Category: Taking Care of Business

The 5 Types of Wealth: a Transformative Guide to Design Your Dream Life by Sahil Bloom is an easily readable, non-fiction treatise on the value of Time, Social, Mental, Physical, and Financial opportunities. Mr. Bloom finished writing this book as he turned 32. Yet, my observation of his ideas leads me to believe Sahil is an “old soul.”  He seems wise beyond his years, quoting from many of the [business] gurus of our Baby Boomer professional lives; ancient philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians; and contemporary writers and speakers.

While much of the book focuses on building one’s life along with their career, he has wisdom to share with those of us who are retired yet still active. Thus, I share his perspectives which also serve as a catalyst to my own thinking – past and present.

In his introductory section Sahil reflects that he was in a very successful career, however a mentor he respected began asking him poignant questions. He was certain that he knew what success was but when he had reached that goal, he found happiness was elusive. His mentor suggested he visualize his ideal day at eighty years old. Through these visualizations and after several interviews with more mature people he came to “a powerful realization:  We all want the same thing – and it has very little to do with money.”  He determined most people’s ideal future dealt with Time, People, Purpose, Health.

Bloom provides a quiz in the beginning, offering the reader a look into his/her perception of each of these environments. Then he provides an avenue for reviewing each aspect.  In the Time Wealth section he highlights the importance of spending time based on your personal goals.  Of course this is a basic management concept. Yet have we stated the importance of spending time with family and friends?

As senior citizens many of us now wish we had more time to spend with other people, such as our parents, many of whom have passed on. Our friends, children, siblings, and others.

Many years ago I failed to take an extra step to locate contact information for a person whom I had respected and wished to tell him so.  When I finally took the time, I learned he had just passed away. I vowed that day to make time for people – family and friends who are loved ones, along with acquaintances I admired.  I have since made a point to reach out with a quick note – handwritten, emailed, or txtd – just to let them know someone remembers them.

Recently I invited a couple of friends to join me for coffee with a woman who had been a local leader. Ruth was always encouraging and supportive of women, yet now at 89 and in an assisted living retirement community, no one visits her. People who were “best of friends” have not reached out. While I would not have said we were good friends, I always visited with her at various meetings, occasionally enjoying a dinner out with her. I now make it a point to see her at least once a month.

As Bloom points out, it is important to understand that our time is finite. It is impermanent. In our winter years, we know this all too well. Still, are we making the effort to take advantage of the time we have? Are we allowing ourselves the freedom to choose how we want to spend each minute of each day? Are we tending to and focusing on the things that leave a legacy and that matter most to us? Bloom asks his big question: “How many moments do you have remaining with your loved ones?”

It is never too late to take control of the time we have. Time marches on. Let’s step in line and make the most of the time we have.

Do you have this dilemma? I have plenty of clothes. My closet is full. Yet when it comes time to get dressed, I cannot find anything to wear.  I even shop for outfits; that is, when I am deciding what to purchase, I make a point to find two or three tops for a pair of pants, shorts, or a skirt.  I think I am being organized, and travel packing is easier. Still …. well, you get the picture.

So summer is in full swing and still I have not repositioned my clothes for easier access. Of course I have the added challenge of having moved my linens from another closet to make room for my grandchildren’s clothes. (One lives with me full time; the other when she is in the mood. Both have their own rooms at my house. But that is another story.)

I have boxes and boxes of shoes that likely will not be worn again, but I can’t bring myself to get rid of them. I have several tops that are nice but that have not been worn for a couple of years. There are dresses that I “may” need one day. And, oh, those jackets, ponchos, and pullovers for winter that were useful once upon a time. All this in addition to the fact that I donated my professional clothes – suits, blouses, slacks, jackets – to Suited for Success soon after I retired eight years ago!

Last year I got the bright idea to put a tag on each hanger.  When I wore an item, I removed the tag and the item stays in the closet. At the end of the season, those items with tags still on their hangers were to be donated.  It was a brilliant idea! And it worked – sort of.

