Small Steps

At times I feel bombarded by messages online to join the movement to make the world a better place! Someone has opened up a plastic-free grocery store or printed an actual 3-D tiny house for the homeless. I start to examine my own life purpose amongst these larger-than-life projects. 

What can I do I ask? Well the answer came to me suddenly while sitting outside this evening on my porch - Be Happy! Once I accomplish this goal, I am free to help others which can lead to my life purpose or projects. 

• Being happy requires work. First you need to take care of your basic needs like food, shelter, clothing along with employment or retirement, transportation, maintenance. These things can be very time-consuming! But I find I have a routine to minimize my time. For example, I do all my laundry in one afternoon instead of daily. Also, I keep a To Do List giving priority to such things as getting the car fixed. See what works for you.
• Schedule social activities. All work and no play makes Johnny or Joanne a dull person! Plan at least one event you can look forward to during the week. It can be meeting friends for a meal or going to a concert in the park. Just put something on your calendar even if you just plan on browsing books at the mall.
• Help others. It is true helping others leads to happiness for you. How cool for everyone! Look for opportunities to help others. It can be as simple as letting someone in the grocery line go in front of you. Sometimes someone at work or in your family will ask for help. There is your call! Afterwards you feel a wonderful sense of peace and accomplishment.
• Now you are ready for other projects. Think about what is important to you. For me it is recycling. It all starts with me! So I figured my first step is not using straws or tops when I order drinks. I tried that last week and the soda tasted fine without the extra plastic. I am hoping others will follow. It all adds up with hundreds of people changing their habits. 
• Give yourself time. Just take a small step toward your goal. Later, you can open up a recycling company or write the best-seller. For instance, I have several half-written stories. Instead of beating myself up as to why I have not completed a book, I have decided to blog. I enjoy blogging and it keeps me writing! The big stuff will come later. 

That's it folks and have an amazing rest of the week! 

No Man / Woman is an Island

Being single at 60 and beyond does not mean you have to be alone! It is important to interact with others including various ages and personalities. Keep in mind you are not actively hunting for the "one" either. People will pick up on that desperate search and run for the hills 😊 You merely want to be able to hold a conversation with like gender or opposite and enjoy the moment.

There are ways to achieve interaction without having to look online for chats or meetups with virtual strangers. From my personal experience and speaking with others here are some tips:

Meet in groups - try meetup.com: Follow your special interests like bicycling, concerts, art and put in your zip code on meetup.com. If you are on Facebook, your friends will appear in the groups if they are members. And all of this is free! (if you don't connect with a group, try another one)

Go to a place of worship: There are many non-denominational choices. Find a place where you are comfortable and enjoy the service. Join the group afterwards in the Social Hall. The bottom line is the spiritual message can always leave you fulfilled even if the interaction does not.

Practice casual conversation: Look for ways to talk with others. Consider your friendly neighbor, someone in a grocery line or at the bank. Just continue the rapport if they comment on the weather or the long line. All you need is a few moments of conversation.

Work activities: Participate in suggested company invites such as walking groups, bowling or softball. Also consider after-work gatherings arranged by co-workers including sporting events and movies. Again follow your interests.

Family and friends: If you need to have a meaningful connection, call a family member or friend. There are always there for you! If they do not answer their phone, dial another. And if still no pick-up, journal your thoughts - write them down so you may find expression and release.

I do want to point out it is okay being alone sometimes! In fact it is necessary to maintain balance in your life. Just keep track of the time on your island. Anything longer than 48 hours may require human interaction. Have fun getting off the island!

Print Books Are Back

Just the feel and smell of a book brings great comfort to me. Even holding a book is something akin to holding a treasured child. But in this digital age of smart phones, tablets and other devices the print book is in danger of becoming extinct as the dinosaur. Or some may think! Actually, e-book sales were down 18 percent compared to hard back sales going up 4 percent, according to recent data. Wow! It seems like people are returning to the old fashioned print book. Why you may ask? 

For myself I want to limit my screen time at home in addition to keeping fond memories of growing up with books. Others polled online say they prefer hardback books as gifts which are more impressive than a digital format. And children's print books have always been popular in the written format with big colorful pictures paired with interesting vocabulary (think Dr. Seuss). 

I want to share a story of mine. Recently, I purchased a New York Times Best Seller online and downloaded onto my Kindle. I found after a couple of weeks I had only read a few chapters. I thought this situation was odd since I love to read. Later, I figured out my eyes were worn out from all the hours I spent on the computer at work. Fortunately, I was able to get a free, hardback copy through the library. What a difference! I was able to go through pages like a knife goes through soft butter. I have not given up my Kindle which is very convenient for holding multiple books and enlarging font. But I am glad print books are back for my reading pleasure in the evenings.