Transitioning into Late Adulthood

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At what point do you stop calling yourself “middle-aged”? For several years, I have used a blog title of “Random Middle-Aged Musings” bu after a hiatus of over a year, I decided to restart posting some of my writings and began to question the title. Now that I am past the 65-year mark, can I still refer to my thoughts as middle aged musings? If not, what do I call them? I don’t want to call them “old age grumblings” (though many may be just that). I started looking around to see what the current terminology was for my current stage of life. I am in that past 65, not quite retired, still active phase that some are now calling “late adulthood”. The more I read, the more I think this may be the way I refer to my status now. I don’t really like using “mature” since I think most people should mature well before 65. I also do not like using “senior” since in my heart and mind I don’t feel like I had imagined a “senior” would feel.  I guess if you looked at my medical records, though, senior might be close to the mark. 

One reference talked about adjusting to some of the key parts of late adulthood and included gaining wisdom, new routines, health focus, and social connections. I can see where this fits nicely. As most of us know, experience is a great teacher. Changing from a 30-plus year career is going to result in different daily and weekly routines. At some point with aging the focus changes, however subtly, from building strength and endurance to maintaining the ability to easily carry out daily activities. And maybe the most important is realizing that close friendships are a vital part of enjoyment in life. 

Shifting from a long career in primary care medicine took a leap of faith. With some health issues and remote grandchildren, my wife and I decided to move into a retirement phase, leaving our practice and setting up more time with the grandsons. In the process of transitioning into retirement, I was offered a consulting position that allowed me to continue with some of the things in my work that I found rewarding and not be tied to the requirements that are more stressful and prone to burnout.  I now have the opportunity to share my experiences with healthcare workers who are younger in their careers and provide optional mentoring that can be difficult in today’s work environment.  

While forcing a need to change daily routines I had the opportunity to move into more freedom in activity opportunities. I can now take leisurely walks in the middle of the day, go on hikes, play with the grandsons, and take chunks of time out of the day to pursue interests (such as museums, bird watching, or napping).  Having a schedule that is much more free lets me work with my personal timeframes which frequently involve early morning or late night messaging or writing. For the first time in many years, flexibility in my time has become a major asset. 

My favorite part of transitioning into late adulthood, though, is the growing of friendships and social connections. No longer do I feel any obligation to socialize for intention. My closest friends (who are mostly in the same phase of life) are becoming a bigger part of our weekly planning. While working full-time we would get together occasionally, sometimes once a month. Now, a week doesn’t go by that we have not had either intentional or spontaneous get-togethers (usually more than one). The friendships are growing, as they should.

As I continue this transition I see a foreshadowing that my work will become less and less a part of what I do and there will eventually become a void that I want to intentionally fill. Part of that, I think, will be writing down what goes through my mind. With that, I hope to loosely commit to writing more. Not on a schedule but just when the time is right. The sharing part is now not for others, but for myself. 

He is in Control

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6/1/25

I’m sitting in a chair in our Maryland home listening to the soft snoring of my oldest grandson (now five years old). He and his younger brother (age 3) spent the night with Nana and Poppy last night. The boys have grown accustomed to having us around more than usual with some recent life changes. Through a combination of life events we have become private Uber drivers for them and their family. We take them to and from daycare most days, shuttle them to medical appointments, and make sure they get to tee ball and soccer practices and games. I have been in Maryland for an entire month now without a return to Indiana. Gena flew home for a few days but for the most part, our primary residence and routines have been based here. And we are making the most of it. 

Most days are routine. We get up on a schedule, drive to their homes and take them to daycare. I will then work remotely for several hours and return to pick them up around 4:30 every day. We then come to our home and play in the basement. Gena prepares meals for them and then we either have dinner together with their Mom and Dad or run then home with a parental to-go collection of prepared food. Then, exhausted, we settle in for a while and recover (at times we both feel too old for this, but the joy powers us through).

Generally, weekends we have on our own and try to let our daughter and her husband have their own family time. Since it is tee ball season, Saturday mornings are spent (at least in part) at the tee ball field. This gives us the chance to either rest and recover or to explore. We have taken in a couple of baseball games (one at Nationals Park in DC and the other at Camden Yards in Baltimore).  I still love watching my St. Louis Cardinals. We try restaurants but tend to come back to Baia Coastal Italian as our staple. Recovery is an essential part of endurance, especially as you get older.