I’m disgustingly organized, too. One rack has long-sleeved blouses, sorted by color; another short-sleeved and sleeveless, also sorted by color. The pant rack is divided with hanging labels (yes, I made labels!) for shorts, capris, summer slacks, winter slacks, summer sweats, winter sweats, jeans, and athletic pants. Dresses, nightgowns, and robes are in the taller space. Shelves hold shoes in their original boxes, labels facing out to remind me what is in each.  Still, my closet feels messy and I can’t find something to wear!  It’s time to pull everything out and start again!

So how do I attack this project? Wendy Rose Gould in Real Simple suggests first, set a goal – how much do I want to clean out? Deciding on an amount ahead of the project may seem too confining. However, with an amount in mind it takes some of the emotion out of clearing. Next, gather boxes and trash bags to immediately place pieces for donations, resell, repair, and trash. 

As I look at each item, I can ask myself: Do I enjoy wearing this? Does it make me feel comfortable and attractive? When will I wear the item? With what will I wear it. Would I love to wear this if I have something to complement it? Kaitlyn Yarborough wrote in Southern Living that she uses the Rule of 3.  If she can’t visualize wearing the item in at least three different ways, it’s out. In this way I suppose you are setting an intention for donning the item in the coming weeks. As for those clothes that are too big or too small, get rid of them. I once bought a dress I adored but I needed to lose about an inch in the waste for it to fit properly. That dress hung in my closet for several years before I finally concluded it was never going to fit. It would fit someone – just not me.

Another challenge is “Why am I holding on to this item that I haven’t worn?”  Was it a gift, thus I feel guilty about ridding myself of it, even though I have not enjoyed wearing it?  Is it an item I wore for a special occasion or on a memorable trip? By identifying the nostalgic reason opposed to the practical I will wear this when …. I can more easily put it in the donation pile.  I can take a picture of it, if I don’t already have one, and thus remember the item without leaving it unused and taking up space. Kaitlyn suggests an “Outbox” much as email uses.  Put sentimental clothes that are those you are not sure of into a temporary storage box and put it away.  If you don’t go to it in a month or two, it is time to donate the items.

And then there is the item you love but it has to be dry cleaned or it must be treated carefully in the laundry, so you put off wearing it for days you are out and about. Especially now that I am at home several days of the week, I don’t wear high-maintenance clothes for cooking, cleaning, reading, writing, and gardening. I even find myself wondering if it is worth “dirtying” the outfit for a one-and-a-half hour meeting. In this case I really have to decide if I want to keep the item … and wear it!

Now, there are those items I love to wear but really, really need to go – and probably not into the donate pile, if you know what I mean. How many pants and shirts do I need to pull weeds, paint, or just lazy around?

Finally, just do it! Looking at the messy closet, overthinking and procrastinating do nothing to help move the project along. The clothes are washed and ironed, so I need to pull things out of my closet, instead of telling you how to approach this task. Wish me luck!

Many people find themselves at retirement without a clue as to what comes next. Most people believe they have planned for retirement. Money has been socked away. Investments made. Assets inventoried and in a lot of cases homes are debt free. Retirement planning often has singularly focused on the financial wellness of our expected work-free life.

We may even have had random thoughts about “when I retire I will …” travel, spend more time with family and friends, read more, garden, and so on. Yet, how often did we truly think about how we would spend each day? More importantly, how many people thought about their purpose in life.  Has one’s purpose changed as we no longer have the role as a professional.

Personally, I never defined myself by my job. Still, leading a team as a university executive gave me some level of purpose.  I knew what I would be doing Monday through Friday, and frankly all week. I knew for several hours each day others depended on me to show up, make decisions, support and encourage, and lead. I was visible in the community, sitting on numerous non-profit boards, volunteering, and fund-raising.

