Don’t Ignore the Whisper, When Your Body Speaks, Listen

 A Wake-Up Call Close to Home – how a heart scare and arthritis diagnosis reframed my retirement priorities.

A year ago, I was fortunate that my doctors caught a heart issue early. It was a wake-up call: without health, everything else, retirement dreams, family activities, even day-to-day routines, becomes harder. At the same time, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which makes walking painful. The silver lining? Both conditions were caught early, and I was able to begin treatment. That made all the difference.

My wife has had her own challenges. She broke her back three years ago, and again just last month. The pain is constant and severe. She faces tough choices every day, including the decision to avoid narcotic painkillers in favor of less addictive management strategies. Watching her, I see what strength looks like.

Our stories may sound dramatic, but they’re not unusual. Many seniors live with pain or hidden health issues. The key difference comes down to how quickly we recognize the signs and seek help.

A Story of Delay

Take Tom, for example. He was a neighbor in his early 70s who began experiencing shortness of breath. Instead of going to his doctor, he told himself it was just “getting older.” Weeks later, he collapsed in his garden and ended up in hospital with advanced heart disease. Had he reached out earlier, treatment might have been simpler and recovery smoother.

Listening to Your Body

The lesson is simple: pay attention. That persistent pain, sudden fatigue, or unusual shortness of breath is not “just age.” It’s your body asking for attention. Too often, pride or fear keeps people from seeing a doctor. But the earlier a condition is diagnosed, the more options you have.

Simple Choices That Add Up

Even small daily actions matter:

• Scheduling regular checkups.
• Taking prescribed medications consistently.
• Staying active within your limits.
• Reaching out when something feels “off.”

These aren’t dramatic steps, but over time they keep retirement from slipping into a cycle of illness and regret.

The Foundation of Everything Else

Retirement is supposed to be the time when you finally enjoy that for which you’ve worked. But without health, enjoyment fades. Whether it’s travelling, volunteering, or spending time with family, health is the foundation that makes those dreams possible.

Listening to the warning signs, and acting on them, is the first step toward protecting that foundation.

Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours

Today is a time for family, food, and celebrating the autumn harvest. Thanksgiving is generally a time for relaxation to take a long weekend. It is a time to start a  more relaxed pace into the fall celebrate the harvest and enjoy the crisp autumn weather. Canada has a complicated history with its indigenous people, and there is a growing awareness and acknowledgment of the holiday's connection to colonization. Many organizations, particularly those focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), are promoting a day of reflection.

I, and my family are a bit traditional in how we celebrate; my wife and I host a family feast. The centerpiece of the holiday is a large meal that often include:

• Roasted turkey or chicken with gravy.
• Pumpkin pie.
• Side dishes featuring seasonal vegetables like potatoes, carrots, and squash.

Many of my friends and my sons friends use the long weekend to enjoy outdoor activities before winter arrives. This can include hiking to see the vibrant fall foliage or visiting pumpkin patches and apple orchards. As Canada's population becomes more diverse, celebrations of Thanksgiving are expanding to include different traditions and foods from various cultures, No matter how we celebrate we are all proud to be Canadian.

 

Dad Jokes & Puns for October

1. Why did the turkey cross the road on Thanksgiving?
   To prove he wasn’t chicken, eh!
2. What’s a turkey’s favourite dessert?
   Pumpkin pie-let (pilate).
3. How do Canadians keep their turkeys warm?
   They give them down jackets!
4. Why did the cranberry turn red?
   Because it saw the turkey dressing!
5. What sound does a Canadian turkey make?
   “Gobble, eh?”
6. Why don’t turkeys play hockey?
   Because they’d get roasted in the penalty box.
7. What did the sweet potato say to the pumpkin pie?
   “I yam what I yam!”
8. Why do we never tell secrets on Thanksgiving?
   Because the potatoes have eyes and the corn has ears.
9. What kind of music do pilgrims like?
   Plymouth rock.
10. Why was the Thanksgiving feast so polite?
    Because everyone said “thanks, eh!” before eating.

