Taking Time Out

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I saw this picture on Facebook the other week. It reminded me of how important it is to take time to relax, to be ourselves! So often I find myself and others running from one event to the other in addition to taking care of our work and chore duties. This seems to be a common situation whether you are 40 or 60!  

When someone thinks of getting away, big trips come to mind like the Jungles in Peru or a Rhine Getaway in Europe. These are great trips but they require a lot of planning and plenty of cash! That is okay sometimes. But I have found all I really need is to take time out. Here are some suggestions:

1. Visit Family or Friend 

- Take advantage of someone's guest room or couch especially if they have offered. Just a change in environment can make a difference in your perspective.

2. Plan a Weekend Event

- It is important to plan something fun 😊 You can do things on your own like seeing a movie, shopping, walking outdoors, bicycling or pursuing a hobby. Group things are fun too but your alone time is precious.

3. Sit on Your Porch

- Some of you may not have a porch. I know it is a Southern thing! But just gaze outside or go to a park and drink in the beauty of nature. 

4. Go to a Coffee Bar

- Just wander into a coffee place and order something flavorful! Sit inside or out glancing at other people (but not too long) and at your surroundings. Call a friend on your phone or bring a book to read.

5. Eat Comfort Food

- Staying home and resting from a busy world is a retreat. Make yourself something soothing like soup or a casserole  - order out if you don't cook. Taking care of yourself is necessary.

Remember you are your own best friend so enjoy the good company!

Synchronicity - A Spiritual Path

Synchronicity - a concept introduced by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung holds that events are "meaningful coincidences" if they occur with no casual relationship yet seem to be meaningfully related. What does that mean? 

When you experience separate events happening in your life and eventually they all flow into one river! For example, prior to my first trip to Hawaii last year, my flights were changed at the last minute. Just before I went to sleep I was receiving texts from the airline informing me my flight time had been pushed up by 4 hours! So that meant I would get just a couple of hours of sleep. I was upset and called the airline to confirm. Yep it was true. So I set my alarm and accepted the inevitable. I scrambled and grumbled the next morning!

When I arrived in Kona, HI, I got to experience the bright afternoon air scented in ginger and jasmine blossoms. And I got to look into my son's eyes and see the light of happiness. My original flight had me arriving at night! Also, there were two more stops instead of just the one. I told my son and his girlfriend about the chaos the night before and they just nodded and said "Synchronicity" - it all happens for a reason and enjoy the result!

How do you get synchronicity to work in your life?

• Think about what you want - Not obsession or unreality. Just lightly touch upon what you need. For instance, the other day I noticed my phone was running very slowly and out of memory. I thought about getting a new phone but it was not in the budget! One day later, I ran into someone who happened to work at a phone carrier down the road. She mentioned there was a promotion of "free phones" if you switch companies. And she was working that afternoon. Wow! I got the phone that day.

• If it helps others, synchronicity works faster - When your thought helps another to achieve their goal, it travels at lightning speed! Last weekend I decided to go to a hosted luncheon on behalf of a new meetup group for Christian Singles. I almost did not go but decided I would to help promote the group. Later, I happen to win a door prize at the luncheon which was a large breakfast griddle - the kind you can flip a dozen pancakes at once! I mailed the griddle the next day to my son who happens to be starting an airbnb business with breakfast included.

• Listen to the universe for messages - Be aware of messages or thoughts happening more than once. The source can be the universe, God or whatever is your belief! Lately, two different people have told me I should visit my son and his girlfriend in Hawaii this summer. I originally planned the visit during Christmas. But I am listening to my messages so I set my travel alerts for the summer.

• Seize the opportunity when present - When an event occurs adding to your happiness or someone else's, accept it! Lately, I had been thinking about staying a couple of nights at the beach. I searched through numerous listings on airbnb but could not find the perfect one matching my budget or location. Then a week later my ex sister-in-law, who is also a good friend, offered me the opportunity to stay at her place which is one block from the beach. She had no idea I was looking! Of course I said "Yes".

*I want to credit my sources for this article: The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield, Rev. Bob Marshall at unityorlando.org and The Secret by Rhonda Byrne.

