A hair cut is a fairly normal occurrence in our daily life unless you have decided to join the aging hippie crowd who abstain and pursue a long grey pony tail. As I sit in the chair facing the mirror of my local hairdresser I look critically at my style.
I decided to go grey some time ago. Richard Gere goes grey and is still considered sexy and a suitable lover for a 30 year old. A woman does the same thing and is immediately placed in a category that is ten or more years older than her actual age.
My latest hairdresser is 40 and experienced with the razor. Not so, the young thing from another salon I have used who always does a cut she thinks her grandmother would like. The razor cut is the way to go. She swathes a way through the hair to create a style that makes me feel at least 50 again. Go the razor!!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Another Day in Politics
Wherever we live in the world we are never far from the world of Politics. Whether it is the system of government of the country in which we live, or within our work organisation, and for some of us, our church hierarchy, politics always seem to be part of it.
I have always been interested in the way our country is governed. I did a course on just that in my early twenties. However, family and working life intervened and it has always remained on the back burner in my life. In my retired capacity however, I find myself drawn more and more to the politics that affect my life.
What I am finding is that over the years we have left behind the statesmanship that was always a prerequisite of good governance. In many organisations it has been hijacked by the usual self interested parties.
Fine debating skills that used to be the highlight of our Parliament has now deteriorated into squabbling and personal attacks on the individual.
Perhaps within the children who are now entering our Primary Schools, there will be orators of the future who can make a point whether it be in the boardroom or in Parliament without resorting to the baser elements of discussion and debate.
I have always been interested in the way our country is governed. I did a course on just that in my early twenties. However, family and working life intervened and it has always remained on the back burner in my life. In my retired capacity however, I find myself drawn more and more to the politics that affect my life.
What I am finding is that over the years we have left behind the statesmanship that was always a prerequisite of good governance. In many organisations it has been hijacked by the usual self interested parties.
Fine debating skills that used to be the highlight of our Parliament has now deteriorated into squabbling and personal attacks on the individual.
Perhaps within the children who are now entering our Primary Schools, there will be orators of the future who can make a point whether it be in the boardroom or in Parliament without resorting to the baser elements of discussion and debate.
Friday, June 18, 2010
The Quiet
After a long working life I notice now that I am retired that my life is made up of more quiet times. That fact has been a little confronting. The busyness of an office by its nature makes for noise. The phones ringing, the keys on the computer jumping, the printer pumping out paper and of course the talk bubbling around you. It all adds to the atmosphere of background chatter be it human or otherwise.
Now I find myself more aware of the sounds of the house and garden which have their own pleasant quietness. It allows more time for introspection. I enjoy thinking of what might be or what was, or what I can be. I enjoy watering the garden and seeing things afresh. Once, watering the garden was a chore. One more thing to do in my busy life. It is nice to do the everyday chores in life but not at the run. I take my time and sometimes just revel in the physicality of it all.
I enjoy reading a book in a quiet place and re-reading a paragraph that contains a few special lines to touch the heart. Hard to say whether it will be retained or go the way of many a thought - into the never, never. Perhaps I might read it again in a few months and come to it anew.
Yes, quiet has its place in my life now and I find I am enjoying it too.
Now I find myself more aware of the sounds of the house and garden which have their own pleasant quietness. It allows more time for introspection. I enjoy thinking of what might be or what was, or what I can be. I enjoy watering the garden and seeing things afresh. Once, watering the garden was a chore. One more thing to do in my busy life. It is nice to do the everyday chores in life but not at the run. I take my time and sometimes just revel in the physicality of it all.
I enjoy reading a book in a quiet place and re-reading a paragraph that contains a few special lines to touch the heart. Hard to say whether it will be retained or go the way of many a thought - into the never, never. Perhaps I might read it again in a few months and come to it anew.
Yes, quiet has its place in my life now and I find I am enjoying it too.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
New Friends
One of the difficulties of entering a new era of your life leaving behind a comfortable previous one is making new friends.
My working life was structured around the job and the people who worked with me, my clients and other associated relationships. I had a persona that was geared towards relating to younger work colleagues. After all, could I mention to them a past love for Cliff Richard and his music. Heaven forbid my reputation take a nose dive in the "cool department". So, definitely I kept many of my likes and dislikes under wraps.
In my retired life, I find I am making acquaintenances in all areas of my life. A chat at the local coffee shop can branch out into a warm conversation with one of the regular coffee afficionados on the state of the weather, community affairs or the local hairdresser. I find after my gym workout it is nice to walk to the car with one or two of my fellow fitness for life buddies. We chat about the latest books we have read, our kids, our travels - oh, many interesting facets of our lives. Mind you, all these people are near my own age so it is lovely to find so many things in common.
Yes, I am actually approaching the idea I might really like this retired life. If only my conscience does not intervene, telling me I should be gainfully employed in some meaningful work. For now, I tell it to be quiet and enjoy the experience.
My working life was structured around the job and the people who worked with me, my clients and other associated relationships. I had a persona that was geared towards relating to younger work colleagues. After all, could I mention to them a past love for Cliff Richard and his music. Heaven forbid my reputation take a nose dive in the "cool department". So, definitely I kept many of my likes and dislikes under wraps.
In my retired life, I find I am making acquaintenances in all areas of my life. A chat at the local coffee shop can branch out into a warm conversation with one of the regular coffee afficionados on the state of the weather, community affairs or the local hairdresser. I find after my gym workout it is nice to walk to the car with one or two of my fellow fitness for life buddies. We chat about the latest books we have read, our kids, our travels - oh, many interesting facets of our lives. Mind you, all these people are near my own age so it is lovely to find so many things in common.
Yes, I am actually approaching the idea I might really like this retired life. If only my conscience does not intervene, telling me I should be gainfully employed in some meaningful work. For now, I tell it to be quiet and enjoy the experience.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Recently Retired
Recently retired I have gone from a very structured week to the feeling that I am “on holidays” in waiting for that elusive occupation that will give me a sense of purpose. This is not to say that fun activities such as travelling are not purposeful. I adore travelling, am a huge reader and love to cook as well, but you do feel that these are somehow frivolous pursuits. Gordon Ramsay would no doubt love to hear that his profession is ‘frivolous’.
Should I take up a hobby or perhaps learn a language or take a course? Is volunteering the way to go? Do I become a slave to my house and garden? Perhaps I can turn myself into a fitness fanatic and walk endless miles around my suburb or become a regular at the local gym. What about a rewired life of starting a business from home. Jam making comes to mind. There’s a mango glut this season and mango jam or chutney could do well.
So there are endless possibilities and some less fortunate souls yearning for more time to do exactly what they want would tell me in no uncertain terms to “just get a life”.
Yes, but how to do it. Do I step out confidently into an activity only to find that I have committed myself for months and am secretly bored with the whole venture? I have always been one of those people who have been focused on my job and family so other pursuits have been placed on the back burner and I think I am now paying the price. Would I want to be the person who was president of this or that club, immersed in writing a book, an adrenaline junkie (perhaps not the latter. I hate heights and speed which seem to be the prerequisites).
There is much advice about the baby boomer generation re-shaping the future with their wants and needs. I think that generation (my generation) has the potential to make all kinds of changes to society in a mostly positive fashion. Point me in the right direction and I know big things can be accomplished.
Friends tell me it is early days yet and not to get ahead of myself. In the meantime I take care of my only grandchild one day a week and he and I go off on many adventures together. Life is good. I have good health and a wonderful family and friends. Perhaps I should just take the advice of many a self help guru and live in the moment. The structure will take care of itself.
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