11. What did one autumn leaf say to another?
    “I’m falling for you.”
12. Why was the maple leaf always invited to parties?
    Because it knew how to turn over a new leaf!
13. How do you fix a broken pumpkin?
    With a pumpkin patch.
14. Why are trees so forgiving in fall?
    Because they always turn over a new leaf.
15. What’s a scarecrow’s favourite fruit?
    Straw-berries.
16. Why don’t you trust trees in the fall?
    They seem a little shady.
17. What do you get when you drop a pumpkin?
    Squash!
18. Why do Canadians love autumn?
    Because it’s unbe-leaf-ably beautiful.
19. What’s the best part of fall in Canada?
    The a-maize-ing corn mazes.
20. Why was the jack-o’-lantern afraid to cross the road?
    Because he didn’t have the guts.

21. Why did the turkey join the band?
    Because it had the drumsticks.
22. What do you call a group of turkeys on a windy day?
    A fowl weather warning.
23. What do Canadians put on their Thanksgiving playlist?
    “Pumpkin Spice Girls.”
24. Why don’t leaves ever get lonely?
    Because they all stick together.
25. Why did the pie go to therapy?
    It had too many crust issues.
26. How do you know it’s Thanksgiving in Canada?
    Because the leaves are falling faster than the hockey pucks.
27. What’s a Canadian pumpkin’s favourite sport?
    Squash, eh!
28. Why are fall sweaters so trustworthy?
    Because they always wool you over.
29. What did the tree say to autumn?
    “Leaf me alone—I’m falling apart.”
30. Why did the squirrel bring a suitcase to Thanksgiving?
    Because he was nuts about travelling.
31. What’s a Canadian turkey’s favourite game?
    Duck, duck… moose!

  

Learning to Live Again: Education in the Third Act

 When my cousin retired, he declared, “This is my time to rest.” He lived those words, resting almost exclusively in his chair, watching television. Within a year, he had passed away. I don’t believe his rest killed him, but I do believe the lack of purpose, the absence of curiosity and challenge, took something vital from his spirit.

Now contrast that with my friend David. At 68, David enrolled in university. He’d always dreamed of studying philosophy but had never had the chance. Surrounded by students a fraction of his age, David was both intimidated and invigorated. He told me, “I feel like my brain woke up again.” Instead of fading into retirement, David redefined it as a new chapter of learning.

The Power of Curiosity

Retirement gives us something most of us lacked during work years: time. And with that time comes opportunity. The opportunity to learn, explore, and grow. Curiosity is not reserved for the young; it is a spark that keeps us vital at any age.

Rest Without Renewal

Rest alone risks dulling that spark. Just as muscles weaken when unused, so do our minds and spirits. My cousin’s story shows the danger of a life with nothing to reach for. Without curiosity or challenge, days blur into sameness.

Redefinition Through Learning

Redefinition doesn’t have to mean formal schooling like David pursued. It can mean taking a community class, learning a language, or simply reading books on a new subject. The act of learning redefines us because it forces us to grow. It proves to us that we are still capable of change.

A Story of Exploration

Another example: Linda, a retired nurse, joined a local art class at 72. She had never painted before. At first, she felt clumsy, unsure. But soon, painting became her passion. She entered local exhibitions and, more importantly, found a circle of friends who shared her new love. Linda told me, “I thought retirement was about what I’d lost, my job, my routine. Now I see it’s about what I can gain.”

Learning as Lifelong Redefinition

When we keep learning, we keep redefining. Each new skill or subject reshapes our sense of who we are. Retirement is not about withdrawing from life, it’s about engaging with it in new ways.

The Invitation to Grow

The difference between my cousin and my friend David is striking. One chose only rest, and his life quickly faded. The other chose redefinition through learning, and his life expanded.

Retirement offers the chance to live again, to learn, to explore, to redefine. The question is not whether we will rest, but whether we will rise to the opportunity of growth.