Since I've retired I take great pleasure to awaken slowly listening, stretching, yawning, curling back up and stretching again. Today Mother Nature added something special ... rain! Oh, how I love to listen to the rain. I find it clears my mind and taking a deep breath and gentle blowing it all out as the rain taps my window centered me and I was ready to tackle the day. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a schedule or anything pressing, I have only those things to do I love ... laundry - don't you just love the smell of clean sheets? Cooking - a great day to crack open the kitchen window and crack open a new cookbook, too! Reading - listening to the rain while turning pages of a good book ... priceless!

I hope you found some pleasure on this rainy day.

Now I get it. A year ago June, my husband, Tom, retired. I was working part time and all was good. Then, I retired from my part time job. With the pandemic the days of the week already ran together but when I added retirement to that, I started to understand why Tom continued to tell me he thought it was a different day.

Now that we're in our seventies and both retired it is easy to wonder what day it is. I fill my days with swimming, yoga, and tennis and each activity has its own day and time so I was still somewhat on schedule. I like it that way.

We manage to busy ourselves with our little routines, house projects, neighborhood walks, Netflix, and PrimeVideos, but I still have to look at my Fitbit to see what dang day it is.

What day is it again?

I often hear people say "hindsight is 20/20" but I question that. If it were, why do we keep making the same mistakes over and over? Even my own hindsight doesn't always help me for decisions and I find myself doing the same stuff, just on a different day.

From wars to personal relationships ... who is really looking backwards to find an answer for going forward?

I will say, however, that I have learned a few things along the way. I'm not sure if I would consider it hindsight or experience ... or is that the same thing? I'm older and "wyser" now ... I've learned to look at some things a different way. Is that hindsight? Beats me.

I look at how we, as a people, treat other people and I know we have not learned squat. History is repeating itself. We have not learned. Nothing. Nada. Zip. I look at how we, as a people, have become unhealthier than our grandparents. I know my grandparents saved faithfully. I know they lived within their means. I know they didn't blame anyone for whatever problems they faced. Maybe I wasn't paying attention, but I don't think so. They cared about their friends, neighbors, family, and I don't recall race or religion really playing a big part in just BEING NICE. When did common courtesy become such a chore? When did we stop caring for one another? 

Have you looked at our medical profession lately? If we are "working" on a cure for cancer why aren't we closer? Is it because there is more money in being sick? I don't get sick often but I'm not a idiot. If I need to see my doctor, I will, but it's usually to have a confirmation about what I think. My doctors - a hand-picked group - know I will seek alternative care over a prescription 99% of the time. They respect that and if they don't, I keep shopping. I prefer to address any problem with meditation, essential oils, rest, proper diet, and exercise. Will I take medication? Of course, if it's warranted. I know what I think. What do you think? Do you always follow your doctor's advice? Do you know about better ways to tend to your own well-being?