Having the opportunity to provide support for anyone (family or not) is missional. Our sovereign God has a plan for us far beyond anything we could dream. I struggle with wanting to plan and control but realize that anything I control is for MY plans and purposes, not God’s. Looking back, I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to spend 2-3 hours a day with my grandsons. I did not foresee moving out of clinical medicine into a role that allowed us to support our daughter and her family as we do now.  That is all part of God’s plan for me. And it is beyond the best imagined plans I ever had. 

God put me here for a reason. I do not completely see it yet and definitely do not understand it. But I am beginning to comprehend more clearly. He is in control. I need to submit to that and enjoy the blessings he has given us, unquestioningly. He wants to bless me. All he asks of me is my faith that He has it all under control.

Lessons (Un)learned

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Earlier this year, I was playing with my grandsons in their rock and dinosaur garden which sits behind our condo near their home. This play area is one my wife created for them so they can use their dump trucks, bulldozers, skid steers, and backhoes to pretend they are building things. In here they have rocks, sand, and rubber mulch areas that provide a safe space for them to use for constructive play.

As we were moving dirt and sand, the three-year-old decided he wanted to fill one of his trucks with the heavier rocks before moving it a few feet and dumping it. I could tell that as he lifted each individual rock, filling the truck to the top of the dumping bed, the weight of the truck was increasing and would soon be too heavy for him to move and dump. I suggested to him that he might want to stop filling and “drive” his truck to the dumping spot (3 feet away) and return for another load. He looked up at me and said “Poppy, I’ve got this”. He was busy having fun and did not want to take my advice. Even when it was becoming obvious that he would not be able to move a fully-loaded truck and continue playing. But in his playful mind, he was in control despite my warning of “If you do this, here is what will happen”.

How often do I have the same response to God’s instructions. How often do I ignore advice and even direct instruction. How often do I say (directly or indirectly) “Don’t worry, God. I’ve got this”? And then how often do I have to ask for help in carrying the load. The work would frequently be easier if I would listen, slow down, and follow His advice and instruction. I find myself focused on the task at hand and do not listen to experienced guidance or follow wise instruction.
It looks like I’m not any different from a three-year-old. I haven’t learned much, have I?

The End of an Era (At Least for Me)

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It sounds somewhat egocentric to talk about a time in my life as an “era” but other words do not seem to adequately describe my relationship with road cycling. I could call my passion for riding a “phase” or a “stage”. But those terms seem to trivialize the experience that became so prominent during my empty-nesting years. The pull of the road reached out and called me to put myself into situations that were more dangerous (and simultaneously thrilling) than my conservative nature could have planned. I am not sure I can pinpoint why it became important, just that it did. And it is time to leave it behind.

Perhaps it is because my passion for it did not come until mid-life (it did not come until I was in my early fifties). Or possibly it was because of the beauty of our southern Indiana backroads system and easy access to quiet, peaceful rides that could show the beauty of a warm summer day. Maybe it was the outlet provided after long days in the office giving me both a mental and physical respite. Whatever the reason for developing the love of the sport, it has become obvious that the time has come to give it up. And that decision has come with all of the normal responses to grieving a loss.

I started riding as part of recovery from a broken leg and complications that came after surgeries to repair the injury. In a shift to non-weight bearing exercises (I don’t swim well) I picked cycling as something to try. I quickly went from a hybrid bike and riding around the neighborhood to finding a carbon fiber (extremely lightweight) bike with all of the gadgets and technology that allowed me t throw myself into the sport as fully as time allowed. I had the GPS monitors that tracked my mapping, calories, cadence, power output, and much more. I would put the data into apps and track training. I bought one of the early Tour de France indoor training bikes to give me something to do during cold-weather or rainy times. I was “all in”.

Cycling also offered the opportunity to ride socially as well as on my own. Riding with friends became part of a weekly routine that would see us riding 20-25 miles once or twice during the week and then 40-50 miles on weekends. The miles added up and the addiction to the road pulled us in. I would take my bike with me every time we traveled. Some of the riskiest decisions I have made have involved heading out by myself on my bike through unfamiliar roads and traffic patterns. Whether it was an urban ride through Louisville, a mountain ride through West Virginia, a beach ride through Florida, or scenic rides through Traverse City or Savannah, I was ready to go wherever the road led me.

