Emerging senior?????....

Okay... so I have a blog.... What do I call it?... What should I write about? ....Here is where the "generational" issue begins to emerge. I can't imagine how anyone would find what I have to say compelling...But as I learn more, I don't think that blogging is really about that. I think it is about what I want to say ...my observations...stuff I would share if I was sitting with you having a coffee. I don't have a single focus in my life but I do have interests like gardening, baking, movies, hockey, pop culture - so how do I come up a theme for this blog??? or even a name??? If there is a common thread in my life right now it is thinking about retirement- I am getting older..... I turned 55 this year and now qualify by some definitions as a senior!!! Shocking to me. I feel that I am moving through an important stage. It is a transformative time.The entire concept of "senior years" is being redefined by society - okay really...by the boomers ( we always make everything about us) There is a group in my hometown that was formed for 20/30 year olds called Emerging Leaders. A network to help them through those beginning years of your career, support each other, make connections. I think there should be the same thing for those approaching retirement... Okay... so Emerging Senior it is!

My first blog

Recently a friend of mine, Eleanor passed away at 89 years old.She was a great lady. I was honoured when the family asked me to speak at her funeral. .    Eleanor hired me over 33 years ago at the hospital that I still work at today.  She was near the end of her career , I was at the beginning of mine. My role was to teach her about computers which were just becoming a tool in the medical research field as online communities were just beginning to form. Together we ventured into the online world - the early days of the internet- when it was only a research tool -long before the web.  She embraced learning this new technology.  I am about the same age today as Eleanor was when I first met her. As I wrote her eulogy, I began to reflect on my own enthusiasm for the technologies of today.  In my personal life I have only marginally ventured into the social media world   Although I use these technologies professionally, I have not embraced them in my personal life. .  What would Eleanor have done? Even in her death, she found a way to inspire me and open doors for me - just like she had during her life time.   In honour of her - her openness to new ideas, her love of learning, I am going to dive a little deeper into the technologies that I have almost ignored and I begin with creating my own blog. .  One of Eleanor's favourite expressions when she went out on a limb to try something new or risky , she would say - " If this doesn't work out - I like yellow roses"   for you Eleanor.....