When I was a professional, a twelve-hour day seemed normal. I knew what I was supposed to do each day when I arrived around 7:00 am and spent the day in meetings, writing reports, reviewing contracts, and assisting staff. When I retired, I expected life to slow down. Frankly, I thought I would be bored.
Admittedly, my busy days are no longer twelve hours of intense interaction, yet I still find myself wondering when I will have quiet time. Every day includes figuring out what healthy foods will meet my dietary needs; walking and exercising; and visiting with friends and family. Weekly chores such as laundry, housekeeping, and gardening are interwoven with less mundane – more fun activities.
I observed, jokingly, that my social life is filled with funerals and doctors’ appointments. Such is life. The reality is I have engaged myself with several groups and individuals who do a variety of things. I joined four book clubs (one for which we don’t read the book, but someone reviews a book over dinner), a six-week class, periodical lectures, and a kaffeeklatsch. At least once a week I play mahjong.
Is it any wonder that when scheduling coffee or lunch with a friend, we have to retrieve our calendars. In fact, at one point, I created a conference call for three of us to find a mutually agreeable time to get together for lunch! When did I get so busy?!
Over and over seniors are warned against becoming reclusive. While I imagine there are those who prefer to stay at home, it seems to me seniors are more engaged now than ever before. We don’t need to scroll endlessly through social media – we are too busy creating our own stories.
I am grateful to be in good enough health to be able to spread my flabby wings and get out and about. I make a point to reach out to people who I know are relegated to home – to take them a pastry or coffee and sit a while listening and talking.
We don’t need to be busy twelve hours each day. Still, we want to keep our minds, bodies, and spirits as active as possible for as long as we are able.