Admittedly, as I reached my 60s, I was tired. I was ready to slow down, to step aside and let the younger people take the responsibility. I planned a two-week vacation, leaving two days after my last day of work, knowing that on Monday morning I may wonder “what shall I do today?” Still, it didn’t occur to me that after a few weeks of not being required to be somewhere, for someone day in and day out, that I might need some direction in my life.

Twenty years ago I bought – or was given — The Second Half of Life by Angeles Arrien. The assumption is that once we reach age 50 it is time to begin to reflect on our lives – what has been and what will be. At 50, I was still extremely active, healthy, and out to conquer the world. The book was placed on the bookshelf and left unopened until recently. Now, glancing through it I find a reflective, spiritual orientation to what to do with my life as I journey toward and through the final transition. The golden gate. But I digress.

Dr. Robert Butler, the first director of the National Institute on Aging, led a study on the correlation of life expectancy with individuals who had a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives. He and his collaborators found that people lived longer and were healthier when they felt their sense of purpose.  Since that 2014 study, numerous additional studies have been conducted that validate these results.

Richard Leider, who is reputed to be one of the leading executive coaches in America, has created a questionnaire that offers an individual insight into his or her sense of purpose.  If you are interested in exploring this approach, you can find the survey at this link:

Click to access The-Purpose-Checkup.pdf

Your purpose need not be grandiose. Your purpose in life is a part of who you are – your values, morals, interests. It is found within you.  Living as your authentic self, spending your time and energy on those things that “put you in your happy place” leads to a happier you.  Whatever you enjoy and engage in, living your purpose will give your life meaning.

Here we are. Half-way through the “new” year, already! It seems like quite some time ago we were ringing in 2025 and resolving to reach goals. How are your goals coming along?

I know. Life gets in the way of achieving our goals, objectives, and ToDo Lists. At times, we even forget we defined goals six months ago. Consider this is a gentle reminder to check in. What did you resolve in January to accomplish this year?  Did you set timelines or were your items open ended?

For me, goal setting is as much about planning as it is achieving something dramatic.  I even attended a planning workshop in January to learn more about setting and achieving my objectives. Yet it seems the more time I have on my hands, the less I am able to accomplish. Isn’t it easy to say, “I have plenty of time. I can do that tomorrow.”?

My system is simple. At the front of my paper planner (to which I refer daily), are two pages dedicated to listing goals. I have labeled each section by month, allowing me to “chunk” my huge list. Chunking simply is the act of separating tasks into doable and achievable portions. Looking at each month’s smaller list is not so overwhelming as looking at a long list for the year.  In my mind, that doesn’t mean I necessarily have to complete those items in the month in which it is written, but it is easier to take on a project when it looks smaller.

Upon completion of an item on my list, I place a checkmark to it’s left. When the entire chunk (in this case a month’s worth) is complete, a “good-for-me” sticker is added. A quick glance at the spread points me to the next task to accomplish.

Another tool that helps is telling someone what I intend to attain. Both acts of writing down the goals and of telling another person provide a small level of accountability.

If you made New Year’s Resolutions, half-way through the year is a great time to revisit them. Adjust if necessary. Sometimes, what we thought was important in January is no longer relevant. By the same token, new needs may have arisen. Now is the perfect time to pat yourself on the back for what you have completed. And, rather than beating yourself up for not working towards the other items on your list, start anew towards those things that you still want to realize.

Mary Ann

I was given a Bullet Journal by a friend, and if you haven’t heard about them, the Bujos are an interesting way to organize your life or at least part of your life.  I don’t know about you, but I am forever collecting pieces of papers with information that I might need.  It can be a tear sheet, a Post-it note, a flier, or a booklet about a kitchen gadget. My phone photos are full of screen shots, my electronic version of my ever-increasing stash of info.   A Bullet Journal seemed to be the answer to get a handle on the paper. 