Over the past few years, the cycling landscape has been changing. There have been external factors that have become alarming while at the same time, I have seen some physical changes that have made me less comfortable while riding. Distracted drivers have always been concerning. While states have laws protecting cyclists, those laws don’t do you any good when a 4000 pound car contacts a 200 pound bike. While the laws of the states provide protection the laws of physics do not. The number of times I have barely missed contact with extended truck mirrors is difficult to track. Car drivers on phones, cyclists playing music (instead of listening for cars), and road debris in safety lanes are just a few of the issues that have worsened over the past few years.

Getting older has not helped. Reaction times are slowing. Hearing, which is vital to cycling safety, has been decreasing. Dog chases have become more common (yes, I have been taken down by a large dog and chased by many). With the placement of a pacemaker a couple of years ago, I had already gotten to the point that I would not go out alone. Now, with a new-onset seizure disorder I have doctor (and common sense) directives to avoid outdoor cycling. After thirteen years of a hobby that I passionately pursued I am at the point of quitting.

The good news for me is that over the past couple of years, I have found a replacement. I have been using Peloton classes as a substitute and find that, while not quite as enveloping, the experience is close and getting better. I can pivot to becoming an indoor cyclist and still get good workouts in a much safer environment. But I don’t get the experience of walking into a coffee bar in the cool biker get-up of shorts, jerseys, and those “oh so comfortable” shoes. Maybe sparing others that visual is the greatest benefit of it all.

Here we go again…

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I shouldn’t complain. I am 63 years old and have been remarkably healthy and active throughout my life. Beyond occasional migraines, I was healthy for years and took some pride in filling out medical history forms that were mostly blank. Until breaking my leg at age fifty, I really had no trauma or significant surgery that I had to list. But then a couple of years ago, I awakened with a seizure and was found to have episodes of profound low heart rate that subsequently required a pacemaker placement. Test after test revealed no significant abnormality other than the low heart rate. And we thought we had that fixed.

That is, until last week. Evidently (I have no recollection), I had another seizure in my sleep. Gena called EMS and I was taken to the local hospital (in Maryland) where I had another witnessed seizure in the emergency department. After CT’s, MRI’s, EEG’s, and neurology evaluations we didn’t really find anything. Well, maybe a tiny stroke deep in the midbrain, but it hasn’t changed since an MRI in 2021. None of the common reasons for new-onset seizures were found. In medicine we call this an idiopathic seizure disorder. No known cause, just things to watch for and treatment recommendations.

I haven’t had any more seizure activity since that morning. I am diligently taking my medications every 12 hours despite nausea and a somewhat “goofy” feeling that comes with it. I’m sure I’ll hear that the “goofiness” has been present for quite some time but will let the dad jokes slide for now. Physically, I am back to riding my Peloton and trying to build my strength back up. It is amazing how quickly the endurance drops off with missing a week of exercise. I have had wonderful support from family and friends through messaging and calls. It hasn’t hurt that we are seeing the grandsons on most days and they tend to improve my spirits.

What I didn’t count on was the emotional burden this would bring. I’ll be able to get around not being able to drive. I have recently retired friends and Gena to be sure I get where I need to be. I don’t really have many places to go and can limit my schedule quite a bit. Gena reminds me that if Mickey Haller (the Lincoln Lawyer) can do it, so can I. Getting around isn’t the issue as much as the realization that I have a couple of chronic illnesses. For years, taking care of patients with heart issues or seizure disorders was straight-forward with an evidence-based treatment plan. I didn’t spend as much time thinking through the lifestyle changes each one of these issues brought on.

Hopefully I will use this time to reflect and refocus my goals and priorities. I will try to enjoy the time with friends and family as well as work on reading and creating more than consuming knowledge. I appreciate all of the prayers and asked for continued prayer and support for Gena. I suspect I will begin to drive her crazy fairly quickly.

