One day the building, place, store, cubicle, office, etc. where I used to go daily, and felt connected to … is no longer. I broke ties. They said good-bye. That place is no longer in my world.

Instead, my world is under my command. Get up and exercise. Or not. If not, no one will know except me. Therefore, it’s important to keep up a routine.

At first, I kept to my work-waking hours as a way of penance. That changed slowly. Now, I get up to exercise. To hike. To read. To walk before the heat of the day kicks in.

At first, I stayed in touch with my comrades. Then, it felt like they had lots to talk about and I talked about my walks, hikes, volunteering, books. Mostly I let them talk. I didn’t want them to feel bad that I was having so much fun. I let them talk so I could remember what I didn’t miss. I let them talk because they needed to.

Then, the lunches we promised to make kept getting further away. Maybe they didn’t want to hear about my leisurely life. My travel plans. My cooking lessons.

Now What?

Slowly I found others who spent long hours in the library. Who took classes, music lessons and shopped in the middle of the day. Regular exercise in the gym courtesy of Silver Sneakers is one of the best ways to connect with other retired adults. Silver Sneakers is often part of the insurance program which allows me to sign up with a fitness center, recreation center or gym and attend as if I were a paying member. There are over 9000 centers across the U.S. where I can use my card. Currently, I have gym memberships in six area facilities. When I travel, I look online to see if there is a location near where I am staying. It’s much cheaper to keep healthy than to pay for hospital care. Just saying.

Blogging, Podcasts, Videos:

After checking blog sites, youtube videos and podcasts across the universe and not finding one that spoke to me, I decided to speak to the world of retirees and see if they want to speak to me. I want to know how you organize your world. How you decide on your day. What does it look like?

Do you have a routine?

Are you part of a club? What kind? Cycling, reading, sewing, motorcycle, alumni, music, dance, exercise?

Have you given your time away to others? To ill parents, to grandchildren, to volunteering?

Do you have a ‘bucket’ list of things you plan to do? Are you actively doing them?

Are you willing to share any with me?

Breaking out of the Comfort Zone:

I have a super fun week coming up. It’s a brand new experience. It’s something I said “yes” to and now I am packed and ready to begin. If I have the energy, I will attempt to share it with you next week. It will certainly be worth the wait. You know how it is – scary, exciting, and compelling. Like jumping off a cliff into the beautiful blue water.

Resources:

No Comfort Zone Challenge: Kindness Received

Happiness – Care to Share?

Drop me a line!