Bullet Journals are quite simple to do.  You can buy beautiful Bujos online, several with starter kits.  However, all you really need is a notebook and pen. There are instructional video if you need more help.  Just Google it.  After you get the notebook, you will make an index of the topics you wish to include with page numbers where the information is found in the journal, and the rest of the journal are the numbered pages of information.  I started with a pile of paper and began organizing them into topics.  I listed the subjects and began a section in the book about that topic.  I numbered the pages leaving a few extra pages for future entries.  The page numbers are then listed by the topic in the index.  

There are advanced uses of Bulletin Journals.  I have not graduated to them yet.  Bujos can be logs for future planning and goals or a reflection log of past work, brain dumps capturing your ideas, habit tracking, and pretty much whatever you want it to be. I looked at several posts online about Bujos, and they pretty much said the same thing.  (Pinterest has many examples.)  They all use signifiers which are symbols to categorize the info.  It is as simple as a bullet point or a dash. You can make the signifiers whatever you want. 

Get creative and use stickers to highlight different sections or colored pencils to differentiate the topics.  Cynthia is the queen of stickers and colored pencils, pens, and markers.  She has organized all her stickers and highlights her planners and calendars with them. They are works of art.  Sometimes, I glue a clipping or clothing tag in the Bojo.  However, I try not to make the book bulky.  

At first, I was pretty good at putting materials in the Bullet Journal. Then, I became lazy resulting in a paper log jam.  I did put all the papers in a small box, so it is ready to go.  I just need to add the new info while I am watching TV or whatever.  This is not hard.  Then I can make confetti gleefully tearing up all the odds and ends of paper.  Of course, I will recycle.  I will then have a go-to place when I am trying to find the name of that wonderful plumber everyone raving about.  

I would suggest keeping on top of all the paper, so it doesn’t become a landslide.  Bulletin Journals are an excellent answer to organizing information.  You can use Bujos for several purposes, so the sky is the limit for your ideas. You just need to begin!

I am on another kick. Juicing. My medical massage therapist shared a beet and lime juice she made and I was immediately hooked. And the timing was right. The previous week my grandson reminded me that we made apple juice and orange juice when he was young. I was surprised that he remembered that from so long ago, when we would have sleepovers at Oohma’s while his mom and dad had an evening off.

Having spent quite a lot of time researching juicers, I settled on an inexpensive, cold press version. I decided that I would buy a less pricey one to ensure I would actually use it.  In one of the videos I watched about “which kind of juicer is the best” the author suggested the best one is the one you will use. Ah! Common sense.

I had forgotten the vast amount of fruit and vegetables it takes to make a glass of juice. I made an approximately 6-8 ounce glass of citrus juice using two very large oranges, three large lemons, and about an inch of fresh ginger. It was delicious. Refreshing.  And a lot of work for a single glass of 100 percent juice. For citrus, you have to remove the outer “shell”, although it is okay to leave the pith as it is separated during the pressing process.

I made a beet and carrot juice with ginger which used three beets, two carrots, and an inch of ginger. I think I got about four ounces of juice!

The apple juice was easier. I still had to cut the four apples into small enough wedges to fit through the hole in the top.  One of my criteria for selecting a juicer was a large hole, but I failed to ensure the final selection had one. Mine did not. Sigh.

Another criteria was ease of clean up. Mine is relatively easy to clean. The only challenge is getting all of the “waste” out of the rubber-sealed extractor. The juicer comes with a tool which is necessary to clean that orifice. All-in-all, it is not too hard. It’s the price I have to pay to ensure I am getting a healthy juice – one that I know exactly what ingredients are included.

So I am thinking I’m doing something great for myself. I started researching Mediterranean diet (for real, not the Americanized version) and learned juice is not part of that cuisine. Other than olive oil, which is the juice from olives. But this discussion is for another time.

If you are willing to take the time and you enjoy juice, I recommend making the juice yourself. Less sugar, no additives, and big flavors. Cheers!