Off the Rails But Back on Track

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Wow! That came off the rails in a hurry. After moving into semi-retirement fourteen months ago, I spent a few months working “part-time” and spending afternoons with the grandsons. We have been busy with projects, getting our new part-time home ready for prolonged stays and setting up what would become a fun place for the boys to visit. We almost have it like we want and the boys seem to enjoy staying with us most afternoons when we are in the area. We have also managed to be “in the area” for two weeks out of most months.
What came off the rails is the idea that I am retired (or even semi-retired). I have been putting in full-time hours and that number seems to grow as the house projects decrease. The only thing that changed was that I moved out of direct patient care into a role where I spend a fair amount of time mentoring and monitoring. I also get to spend time optimizing workflows with computer systems letting my inner geek come out. My wife would tell you that I do not have an inner geek- it’s all readily apparent if you know me. Either way, I get to spend time keeping up on the latest advances without being overwhelmed.
The most wonderful part comes in that I now have flexibility in the timing of work. When involved in direct patient care I had a set schedule that someone else controlled. For years, I said that I did not need a watch…I had an office manager, a wife, and a daughter so someone was always telling me what to do and when. I didn’t have to think about what or when, just show up and see patients. In my current role I get to schedule the times I work on projects, the times I schedule meetings, the times I read updates, and the time I have for myself. Being an early riser, this lets me put in a significant amount of work hours by noon giving way to afternoons spent doing the things I love doing. I get to spend time with family and explore options previously not able to wedge into my schedule.
One of the things I love to explore is time management research and how to make use of time and resources that are available to us all. I like to tinker with todo lists, project applications, habit building processes, and critical thinking development. I am enjoying stepping back and taking a look at how this field of time management can be utilized in medicine to help our physician and nurse practitioner resources limit burnout (or moral injury in some cases). How do we protect the time and efforts put in to improve our healthcare systems without putting all of the burden on those already in short supply? How do we preserve the empathy and compassion options while utilizing AI but not putting our patients completely in the hands of machines?
Maybe I used the wrong phrase when I said everything was coming off the rails. Maybe I should have said I was just jumping tracks. Hopefully the tracks I’m on will continue to be joyous but also continue with contribution. I heard a cycling coach say recently that the young riders talked about every day in training is just “one more day”. He, however, saw it as one less day to accomplish the mission. Today, I have one less day to contribute. I want to be sure I am in a physical, spiritual, and mental place to do that.

3 Holiday Treasures

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One day this week I was sitting with my daughter while she was composing an email. “What is the first thing you think about when I mention Christmas?”, she asked. Not realizing that she was looking for something to use as an emoji for a work email, my stammering, stumbling response was “It’s the time we reflect on and celebrate the birth of Christ”. “Well, how do I put that into an emoji?”, she responded. “I don’t know. Why don’t you just use a Christmas tree, Santa Clause, or presents?” I said as I took the shortcut.

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But I started thinking. What is the first thing (or things) I think about when someone mentions Christmas? I could list several items off the top of my head: shopping, cold weather, family and friend get-togethers, dinners, gifts, cards, cookies. Most of the initial thoughts were the superficial things that create busyness and hustling/bustling to get everything done. But is that where my thoughts should go? I took this as a challenge to come up with what really means the most to me. Many things come together to make the holiday season special, but the ones that top my list (in no particular order) are time with family, time for reflection, and time for celebration.

Getting together with family has always been important, though there have been many times that this has been disrupted. Starting with the first rotations in medical school and lasting up to retirement, our holiday get-togethers were always tentative. We all knew that for some part of the season I would be on call and that dinners or events could be interrupted at any moment. While interruptions were not very often, the possibility was there. Over the years I would rotate being on call Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, or any of the days in between. We had to be flexible and allow ourselves time together whenever we could work it out. We were always ready to make last-minute changes and enjoy what uninterrupted time we could get. Being together for meals, games, conversation, and other events still ranks as one of my favorite holiday traditions.

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With children moving into adulthood, spouses and in-laws entering the picture, and the appearance of grandchildren we transitioned into an even more variable season. Putting together schedules for extended family and integrating that into all of our schedules has proven to be a challenge. When you add significant distance to the mix it complicates the season even more. But the one thing that becomes more meaningful is that we seem to enjoy the time we have together even more. Making the effort to schedule time together seems to make us realize the importance of intentionality when planning for the holidays.

