I've been thinking a lot about life choices since I retired a month ago. What life choices have been positive and what choices have been less than positive?
Invest in a meaninful career you enjoy
For 34 years I invested in a career as an educator. Overall I enjoyed my work and was dedicated to the mission of teaching young children in healthy, positive, life-enriching ways. Looking back I recognize that a teaching career includes sacrificing a lot of other endeavors since to teach well typically demands a hefty daily schedule of a good 10-12 hours of dedicated research, reading, planning, preparation, delivery of lessons, review, reflection, and response. If I had to offer advice to schools and educational institutions, I would recommend that they re-look at the administrative structures related to teaching and learning because often there's a troubling divide between those who are working with students regularly and those who are directing that work. I think that all should work towards a more reasonable share of duties, schedules, and expectations. It does seem like there's an uneven share of work in schools where some have unreasonable expectations while others have more reasonable, life-friendly schedules. Making teaching jobs more reasonable and focusing on teacher-led schools more will elevate schools, teaching, and learning everywhere. That said, I do believe that teaching was a good career for me with regard to who I am, what I learned, and what I was able to do with and for my students, colleagues, and my own family. I do believe it's important to invest in a career that you enjoy and that is meaningful to you.
Positive relationships
I grew up with a very large family and parents who were committed to one another. My parents were good mentors for what it means to have a positive, loving relationship. I have watched them commit to one another through good times and not-so-good times over 68 years of marriage--that's amazing. My husband's parents similarly stay committed to one another, and like my parents, focused primarly on building a strong, loving family. To foster positive, loving relationships in your life is critical. This point cannot be overlooked and demands time, attention, reflection, and intention.
Healthy living
Too often heinous marketing pulls our attention to lifestyles, products, and events that are not healthy. We have to turn our attention away from these greedy folks who care only about their bottom line and wealth rather than our good living. Instead we have to embrace the organizations, individuals, products, and events that foster healthy, positive living. Everyone needs to understand what it means to live a healthy life, why that's important, and how they can attain that lifestyle.
Financial smarts
Too often we're swayed to spend money in ways that hinder good living. Long ago, a family member taught me that it's best to live beneath your means so that you'll always have a few extra dollars for troubled times. There's lots of ways you can learn to be smart about your money. The best financial strategy I've used is to plan ahead for good events and pursuits in the future. For example, before we go on a vacation, I plan ahead so we get the best deals and pay for most vacation costs before we actually go on the vacation. It took me a while to learn this, and now the anticipation and planning for the trips are actually as much fun as the trips themselves. It's also important to work hard. When you're young you have tremendous energy--you can translate that energy into multiple jobs to make extra money. Further, learning good investment strategies and how to manage your money is important too. I did an okay job with all of this, but if I had paid a bit more attention in my earlier days, I would have done better.
Good times
The good times give life meaning, excitement, and awesome memories. Good times bring us together in positive ways. Identifying what makes a good, healthy time for you and your loved ones is important. For some, it may be attending music events. Others may enjoy museums, travel, hikes, bike rides, fancy restaurants, political rallies and more. Whatever the positive, healthy, and meaningful places and events are that you enjoy, these experiences spell good times, and it is essential that we all have good times in our lives.
Learning
It is essential to be a life-long learner. Never before, thanks to the Internet and electronic devices, has learning been easier. To spend time researching, reading, and discovering about people, places, events, and the details of life makes life richer and more meaningful. Travel has become so successful due to easy Internet searches about wonderful places, lodging, meals, and the history of locations. Problems you face with loved ones and medical issues can be easily researched, and that research helps you to identify the next steps to solve the problems you face. Cooking is so much easier too because there are countless recipes available online.
Sustainable living
To live well, we have to focus on sustainable living. We have to look for Earth-friendly ways to live so that we can foster a healthy planet for our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren. Less meat and more veggies creates a healthier environment. Composting plant waste builds up the soil and lessens the need for landfills. Reusing items, not buying plastics, supporting local agriculture, conserving water by not flushing the toilet so much or better, getting composting toilets, growing your own food, using bikes more than cars, and joining local conservation groups are ways to uplift your own lives while helping to sustain and protect Earth's resources too.
Peace
Working against violence and for peaceful living is another positive way to live life. Working for sensible gun laws, environmental protections, equity, good health care, quality education, and healthy recreation are ways to foster peace in your homes and communities. A peaceful people are a happy, prosperous, good people.