Mary Ann

Sometimes when I watch those TV commercials about garden hoses or miraculous skin creams, I begin to believe that there is a fountain of youth, and the garden hose will shrink to fit in the palm of my hand.  Sometimes I buy the product.  I have become my parents and believe everything I see on TV.  That is a little scary!  Somethings are duds, and somethings are small miracles for three easy payments of $29.95. 

 I like to see new, innovative products so how do you know that it is more than just snake oil? You can follow influencers.  Read reviews. It seems anymore that everyone has an opinion on everything.  I also follow Buzz Feed lists which you will find on your phone news.

Buzz Feeds posts are lists of everything.  The articles can be 40 Great Dog Breeds for Seniors or 29 Things That’ll Compensate for Your Tendency to Overpack and on and on.  There is more information that you ever needed to know about a subject. However, it can be mindless fun to scroll away your valuable time and find products that you didn’t know you needed.  

Though, I must say that I love the Buzz Feeds that gives you gift ideas for certain people for certain holidays or a list of the newest kitchen gadgets.  I find myself scrolling through them and taking screen shots.  The screen shots give me a little time to decide if I really need to have the newest garlic press.  I just delete if I really don’t want or need something.  I am being glib about the garlic press, because I have found the most remarkable products from Buzz Feed’s suggestions.  Who knew that I needed them?  It has saved me a lot of time searching for a particular item.  It also has given me great ideas for gifts.  

In preparing this blog, I explored the BuzzFeed.com website.  They have several categories that include Quizzes, Shopping, Arcades, Celebrity, and Trending News (that had good reviews on accuracy.)  The shopping sections has all those articles on the best of whatever you might want to buy.   This makes finding the right gift so much easier.  Then, of course, you go to Amazon to buy it – most of what is featured can be purchased on the big A. 

I find myself going down the rabbit hole on all the lists, but it is a safe and fun way to explore a bit of the Internet.  There probably is a Buzz Feed list of 40 things to explore on the Internet.  I think I need to go find it.  

I have always been a planner. While I would like to be much more spontaneous, I find solace in the little bit of control I get by planning ahead. Not that things always work out exactly as planned, but at least I have a sense of where I am heading. One such planning activity is menus.

As a young professional and single mother, time was not abundant. Once a month I would sit down and plan what we would eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the month. Often, I used cookbooks as I wanted to ensure I was providing healthy, nutritious, tasty meals for my daughter while taking full advantage of all the groceries I purchased. At that time I would buy large packages of individually frozen chicken breasts, which saved time and money.

Developing the practice of menu planning at a young age served me well. I learned to be creative in my cooking, not wanting to waste any food. Fast forward to today and I still want to use everything I purchase.  The old wives’ saying “Waste Not, Want Not” holds true as grocery prices continue to rise.  Of course this only works if one actually cooks. Which I do.

When planning a menu, I peruse one or two cookbooks. I have so many that it becomes too confusing to use several at a time. While jotting down lunch and dinner ideas, I note ingredients I will need to pick up at the grocery store. I use an app on my phone called “To Do” which is free from Microsoft.  It is actually a list-making app, but I use it mainly for my grocery needs. When I open the last of something I use often (mayonnaise, for example) I immediately add it to my grocery list. Otherwise I won’t remember when heading to the store. I don’t like to run out of necessities.

The whole point of menu planning is not to be rigid. I always have standbys such as stir-fries on rice or quinoa, vegetable soup, enchiladas of all kinds, and pasta. But I like variety, too. When it’s time for dinner, I look at my menu for the week/month and select the dish that calls to me, knowing all the ingredients are on hand.

The bonus of menu planning is taking the list to the grocery store.  I stick to my list, for the most part, and avoid picking up items that then go bad before I figure out how or when to use them.