I also love taking time to reflect. New Year’s resolutions are common for most of us, and whether it is as simple as “I want to exercise more” or as complex as “I want to start back to school and change careers”, the planning for the coming year comes during the holiday season. I usually start planning around Thanksgiving, reflecting on the current year and trying to look at priorities for the next one. Maybe it’s a product of aging, but I love reflecting on where I have been recently and then projecting where I would like to go over the next several months. Rarely do I meet all of my goals or expectations but the self-awareness I get from the process is rewarding in itself. With the realization that I have lived longer than I have left to live I like to focus on the big things, making sure I have room for them and letting the smaller stuff fit in where it can. Things that are too small to make it into my schedule or plans for the year don’t matter anyway.

Finally, I like to be sure that I keep things in perspective and use this time as a period of celebration. I have many things to celebrate and take time during the year to focus on different aspects of this. During the Christmas season, though, I want to focus on celebrating the birth of Christ and what He has done for me. Coming into the world to offer Himself as a sacrifice for me makes my life meaningful. I am thankful for this and mark the occasion by keeping Him in the center of my activities. Recognizing that whether I am celebrating my family, friends, career, retirement, or health, He is the center of them all. Without Him, I would not have cause to celebrate.

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What is the first thing that comes to your mind when someone mentions “Christmas”? We could all come up with a list and most would be different from mine. I challenge you to take a few minutes over the next two weeks and try to think of three things that mean the most to you. I challenge you to take a minute to put aside the busyness and look at what is truly important to you. I think you’ll be glad you did.

In a World Full of Karens, We Need More Marys

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I think it is safe to say that most of us have calendars and to-do lists that are full. During the holiday season we may see a drop-off in work-related meetings but they are replaced with Christmas parties and social engagements that for the most part are scheduled out of obligation and not desire for connection. Buying gifts, ordering and sending Christmas cards, setting up family gatherings, and planning travel to see distant relatives all culminate during the last month of the year creating chaos out of our already busy lives.

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As these schedules and task lists grow, it becomes easy to be distracted from the purpose of celebrating Christmas. This is displayed wonderfully in Luke’s story of sisters Mary and Martha. Jesus and His disciples are traveling and enter a village where Martha asked them to come into her home- basically inviting them to a last minute dinner party. If her home was anything like most homes of the day, it was a one-room dwelling where cooking, sleeping, and hosting all took place in one area. Imagine what it would be like to have thirteen last-minute guests in your home and the need to prepare a meal.

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Martha was busy with all of the preparations of cooking and making everyone feel welcome. Can you imagine the noise and bustle? I know when we have two or three couples over it is very easy to become overstimulated and difficult to carry on complete conversations while being a “good host”. (I say all of this recognizing that my wife does most of the preparation and work for these events.) Many of the “Marthas” out there would argue that if they did not prepare the meal and get everything just right the party would not be a success. But getting everything “just right” doesn’t need to be the goal. Choosing to bask in His presence should be the goal.

Martha went to Jesus (God Himself) and asked Him to tell her sister to help. He then told Martha that she should not be so anxious and troubled about things, especially about making things elaborate. He told her that Mary wanted to listen intently and understand His teachings. This is evident by her positioning herself at His feet. Again, imagine a busy room with the clamor of noisy conversation, clanging of pots, crackling of firewood, and (most likely) the din of farm animals just outside. Mary CHOSE to put herself at the feet of Jesus to listen to Him teach. She wanted to hear and understand what He was saying. She was focused on what was important.

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Many times, we forget that the most important presents we will give or receive during the holiday season are the gifts of His presence. Whether through meaningful conversations with family, time spent with friends, or time alone spent reflecting, we need to realize what is important. And then we need to focus on that. All of the busyness and commotion of the season is meaningless without recognizing that we are meant to focus on Him and His purpose for use and that is what we celebrate.

For those who celebrate the season only and not the birth of our Lord, they can have the commotion. They can focus on the hubbub and the whirlwind of last minute shopping and scheduling. I choose to focus on the gifts He has given me through family, close friends, freedom, and assurance. I choose to spend time connecting with those things that matter to Him. I choose meaningful conversations with warm embraces. I choose reflection on the opportunities I have been given and search for direction in the best usage of my remaining time. I know what is important for me and pray that I don’t lose that focus. I chose to sit at His feet with Mary and listen. Do you care to join us?

