A scenario about Retirement

A Scenario[1]

Alex says he is surprised how many retired people he knows who are willing and interested in talking about their retirement.  “They appear happy” he says, “but when I ask them.  It seems that all they do is drive around in Winnebago’s and play golf with the same people.  He feels that’s appalling for people to spend retirement like that and has made up his mind that he won’t be “spellbound” like that.  He is more frightened of retirement than death and can’t imagine giving up work. He sees retirement as doing nothing. “I don’t see it as a happy time at all.”   

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[1]  A scenario from my retirement workshop

Overcoming Stress After Retirement

Overcoming Stress After Retirement

Before retirement, teaching was half my life

Fighting Mandatory Retirement was important.

We needed to retire in our own good time.

When the battle ended, I was a lot more relaxed

Taking time to create poetry helps me bypass stress.

Which must be left behind because it is so destructive.

 My wife who understands me helps me to relax

When I look at her; soft love flows within my heart.

Now I have begun to meditate more frequently

Which helps prevent stress when it approaches

This is very good for my aging brain.

As it travels through my body.

Volunteering In Retirement

Volunteering In Retirement[1]

      While after they turn 65,some people continue to work, with fewer hours, others begin or continue volunteering. “Over a quarter of adults above the age of 55 years in the United States, the majority of them being retired, contribute their time to various community services.”

       “Volunteering in retirement is a two-way street.  Research has shown that older adults who do volunteer work receive increases in all sorts of well being: happiness, life satisfaction, physical health, and longevity.  In fact it has been found that “… The benefits that older adults receive from volunteering is greater than the benefits received by people of other ages, and some speculate it’s because it helps compensate for loss of other roles in their lives”

       I am now 74 years old and for a number of years I have been and Official Volunteer for the Canadian Cancer Society.  I have been helping others since I was a youth. I am the oldest child in the family. Helping others began at an early age and I believe that helping others including my years teaching as a university professor.

         I think I need to more volunteering around our yard.  As summer approaches there are quite a few things that need to be done.

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[1]  Some of this material is gathered from “The Journey of Adulthood” Chapter 7 pages 234-235.

My Life After Retirement

                                                       My Life After Retirement

Looking though the window as it rains outside

I am waiting rather impatiently for summer.

In the spring, frequently traveling behind clouds,

The bright sun peaks out and smiles at me.

As an athlete I learned to exercise for health.

On my morning journey I used to jog. Now I walk.

The rain does not prevent my walks each day,

 As I remember my favourite phrase ‘It is what it is,

Meditation has helped me to calm my journey

As I travel along with a very wonderful wife

Also I join my sons for downtown walks

And spend time creating poetry.

’

The Challenges of Retirement

The Challenges of Retirement[1]

We are told that it’s only those who haven’t retired yet who think of retirement being easy. There are challenges, which I can confirm, that must be confronted if we are to be happy.  And, each of us have particular patterns of behavior that must be examined.

Finances are seemingly the most difficult part of the process.     ”Even now,  you’re sticking to a sharp retirement budget and salting away more funds for the future.”  But it’s not just about the money.

        

We are responsible for our own happiness which in part means that we believe that we should be able to stay in touch with our friends and “..establishing new fruitful relationships.”   This is something that I have not been so successful although for years I have been on the board at the local senior’s center and I stay in touch with my two sons who live in Vancouver.  On Saturdays that are not pouring with rain or snow I meet with them downtown and we go with our walk together and have lunch together. Most of the people in my immediate neighborhood are familiar with me and each spring I canvas for the Canadian Cancer Society and we say hi!. The rest of my family, of course beside my wife, live far away in the United States.  My only contact with them is on the Internet (wow I love the Internet.

I also, including my wife, have, developed hobbies in painting and poetry.  For more info about that go to my blog Artwithwrinkles.

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[1] Carlson, Richard PhD (2003).  The Don’t Sweat Guide to Retirement: Enjoying your new lifestyle to the Fullest ISBN 0-7868-9055-x  p. 207 Chapter 100

From The Day I Left Work

From The Day When I Left Work

At work I gained many social relationships

And strove to do the best job I could,

Asking myself  important questions

That would help me teach others.

I asked myself, what goals would I like to achieve?

 I would help widen the space of the world they see.

And they could  learn more about themselves

And they would set goals to help each other.

I’m proud of one of my students from long ago

Yongjie is about to finish  his PhD.

I have also been able to create my blogs.

That help me send information around the world.

Most important is my wonderful wife

Once a student, who’s now my teacher.

And though I’m retired from a teaching

I still have a great deal to learn.

In Canada, Do We LIve in An Ageist Society

Controversy: Do we live in an Ageist Society[1]

         “. David Sheffield says that introductory gerontology  texts often give ‘ …the impression that a negative attitude toward elderly people is rampant in the United States and presumably in other western countries. (1982, 267).  He goes on to say that these texts exaggerate the amount of prejudice against older people in North America.  Review articles and studies by well-known gerontologists  find little evidence for this supposed prejudice.  Studies show that older people maintain good relations with their families, receive many services from the government, and get preferred treatment from restaurants, banks and airlines”.

         “Schonfield’s own research shows that people have both positive and negative attitudes toward old age and ageing.  He found that between 20 and 77 percent of his sample agreed with stereotypes about older people, but many of these same people said that the statement applied to only a portion of the older population.

He says that ‘ at most one in five participants could be convicted [ of stereotyping.]  

        

         Schonfield’s research shows the danger of generalizing about attitudes toward older people.  Still, his research shows that some portion ( as many as one in five) do stereotype older people.  More education and information about aging might improve attitudes toward older people.

         Can you find examples of ageist attitudes or behaviours  toward older people? Can you find examples of positive attitudes and behaviours  toward older people?  Do you agree with Schonfield’s conclusion that gerontologists sometimes exaggerate the extent of ageism in Canadian Society?

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[1]  Novak, M. & Campell, L. (2001).  Aging and Society a Canadian Perspective, (2001)  Controversy: Do we live in an Ageist Society?

Exhibit 1.4 Page 11/