Fabulous, Gary. I enjoyed every word! Hey, Substackers, want to feel uplifted today? Let this happy retiree fill you with a sense of well-being with his balanced view of himself, "progress," and a short Robert Burns poem that ties it all together!
Thanks, Don. I found the moniker "happy retiree" half right, the "happy" half as I do not consider myself "retired" just doing other things. Wrote a short piece some time ago entitled, "Just Say No To Retirement" Herewith, FYI: https://garygruber.com/just-say-no-to-retirement/
Ha! No worries. I'm somewhat of a contrarian as you might guess from the post. I "retired" from the workaday world years ago and created new "work" which reinforces my belief that when you love what you do, it does not seem like "work" although it is. It is good work, work that is passion and purpose, not a job. Think of artists, philosophers, musicians, poets and writers. A job is what we have to do to get to our work, the jobs of paperwork, accounting, and maintenance, unless we have good assistants who do those things on our behalf.
A great piece, Gary. Identity is a topic I've thought a bit about myself - despite its wavering and somewhat illusive nature, I've come to think of it as ultimately grounded in the decisions we make. So much of "ourselves" goes into making decsions - fertile ground for identity. I wrote about it in this piece if you are interested: https://nedemery.substack.com/p/identity-as-we-travel
You're writing here is great (as well as the other pieces I've read) - I'm subscribing to read the next ones!
Thanks, Ned. Fertile ground indeed as long as I don't get lost in the weeds. Working on focus, clarity and purpose this week in writing and in living. So, there's that!
Yes, we are where we are because of all the choices we have made to bring us to this point in time. Going forward, ditto. The choices we make today will, in large part, determine who we become today. Tomorrow will be another story. Off to read your identity as we travel piece, thanks for the link,
Agreed - knowing who we are now is important. As is knowing who we were. I'm most concerned with 'who I will be next' ... not play acting, by changing direction, focus, and validating purpose. Cheers, Mark
Thanksm Mark. I think that's why I said I am eager to see the next version of me. and, at the same time, I am content to wait as I am comfortable not knowing. A big YES to where we're headed, direction, focus and validating purpose. I would add passion and meaning, going forward. I like sailing, and traveling in general, for the same reasons, setting a course knowing there will be adjustments and changes along the planned routes.
I feel comfortable with the person you describe here - glad to have found you through Substack. My equilibrium at this point in my long life is somewhere between my self-doubts and the unrealistic accolades of others. I guess I can live with that. What choice to I have?
Peter, I believe it is all about the choices we make, every day. It is the choices we have made that have brought us to where we are and who we are at this point in time. You have many choices other than "I can live with that" but if you're comfortable, happy and content living between those two poles, good for you. Did you ever do the exercise of the 5 Why's? It's a series of why questions that take us a little farther or deeper if or when we ask why? If I have misread your comment, apologies. I don't always comprehend what is meant by what is said.
I think it is healthy not to be in denial about what is less than wonderful about me, and at the same time celebrate what is the best of who I am. I am grateful to those who affirm that they have benefitted from my presence in their lives. It is neither safe nor healthy to depend on the affirmations of others for validation. I can live with who I really am.
Agreed! Not safe, healthy or even reliable to depend on affirmations of others for validation. A balanced life, aware of foibles and faults and knowing how to celebrate the good life, seems like a good place to be who you are. Kudos to you!
Gary, I really appreciate how reflective you are on the past, present and future. Your words are powerful, and it's inspiring for me to read them, especially at a time when I sometimes have trouble recognizing myself, insofar as who I aspire to be. I really am drawn to the self-love you've cultivated and radiate from your writing.
Thanks, Adam. I have tried, over the years, to learn from self-reflections, not merely review past experiences to see how I could do and be better moving forward, but also to capture meaning and purpose and build on those. Those discoveries help make life worthwhile and why I put a premium on relationships, good work, laughter and love. Some day I may get around to writing a book on a full life, living it up to the brim, spilling over. I am blessed and joyful, glad to be in the here and now. I have been fortunate to have gathered a rich variety of experiences over these 87 years and still going along well, fortunate in that too.
Gary, what sentiment this piece holds! Thank you so much for sharing some of your story and for your unrivalled wisdom. And also, for your beautiful writing.
Hi Gary - I think we're all products of the decades that came before - and if we learn from those successes and failures, we become wiser as we grow older. I'm beyond grateful for this second half of life and all that it's brought with it. I feel more "me" than I have at any other stage, and more content and happy - life is very good and we're so fortunate to grow old gracefully and gratefully!
The hope is that we do become wiser as we grow older. I am reminded of a sign in my Dad's basement workshop that said, "We get too soon old and too late wise." I think it was from an old German proverb, probably more ancient where it originated. I have written previously about growing older gratefully and gracefully and if you're interested, you can access the topic with a search in some archived posts on my web site on the blog page.
Fabulous, Gary. I enjoyed every word! Hey, Substackers, want to feel uplifted today? Let this happy retiree fill you with a sense of well-being with his balanced view of himself, "progress," and a short Robert Burns poem that ties it all together!
