Ambition
To me the pandemic is enervating. It feels like I have been punched in the stomach. I am gasping, trying to catch my breath. I refuse to give up. I am determined to accomplish something wonderful, in spite of it. For me, my hobbies, as much as I enjoy them, are not...
What’s in a name?
If you were born between 1946 and 1964, you are designated as a “baby boomer.” Your age right now is between 56 and 74. As you pass age 65, what are you becoming? What should we call you? There are a variety of names you can choose from. These include Senior Citizen,...
Right here in River City
In Meredith Willson’s 1957 Broadway musical “The Music Man” “Professor“ Harold Hill sings, “Well, ya got trouble, my friend, right here. I say, trouble right here in River City.” I think of this song whenever something really bad happens in Minneapolis / St Paul. Now...
Thriving
I cope with the threat of the pandemic by wearing a mask and physically distancing myself from others. The senior facility rental where I live coped with the threat of vandalism from protesters by putting plywood over our outside windows. All these actions have so far...
Perfect Day
Yes, the pandemic is a time of anxiety about money and health, and huge uncertainty. Yes, we all prefer in-person meetings to zoom meetings. Despite all that, is it possible to have a perfect day, or even a perfect hour, now in the pandemic? If so, what would it be...
Loneliness
For many of us, the pandemic is a time we are alone or lonely. I miss being with my friends, especially giving and receiving hugs. In addition to Zooming with friends now, I have recently reached out to some of my connections on LinkedIn. I tend to be shy, so this was...
Rhythm
John McCain has described in detail what he did to survive his lockup and 2-year-long solitary confinement in a prisoner-of-war camp during the Vietnam war. Most important was his regular communication with other prisoners, even if was through tapping on a wall. In...
Choices and changes
Our lives have changed in many ways during the pandemic. Our natural inclination is to continue doing the same things in the same way, partly in the hope that any problems will go away soon. The reality is that there are always changes in our lives – in our work,...
Time now
I am busier than ever, in spite of the pandemic. I don’t leave my apartment except for occasional grocery shopping trips, walks with my wife, and bicycle rides. I retired from my 34-year financial planning career last December. I am fortunate that I can use my extra...
Managing fear
The three biggest fears people have during this Covid-19 outbreak are running out of money, suffering through health problems, and not having what to do. You cannot make those fears go away entirely, but you can manage them. Here is how to take a proactive approach....