After dinner if there is enough left over, I carefully prepare it for the freezer. In that way, I have food prepared when I am not in the mood to cook. Therefore, I often shop my freezer while menu planning, too!

Planning ahead takes the question out of what’s for dinner. And having all the components on hand makes for smooth sailing … er, a … easy cooking.

Mary Ann

When you think of Fairy Godmothers, you think of pumpkins turning into carriages, white mice turning into horses, and rags turning into ball gowns with the swipe of magic wand.  Those Fairy Godmothers do not exist except in fairy tales.  However, there are real-life Fairy Godmothers just waiting to be found in our lives.

My Fairy Godmother is Mimi.  She is 11 years older than I am.  She is my wise women who I turn to when I have a problem or need some advice about life.  She has helped with health issues like menopause questions or issues I may be having with my children.  She always has some gentle words to guide me, always encouraging and inspiring.  We are friends who share books to read, recipes to cook or bake, or souvenirs from travels.  Mimi is a lady who I look up to and just knowing she is there for me brings peace to my soul.  Her presence is an anchor in my life even though we live a half a country apart. I just hope she know that I treasure her.

I think each of us need to become Fairy Godmothers to younger women in our lives.  They need to have women who they can turn to when life gets challenging.  It is so easy to become isolated today that one thinks that you are the only one having a particular problem.  In years pass, women would talk over their backyard fences to a neighbor to get that sisterly advice about life.  With families living all over the country and even the world, you may not have a mother or an aunt living nearby, so younger women need to find Fairy Godmothers currently in their lives. A problem shared is a problem halved as the old saying goes.  Those relationships with intergenerational women can last a lifetime and enrich both of the parties.  Each of the younger women should in turn become the Fairy Godmothers of the future. The experiences are almost as good as a pumpkin becoming a carriage. There is magic in those special relationships! Put some abracadabra in your life!  

Mary Ann

Most women at one point or another in their lives become invisible.  As we age, we begin to fade, not just our looks, but who we are.  At times it feels like we have disappeared.  It may be at a meeting when your suggestion is just ignored and then the idea becomes one of the other men’s ideas a day later, or a man is given a position even though the woman was more qualified.  You see it, and you feel it.  It is not your imagination.  

This became apparently clear to me while I was working in NYC.  I was in Starbucks in a long line awaiting to place my Chai Latte order.  As we moved forward, I noticed a very pretty, young lady behind me. The line moved, and I was up next. The male barista didn’t take my order.  He completely ignored me and began to take the pretty girl’s order who was behind me.  I stood there with my mouth opened – in shock – and finally said, “I was next.  She is pretty, but I was next.”  He then took my order without an apology.  He did not see me!  I realized at that moment that I was experiencing what many women have experienced – invisibility! 

Every person, man or woman, should be treated with respect.  As we get older, we should be honored as the elders in the society.  However, we are not.  No wonder women chase the fountain of youth. Have you ever seen those postings on phone news where they show a picture of a former famous actress as an old lady.  Most recently it was Cybil Shepherd. Really, her only fault is she just grew old.  We all do.  However, is it necessary to stalk these older women to get those pictures?  It is done with men as well, but women dominate these pictures. It is sad.

Caroline Criado Perez’s book, Invisible Women, explores the data bias in a world designed for men.  She is British but uses data from all around the world.  Whether it is medical research or the workplace or even transportation, the male perspective is the default in a world that is 50% women.  In many ways you are invisible just for being a woman, and it intensifies as you age.  Invisible Women is academically based, but it is quite readable.  You will identify with much of the book should you want to explore this topic even further. 

 A lot must change for there to be equality, and this won’t suddenly happen. I once read in USA Today that it would take 1000 years for the world to be equal for both men and women.  There would be equal numbers of women and men in Congress or half of the CEO would be women and the like.  It is getting better, but it is at a snail’s pace.  When that happens, women may no longer be invisible.  However, a thousand years is a long time to become visible, and we have no choice but to move forward.