As I came across the words “finding inner peace,” a light bulb went off in my head. This is a good topic for me at this time of my life. I’m not needy, but the older I get, the more little pieces I need to fit together and keep in order—especially if I want to hold on to my inner peace.
I recently became a first-time grandma. I’m over the moon and now consider him one of my top priorities. Of course, family has always been number one, as I am sure it is with all of you. As he grows, I will be involved in his activities at school, church, and the sports arena. How will I juggle all the activities I’ve been involved in during the last ten years?
Maintaining our health should also be a top priority. Without our health, we cannot attend to other life tasks. I went through a period like that with my mother, who had cancer. We moved her into our home, and I took care of all her business and personal needs for the last year of her life. Not everyone might have the time, means, or someone to care for them. We utilized Hospice care; they were fabulous and helped us so much. Healthy doesn’t mean disease-free; that is just part of life. But healthy means living our life to the best of our ability to stay healthy and active.
Like my daughter, starting a family is another vital piece of our lives. Establishing solid routines to make the flow work for your family is critical. Setting boundaries with time, especially if you remain working, and creating a budget to prevent emergencies from wreaking havoc on the bank account is also important. Many friends have confided in me that they live paycheck-to-paycheck, making for a rollercoaster ride each month. Establishing that savings account for a buffer to help with those unexpected expenses, i.e., unplanned surgery, replacing appliances, making car repairs, or emergency trips.
As many Baby Boomers are retiring, it is essential to change purchasing habits. When we retired, we downsized and moved into a single-story home, not wanting to tackle the stairs any longer. We also realized we might not have the same amount of money flowing in as it is flowing out.
Many people have a good grip on their situation and have planned for the unexpected. I envy you and admire you for thinking ahead. These vital aspects of our lives must work in harmony, which is sometimes a challenge. Below are other essential pieces:
- Spiritual and Personal Growth—Imagining where you want to be can improve you. Think of the future you want and begin working toward a better life for yourself and others.
- Sense of Community—Challenge yourself to find that piece of community in which you can belong. Give back—run that 5k for cancer, donate to your local food bank, or drop off clothes you no longer wear (or can fit into) so that someone else might benefit from them. Join a local women’s club or book club.
Remember that helping others is helping ourselves. It feels good, and we want to do more. It helps us put the pieces in our lives together.
After all, aren’t we looking for happiness and peace in our lives and the lives of our families?
All my best,
Julie
Throw Kindness Around like Confetti!!!