Working at 60 and After

Some people may think I am retired and sit at home blogging and beaching all day. Not so! I work a full-time job in addition to doing chores such as laundry, cooking, dishes, paying bills, shopping, etc. 

Actually, there are many people like myself working actively at 60 and beyond. One reason why many baby boomers continue to work is because we have not reached the early retirement age of 62. Our only option is to work! But after talking to numerous people I have discovered some creative thinkers in this job market. You may consider the following:

• Do What You Love! - if you like hiking and camping, then get a part-time job in a retail store selling those items. The list is endless for your interests and hobbies like Mr. or Ms. Fix-It or Creative Chef.

• Consulting Work - what did you used to do and did well in your earlier years? Guess what you are an expert in the field! People have set up a consulting business in their spare bedroom such as marketing or accounting taking on clients very quickly through the power of social media.

• Start a New Career - it is never too late to pursue that dream of yours! Some people have wanted to start a specialty cupcake business or play tour guide for other Americans in a foreign country. In fact, one woman I knew left a newspaper job to start a writer's retreat in France complete with tips, cooking and tours.

• Part-Time Jobs - there are a variety of companies looking for reliable workers. You may consider working as a Substitute Teacher at a public school, Retail Clerk at your favorite store, Hostess or Waitress at a restaurant, Cashier at a grocery store, Customer Service at a local call center.

I know some people may not have the luxury to work only part-time. In fact I used to work two part-time jobs - substitute teaching and customer service. And my best friend works as a retail clerk at a hiking shop on the weekend and substitute teaches during the week. It is not always fun working two jobs and you do feel your age at times! 

Here is what I discovered about working at 60 and after:

1. You are providing a service 

2. The brain is getting used 

3. You are not sitting at home

4. The job provides good conversation

5. Money gets deposited in your bank

Yes that job sounds mighty good! Sign me up for another 10 years. 

Spectacular Sunday

I am very fortunate to live in the State of Florida, USA. The picture above I took recently at the beach which is an hour away from me. The point is life is beautiful - you just have to lift your eyes and look! If I can't make the drive to the beach, I look outside my window to see the majestic pine trees and early blooming azalea bushes. Adding to my spectacular Sunday are soft cotton clouds and sweet sounds of birds. Wow! I must be in heaven :) I find when my attitude changes, my outer world changes too. I want to share the following passage with you:

"In some of the oldest spiritual traditions on Earth, students are taught to see the outside world as a reflection of what is happening within ourselves, and by viewing the world in this way we can find guidance and even unwitting teachers in the natural phenomenon around us." - written by my son who lives in Hawaii

Have a beautiful Sunday!

Life Beyond 60: Cooking 101

Life Beyond 60: Cooking 101: Cooking when you are single and 60 is not always an easy decision. There are ingredients and portion sizes to consider.  If I feel like spag...

Cooking 101

Cooking when you are single and 60 is not always an easy decision. There are ingredients and portion sizes to consider.  If I feel like spaghetti, I don't want a pot of food for 12 people! I have talked to numerous people about their eating habits. Here are some of the options people are doing as single seniors:

1. Eat a late breakfast at a local diner
- it is cheap and counts as two meals (breakfast and lunch) and you get to talk to people :)
- dinner is easy consisting of a sandwich or cereal (my neighbor does this everyday!)

2. Eat lunch at a sit-down restaurant
- you get a well-prepared meal and good service
- the variety of restaurants gives you endless food choices
- a full-course lunch may be enough substance for the entire day (I talked to one gentleman who said he lost weight this way)

3. Cook occasionally during the week
- this is what I do! I like to know what is in my food and where it came from
- cooking is relaxing and keeps you in the present moment
- always good to keep those cooking skills if you should have company or family over

4. Use the crockpot
- my maintenance guy who loves meat just throws chicken or beef into his crockpot and comes home to a delicious meal
- there are plenty of leftovers for future lunches and dinners

5. Order take-out
- you can pick up or have delivered from many restaurants ranging from steak to vegetarian
- no cooking involved!
- different price points available

6. Eat 2-3 times a week with a group
- many social groups such as meetup.com get together at restaurants for conversation and a meal
- there are a variety of places and people (I go out once or twice a week and carefully select my spots)
- it is fun eating with others once in awhile

I welcome any other suggestions someone has. If you should order from an online service, let us know.