Agism

We were at the local football game and my friend asked me if I had noticed an increase in resentment about retired people coming back to work,as teachers on call or part time. I said that I had not, but I also reminded him that had not actually worked for the past three years. 

He indicated that he had noticed this and had been told by one of the people he had been working for, that he would not be called in for this person again. My friend asked why and the person, who was a department head, said, "Because you are retired and I want to give a younger person a chance".

My friend had known this person for about 10 years, and was upset, but he decided that he was not going to pursue the issue, because he too had decided that he would leave his profession.

I told him, he should have made this an issue, the department head was discriminating against my friend and others, because of their age.  The is protection against this type of discrimination in the union contract and in our professional code of ethics and the employer in BC, also has policy against this form of discrimination. The problem is that this person and others do not realize that they are discriminating. 

The only way to help them learn is to point it out to them and if they do not change, to report them.   The problem is my friend is in a speciality area and if he is not called in then then there may be no-one called in and other teachers will lose their prep time when called on to cover the class, and/or a teacher with no background in the speciality will be called in and the students will be doing nothing. Older teachers and I suspect older workers everywhere, are being asked back or they are coming back because they have expertise that is needed by the employer that the young have not yet learned.

We cannot change what people think about us old folks, but we can change what they say and what they do.

Happy Birthday to my Grandson

Have a wonderful birthday today and we hope you had a great birthday yesterday on the 28th in Australia. You are lucky that you can have two birthdays, one for your Canadian side and one for your Australian side.

Sorry we could not be there in person, but we love you and send best wishes and wonderful smiles for your special day

Here is something to think about as you get older.

Over time, fear, exhaustion & shame can dim the brightest of lights, and that is why we must, at all times do what we can to keep that flame inside burning bright, choose the path of light and love, and allow our brilliance to be seen.

Fortunately, there are plenty of tools that you can use to rekindle your spark every day, and here are just a few to help you out.

1. Express your gratitude daily.

Tell the people around you that you appreciate them. Give thanks for the food you eat and the roof that you sleep under. Smile. Gratitude magnifies your feelings of goodwill, helping you stay focused on the good stuff.

2. Exercise often.

Sweating and moving for just 20 minutes a day has been clinically shown to improve your mood & boost your health. Try a yoga class, ride your bike around town, or go for a swim, and you’ll easily chase away the grumps.

3. Meditate every morning.

Spending time in silence reconnects you with your source of self-awareness, self-assuredness & happiness. It’s also been shown to greatly reduce stress & improve communication.

What can YOU do to shine a little brighter TODAY? 

Your Intelligence Makes You Invaluable

Have you ever felt that you had nothing to offer…no gifts to share whatsoever?

During spells of frustration or despair, it’s common to feel worthless. It can seem that everyone else is far more brilliant, beautiful & worthy of consideration.

In times like these, take solace in the one thing that you can offer that no-one else can: your unique perspective.

You see, nobody looks at the world the way that you do, nor thinks in exactly the same way. Once you start to engage your innate intelligence, be it simple and from the heart or complex and of the mind, your unique creativity begins to shine, and you become a beacon of brilliance.

You may be sitting on the one solution that no-one else can imagine, or you may hold just the right words to bring comfort and understanding to a tense situation. You never know until you start to apply your mind, your perspective & your creativity to something outside of yourself.

And sometimes, you don’t even need to EXPRESS your intelligence. Consider the CEO who sits with her team-leaders, intently listening to their ideas until brilliance is born. By simply sitting in active contemplation, you “magically” amplify the collective intelligence.

How will YOU influence the world TODAY? 

Happiness Comes From Love & Gratitude

Every day, people buy too much stuff, eat too much food, and waste away their hours chasing after happiness…to no avail. They may find excitement or satiation, but TRUE HAPPINESS still eludes them.

Fortunately, happiness is really inexpensive and pretty simple to find, but that doesn’t mean that it comes easily. However, if you’re bold, and truly willing to commit to a few simple steps, happiness will be yours in just a short while.

1.   Quit Complaining.

The first step to finding happiness is to stop trying to find what’s wrong with the world around you. There’s plenty to complain about, but if you focus all of your attention there, you’ll never see the good stuff.

2.   Choose To Live In Love.

Falling in love with the world (and people) around you is a sure step toward happiness…and it’s easy. Simply accept people for who they are, and choose to see the good in them. Don’t expect it…CHOOSE it…then express it.

3.   Appreciate Everything.

Start expressing your gratitude every day. If you’d like, keep a gratitude journal and write down at least 3 things you’re grateful for every morning. Before long, you’ll have more things to appreciate than you can count.

Becoming happy may mean “looking like a fool” or changing A LOT of your current habits, but I promise you…it sure beats the alternative.

What can YOU do to create more happiness in your life TODAY?