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, October 2, 2017
This is my last Monday morning of full time work. Tomorrow is my last day and on Wednesday I board a plane for the first of hopefully many new adventures. For the span of my career I have kept a big box in my office that I threw in thank you notes, photos, mementos of events and projects. It grew to two boxes. I never, never looked in those boxes until now. For the past month or so, I have been reviewing the contents. So many memories and what a reminder of what extraordinary people that I have had the privilege of working with and what wonderful opportunities I have had. Transitions can be tough no matter how positive the situation. As a leader, I have certainly learned that it is important to mark these times of change by celebrating endings and beginnings. Even though I am so excited to start this next chapter in my life, Tuesday will be tough as I celebrate this ending and say goodbye.
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 September 11, 2017
My attention this past week has been on the wake of devastation of Hurricane Irma. It has been devastating as she wove her path through the Caribbean. Irma impacted some of my most favourite places on earth. I have had the great good fortune to have visited all of the islands touched by this hurricane. I have spent many happy hours at these island's beach bars and yacht clubs some of which no longer exist. Sure, I am a tourist with very happy memories of these beautiful spots but in reality these islands are home to thousands of citizens who lived through I am sure sheer terror to come through it and find destruction everywhere. Their homeland and their homes needing to be rebuilt. Without the sophisticated emergency infrastructure, response and funding that we enjoy in North America, this will take a long time. All the while, their main economic engine, tourism will be diminished. International aid and support is critical. I hope the hundreds of thousands of people that visit these islands will be generous to the relief effort. The UK government has already pledged that they will match all donations made by the public to the British Red Cross . I donated to them yesterday. I also made myself a promise that when things are rebuilt - I am going back to happy hour on the patio of St Martin Yacht Club, to spend a day in the sun at Shipwreck Beach Bar in St. Kitts, to drink rum at Pussers Landing in Tortola, to enjoy a painkiller at Soggy Dollar Bar in Jost Van Dyke, to drink in the beauty of the Baths in Virgin Gorda and to have a Killer Bee at Sunshines in Nevis.
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 is about - letting go of the weekday routine and spreading the rest of your life over seven days
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017
For the past couple of years, I have avoided my emergingsenior blog As a person that gravitates to action instead of talking about what I need to do, I concentrated on my retirement checklist and it is almost complete. Three months ago, I gave my notice and today I face my last month of work. Many people have asked if I have a countdown and I haven't. Today - the countdown has started:
29 days until retirement
21 days left of work
I certainly have faced mixed emotions over the past few months as my retirement became official. I will miss so much my friends and colleagues . I will miss being part of a community, a great hospital that I have had the opportunity to work for 37 years. I am very excited about what is ahead. I look forward to discovering new opportunities and activities that retirement affords me.
As the past couple of years have focused on preparation for this milestone, the upcoming months will begin the metamorphosis to a new life - the journey as an emerging senior really begins.
Only 4 more Monday mornings at work...... The countdown continues
