Monday Morning - April 28 - Aging and Dementia

We do most of our living between Friday night and Monday morning.  Monday morning is the time to reflect on the weekend and get back into our week day routine . As I get older it becomes more difficult to get myself  moving on Monday morning.   I guess that is part of what retirement planning is about - letting go of the weekday routine and spreading the rest of your life over seven days!

Monday, April 28, 2014

It seems that everyday I am reminded through newspaper and magazine articles of the increasing incidence of dementia in our society.  And as we boomers grow older they are predicting an "epidemic" ---as only  boomers can sensationalize  something that has been around forever and suddenly  impacting us. 

My Mom who is 83 has dementia. My husband's father had dementia in the last year or so of his life.  I certainly am witness to the insidious nature of this condition and how it effects an  individual and their family.  

We are bombarded with awareness campaigns about the ravages of the disease ..... cries for more research.......countless recommendations on how to prevent or stave off this condition.

I am sure I am not alone in doing suduko, word search, and computer cognitive games in an attempt to keep my brain agile in hopes that various forms of puzzle solving will be the secret weapon in the war against an aging brain.  

But yesterday an article in the Toronto Star caused me to pause and to think differently. It challenged my assumption that diminished cognition means diminished growth.  

The article was about a  research centre that has opened  in Toronto- The Dotsa Bitove Wellness Academy. The focus of the centre is not on dementia as a tragic disease but  on the enrichment of  people's continuing abilities - to help them grow through creative expression, music, dance, movement, visual arts.  To reach them and build relationships based on  creative expression not cognitive expression.  

http://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2014/04/25/dotsa_bitove_wellness_academy_takes_artful_approach_to_fighting_dementia.html

With all of the science that is dedicated to the working of the brain and the  "dementia epidemic" , this article was a reminder to me not to lose sight of the more complicated and powerful part of our minds - the emotional- the creative.   Maybe it is time that I  let go of my assumption that later life dementia is solely degenerative .

Monday Morning April 21 - Couples Timing

We do most of our living between Friday night and Monday morning.  Monday morning is the time to reflect on the weekend and get back into our week day routine . As I get older it becomes more difficult to get myself  moving on Monday morning.   I guess that is part of what retirement planning is about - letting go of the weekday routine and spreading the rest of your life over seven days!

Monday, April 21, 2014

Recently the New York Times  published an article on the timing of retirement for couples.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/22/your-money/coping-when-not-entering-retirement-together.html?_r=0

Let's face it - we no longer live in a world where the husband is the sole breadwinner and when he decides to retire the couple is "in retirement".  Things have changed.   Couples come in many forms and so does work .  It seems highly unlikely that two people's individual passion for their work and their desire to pursue new interests would coincide at exactly the same time.

I certainly know that my "artist in residence" has no plans to retire - he says never.  I totally understand that his need to continue to create does not diminish over time and  may  even intensify.  In fact, as an artist often the value of your work  appreciates in the more mature years of your career.  I wouldn't want or expect my husband to retire just because I was planning to retire.  It doesn't make sense. . However the impact of one partner retiring does impact the couple and not just financially .Retirement is a transition and a change in lifestyle for an individual and for a couple.  .

Monday Morning April 7 - Kids Room

We do most of our living between Friday night and Monday morning.  Monday morning is the time to reflect on the weekend and get back into our week day routine . As I get older it becomes more difficult to get myself  moving on Monday morning.   I guess that is part of what retirement planning is about - letting go of the weekday routine and spreading the rest of your life over seven days!







Monday  April 7, 2014

Huffington Post had an article this week about creative makeovers for  kids rooms once they leave home.  Renovating the room is a real milestone that your son or daughter is not coming home.  It is a marker that a chapter has come to a close.  It really doesn't seem like that long ago.... you were focused on making the perfect nursery for this new baby to come home to and the next thing you know... 20 + years later,  you are dismantling a room full of memories....

The Huffington Post article through facebook asks parents for examples of what they have done with their kids old  room and also publishes kids responses.

Here is the link:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/03/spare-room-ideas_n_5030411.html

For me.... well I am not quite there...  I mostly keep the door closed.  The bed is gone... replaced by boxes of stuff.... storage for paintings.  The baseball photos and trophies still line the walls so ..... part storage part shrine.   I really need to tackle this ....  Put that on my retirement list.....