Thanks, Don. I found the moniker "happy retiree" half right, the "happy" half as I do not consider myself "retired" just doing other things. Wrote a short piece some time ago entitled, "Just Say No To Retirement" Herewith, FYI: https://garygruber.com/just-say-no-to-retirement/
Ah! Sorry, I made an assumption based on your birth year.
Ha! No worries. I'm somewhat of a contrarian as you might guess from the post. I "retired" from the workaday world years ago and created new "work" which reinforces my belief that when you love what you do, it does not seem like "work" although it is. It is good work, work that is passion and purpose, not a job. Think of artists, philosophers, musicians, poets and writers. A job is what we have to do to get to our work, the jobs of paperwork, accounting, and maintenance, unless we have good assistants who do those things on our behalf.
A great piece, Gary. Identity is a topic I've thought a bit about myself - despite its wavering and somewhat illusive nature, I've come to think of it as ultimately grounded in the decisions we make. So much of "ourselves" goes into making decsions - fertile ground for identity. I wrote about it in this piece if you are interested: https://nedemery.substack.com/p/identity-as-we-travel
You're writing here is great (as well as the other pieces I've read) - I'm subscribing to read the next ones!
Thanks, Ned. Fertile ground indeed as long as I don't get lost in the weeds. Working on focus, clarity and purpose this week in writing and in living. So, there's that!
I agree, a simple approach can help. Great to hear - excited to read the coming pieces!
Yes, we are where we are because of all the choices we have made to bring us to this point in time. Going forward, ditto. The choices we make today will, in large part, determine who we become today. Tomorrow will be another story. Off to read your identity as we travel piece, thanks for the link,
Agreed - knowing who we are now is important. As is knowing who we were. I'm most concerned with 'who I will be next' ... not play acting, by changing direction, focus, and validating purpose. Cheers, Mark
Thanksm Mark. I think that's why I said I am eager to see the next version of me. and, at the same time, I am content to wait as I am comfortable not knowing. A big YES to where we're headed, direction, focus and validating purpose. I would add passion and meaning, going forward. I like sailing, and traveling in general, for the same reasons, setting a course knowing there will be adjustments and changes along the planned routes.
Thanks and thanks for the Burns. How apt!
Thanks to you for reading. The original Scottish version is a fun read too. Love the word, apt!
I thought it was an abbreviation of appropriate, maybe it is but it stands on its on very well.
I am apt to change my mind.
I feel comfortable with the person you describe here - glad to have found you through Substack. My equilibrium at this point in my long life is somewhere between my self-doubts and the unrealistic accolades of others. I guess I can live with that. What choice to I have?
Peter, I believe it is all about the choices we make, every day. It is the choices we have made that have brought us to where we are and who we are at this point in time. You have many choices other than "I can live with that" but if you're comfortable, happy and content living between those two poles, good for you. Did you ever do the exercise of the 5 Why's? It's a series of why questions that take us a little farther or deeper if or when we ask why? If I have misread your comment, apologies. I don't always comprehend what is meant by what is said.
I think it is healthy not to be in denial about what is less than wonderful about me, and at the same time celebrate what is the best of who I am. I am grateful to those who affirm that they have benefitted from my presence in their lives. It is neither safe nor healthy to depend on the affirmations of others for validation. I can live with who I really am.
Agreed! Not safe, healthy or even reliable to depend on affirmations of others for validation. A balanced life, aware of foibles and faults and knowing how to celebrate the good life, seems like a good place to be who you are. Kudos to you!
Gary, I really appreciate how reflective you are on the past, present and future. Your words are powerful, and it's inspiring for me to read them, especially at a time when I sometimes have trouble recognizing myself, insofar as who I aspire to be. I really am drawn to the self-love you've cultivated and radiate from your writing.
Thanks, Adam. I have tried, over the years, to learn from self-reflections, not merely review past experiences to see how I could do and be better moving forward, but also to capture meaning and purpose and build on those. Those discoveries help make life worthwhile and why I put a premium on relationships, good work, laughter and love. Some day I may get around to writing a book on a full life, living it up to the brim, spilling over. I am blessed and joyful, glad to be in the here and now. I have been fortunate to have gathered a rich variety of experiences over these 87 years and still going along well, fortunate in that too.
Gary, what sentiment this piece holds! Thank you so much for sharing some of your story and for your unrivalled wisdom. And also, for your beautiful writing.
Hi Gary - I think we're all products of the decades that came before - and if we learn from those successes and failures, we become wiser as we grow older. I'm beyond grateful for this second half of life and all that it's brought with it. I feel more "me" than I have at any other stage, and more content and happy - life is very good and we're so fortunate to grow old gracefully and gratefully!
The hope is that we do become wiser as we grow older. I am reminded of a sign in my Dad's basement workshop that said, "We get too soon old and too late wise." I think it was from an old German proverb, probably more ancient where it originated. I have written previously about growing older gratefully and gracefully and if you're interested, you can access the topic with a search in some archived posts on my web site on the blog page.
http://www.garygruber.com/blog