Reflections on Retirement’s First Six Months

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Six months of retirement has taught me a few things. I had wondered how I would fill my time. I had an inkling that things would start out with a bang and that I would be busy trying to do everything I had on my mental “must-do” list for retirement. However, I quickly realized that while I had plenty to do, I don’t HAVE to do what I don’t want. I found freedom in rearranging my priorities to the things that are most important. I have been able to budget my time in an effort to rebalance my activities. In doing so, I have become more productive and fulfilled than I ever imagined.

I have always been a tinkerer. I like to try to fix things when I have time but pretty much stayed in my lane, never getting into the areas where one screw-up could lead to a costly repair. Plumbing projects gone awry can cause water damage and with electrical projects the fear of getting shocked has deterred me from even the smallest repair job. Calling on someone with experience has been easier.

Now, though, I have become more adventurous in household projects that I will take on. I have moved out into both plumbing and electrical fields, having replaced bathroom faucet sets and thermostats as well as light fixtures. So far we have not had any water leaks or house fires. This is a direct result of having more time and not trying to rush through a project. And the more I do the more confidence I have. My wife has even had to make “executive decisions” and call professionals when I begin to ponder if I’m over my head.

Several years ago I decided to take on a shower cartridge assembly project that sounded simple enough. I read several articles on the internet and watch two or three YouTube videos on the correct steps to follow. After ordering parts directly from the company and following the recommended procedures, I found myself stuck at the point I could not finish. Finally, after calling a plumber, he came and used a few “tricks of the trade” to complete my project. Later on, he stopped by the office to tell me to stay away from plumbing since I took what should have been a 30-minute job and turned it into four hours for him. Now I take more time and prepare so I can complete more projects (or at least avoid the ones that are too complicated).

I have also tried to be more focused on taking care of myself. Without a set schedule it is easy to fall into the “I’ll do it sometime today” mentality. For me that leads to postponing activity (meaning I’ll probably skip it) and eating whatever is easy. Purposeful nutritional discipline with activity and sleep plans have become more of a must.

My mother has frequently talked about her “retirement” naps- the 15-30 minute eye closings that seem to regenerate her every afternoon. My naps have always been more like marathons, lasting 2-3 hours. I am trying to reserve mid-afternoons for nap time and limit them, but that has been a tough sell to my body. For some reason, I still wake up early and go to bed early. Attempts to reset my circadian rhythm to match that of my wife have not been successful. Early coffee and reading time leads to an early bedtime even when the nap is thrown in.

Exercise has been important with some adjustments in both intensity and frequency. Aging has painfully shown me that making attempts at high-intensity activities five days a week are no longer realistic. Now, I need to be content with any activity daily. With travel and changes in accessibility the 6 am CrossFit classes have been replaced by Peloton classes supplemented by walking. The part I’m missing is the need to cut back on food intake to offset my decreased caloric output.

Splitting time between home and grandchildren made us look closely at social interactions outside of work and family. We are extremely blessed to have a core group of friends that have been close for 20-25 years. This group of people is invaluable to us and spending time with any or all of them has given us a much needed periodic recharge. Compressing the time at home has made scheduling and intentional time with them a necessity. It has also made our social time a priority. One of our good friends used to say “last minute friends are best”, referring to our ability to send out a call to get together without planning just to spend time together. We still rely on that ability to send out a last-minute call on a Friday evening to pull a group together.

But probably the most glaring thing I have learned from retirement is that time seems to fly by. We’ve all heard that a million times. My list of things to do in retirement is getting larger, not smaller. I was told by an advisor several years ago that picking the time for retirement required that you look at three things- your money, your time, and your health. I thought I would worry more about the money first, then the health, and then time. I’m finding that time passes so quickly that I don’t know when I will be able to do all that I want to do.

Reading, walking, talking with friends, and spending time with the grandchildren are all available options, but the currency for them is time. Unlike money and health, investing in time when you are younger does not bring any increase to your account. Intentional time with friends and family require planning and coordination, though when retired the schedule is opened up. But not everyone else’s time is as open. Having back-up plans to fill gaps in days and evenings has made my experience much more enjoyable.

