency to overlook or undervalue it, categorizing it as outdated. But nothing could be further from the truth. There are many songs that are in the public domain (no longer under copyright) that are just as relevant now as they were when they were composed.

In considering this, I felt the urge to defend and share those songs. So, I chose 20 of my favorites from the public domain and used them to create a songbook. I included not only the melody, chords, and lyrics of the songs, but also a brief history and a link to an inspiring performance of each one. Then, I made it available as an e-book that you can download for free. My intention is to preserve and honor those songs in my own small way, while bringing joy to those who learn and play them.

What Can You Do?

Passing songs along is a great way to keep them alive. You might want to choose one or more traditional songs to enjoy at family celebrations or events. Or, if you’re involved with a church, local choir, theater group, community group, or political gathering that uses music, you can suggest using relevant songs from the past.

Every time you play or share a song from the public domain, you have a part in preserving our musical heritage. And perhaps most importantly, you have the opportunity to nourish yourself from your own personal well of experience and emotion. What could be better?

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What songs from the past do you treasure? Are there certain songs that define holidays, anniversaries, or other events for you?

Do you feel cheerful when you notice the signs of spring? Are you enjoying the sight of daffodils, tulips and cherry blossom trees? Do you feel more optimistic with the onset of longer days and milder weather?

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t feel happier when they see spring flowers blooming and feel the sun warming their skin.

If you’re anything like me, you’re relieved to put your winter coats and boots away. Spring is the perfect time to get outside for walks, gardening and outdoor activities. It is also the perfect time to focus on our balance.

As winter comes to an end and we move towards summer, it’s time to start doing exercises to improve our balance. Keep reading to find out why we need to prioritize our balance now, and how to get started.

Did You Hibernate Over Winter?

Most of us spent more time indoors over winter. We opted for being warm and cosy, staying in due to early nights and cold weather.

That means we might not have done so much exercise or been so active day-to-day. As a result, we may have lost some fitness, or our balance may have declined a little.

It’s the ‘use it or lose it’ principle in action. The good news is that we can regain our fitness, rebuild our strength and improve our balance.

What Are Your Plans for the Spring and Summer?

At this time of year, we’re making plans and starting to get outdoors more. We’re getting to work in the garden, taking grandchildren to the park, or planning day trips. We might also be planning holidays or travel to see friends and family.

If you’re a keen gardener, you need good balance to step around flowerbeds and reach up to prune your roses.

When it comes to your grandchildren, you need to be steadier on your feet to play frisbee or enjoy time in the playground with them.

If you want to travel or go on day trips, you might be visiting cultural sites with cobblestones and tricky staircases or walking around gardens with uneven ground and steps without handrails.

Having better balance will mean you feel more confident and steadier on your feet, whatever your plans are for the coming months.

Take Stock of Your Balance

The start of a new season is time to take a step back and reassess. It’s a chance to take stock and reflect.

Our balance can decline gradually over time without us realising. We don’t notice the small changes; we get used to them. We don’t notice that our balance is not as good as it used to be, that we’re avoiding places or situations, or that we feel more anxious than before.

When things happen gradually, we get used to them and they become the new normal.

Are you noticing your balance when you’re walking on uneven ground, like garden paths or cobblestones?

And are you feeling unsteady going down stairs, steps or kerbs, especially if there’s no handrail?

What about avoiding places where you feel unsteady or situations when you feel worried about tripping or falling?

If so, now’s the time to focus on your balance.

How Can You Make Your Balance a Priority This Spring?

If you’ve decided that you want to make your balance a priority, we can help you.

At Vida Wellness, we are specialist exercise instructors who have helped thousands of people improve their balance. We’re here to help you feel steadier on your feet and more confident every day.

We’ve created the Free Balance Blueprint for you. In this Blueprint, we give you our five essential tips for getting started with balance training.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Will you be focusing on your balance this spring? What is your purpose for improving your balance? Join the conversation below and tell us what you want to improve your balance for.