Hopefully, this is just the beginning. Having an open schedule brings freedom but that freedom requires some intentional planning to be sure I am doing the things that are important to me. Faith, family, friends, and health have always been my stated priorities. It’s just that now I’m able to line up my actions with my words.

A Typically Atypical Morning

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Sitting in a cabin in Townsend, Tennessee I am out of my environment. I am a creature of habit, enjoying routine and boredom. I like getting up at the same time every morning and going to bed (in my bed) the same time every night. On what was planned to be a hiking vacation with another couple, Gena and I find ourselves as the only ones in this cozy three-bedroom cabin (thanks to the U.S. Navy). Despite not being at home, I still wake up early. My mind has things it needs to do before being ready for the day. Much like the pull of the ring of power (apologies to Tolkien) I am pulled to a morning ritual. That ritual has become “my precious”.

I find myself slowly entering the day by my usual routine. I woke up a little later than usual and started the coffee. After some devotional and gratitude focus my coffee had gotten to the temperature that makes it much easier to sip. I slowly work on the steaming cup that helps bring me to life while working through my ritual. On most mornings I try to discipline myself to follow a pattern of review to help limit the temptation to delve into social media or follow other random thoughts or ideas.

I normally turn to my calendar and task manager to help me decide how I am to spend my day. I review what I did yesterday and see what I need to tie up. I make some quick journal entry updates before closing out yesterday’s entries. Then I I get to decide what is important for today. Do I have things that must be done? Do I have pressing issues that need blocks of time for completion? Where in the day do I devote time for physical activity, reading, and even down time? When am I going to be sure I have time to sit down with Gena for meaningful discussion? This review usually takes 15-20 minutes before allowing myself some time to browse and follow rabbit hole ideas. 

I start with a quick review of the New York Times to see what is going on in the world, trying to read more than just the headlines. Hurricane Ian dominates the information this morning with updates about its current status, projected course, and recent damage. There are also the expected articles politicizing the damage response and finger-pointing that turn natural disasters into opportunities for the usual mud-slinging for the sake of the party (whichever one that may be).  A quick glance at the Associated Press site helps me be sure to get another source, though many times the information is almost the same.

Next, I move to weather headlines and forecasts for the upcoming days in order to plan my activities. Today I am surprised to see that what had been an expected rainy week in the Smokey Mountains has turned into the anticipation of gorgeous fall weather. Since we came here primarily to hike, we had been watching the weather for several days and had resigned ourselves to the reality that we might spend most of the week indoors, reading and streaming shows. Since we can do that at home, it was not quite the vacation we were expecting. The good news of weather changes excited me and I was able to resume planning out daily hikes and sight-seeing. 

Then comes the move to the sports section. Over the past several years I have reigned in expectations for my two favorite sports teams (Tennessee Volunteers football and St. Louis Cardinals baseball). I am now to the point that I simply check the scores if I did not watch yesterday’s game and skim the rest of the updates. No longer do I pour through Twitter notifications for posts about every detail of who is injured, who is going to start the next game and who may be traded. While the Cardinals have locked up the NL Central title, they have a week to get ready for the playoffs making today’s game less a game of winning and more a game of getting healthy. Tennessee has an off week to get ready for LSU and Alabama limiting the need to follow updates on them. This frees me to move through my morning sports review fairly quickly.

This is the point in my morning when I allow myself to jump to social media. In the past I had spent far too much time on Facebook. The political process over the past few years has taught me to block, unfollow, and simply ignore the posts of many of my “friends”. I now spend less than ten minutes on Facebook before skimming Instagram and Twitter. In all, I rarely spend more than 30 minutes per day on social media. That is a discipline in which I take pride, though I could probably cut it even more. In short, if it doesn’t involve my grandsons, family, or close friends, I don’t even give the post a second look.

All of this takes about an hour. Every day. Even when traveling. Even when I don’t feel like it. No exceptions. When I can spend this time in the morning my days are so much better. My mood is better. I feel better physically. Even as I am semi-retired (or more accurately “semi-working”) I am a creature of habit. I prepare mentally, spiritually, emotionally for day and am then ready to go. Once I have completed my routine I can move on to the day. Oh, yeah, I can’t ignore that this also allows time for the caffeine to kick in.