Retiree Lyf: Learn and Earn (Towards a Joy-filled Senior Life)

 

Retiree Lyf🌿: Learn and Earn (Towards a 

Joy-filled Senior Life)🌼🌻🌹🌺

Who would have thought a retiree life can

still be truly rewarding?

Let me say this about retirement:

It's just a ,,,,,,,,,,,, (comma) not a . 

(period) A temporary stopover, then

 the journey moves on.

My retirement? Ha ha 👵 It opened new 

doors for me.

But first, the events that led to it. 

Having been tested positive, confined,

then recovered, I was allowed to 

work from home. Later, as restrictions

eased and F2F classes were about

to begin, I was still unvaxxed. (had my

shots this January 2023) I had 

maintenance for hypertension 

and heart issues - my so-called 

comorbidities. My principal asked me

to report for duty. It was too big a 

risk for me. Covid is not entirely gone

yet. So my husband and I decided I retire

from teaching, though unplanned. I was

61.

Pictures of seniors in rocking chairs,

sipping coffee, reading a newspaper...I

had the jitters...not for me, not yet. I

feel I still have a good many productive

years ahead of me (God willing),

and sharing years and years of teaching

experience, is one I would very much

like to do. Sort of giving back to

this career that's been my bread

and butter for my family my entire

working life. Reason why this blog

was born. I'd like to learn something

new,too , then perhaps earn a little.

The possibilities are endless. 

But beforehand, I need to be physically fit.

So into my laptop I go. Looking for the

perfect diet that would sustain me for that

"remarkable journey" ahead, so to speak.

I stumbled unto Dr. Willie Ong and got

stuck with him to this day. Took notes and 

posted them on the wall as daily 

reminders. 

(Interesting articles on senior health in 

future posts.)

Still digging deeper into my laptop, I 

wandered what I'd do to spend my time

now. First time ever since1983 when I 

started teaching, I had nothing to do.

Tried gardening for some time but soon 

realized I don't have that proverbial 

green thumb that they said. Then

goat raising, inspired by Jessica Sewards,

a homesteader I subscribed to in 

YouTube called Roots and Refuge Farm.

We have goats up to now, and in fact 

already sold a few. Joy, my husband,

and I both enjoy raising them. I was

left alone on two occasions when

the mother goat gave birth. I tended

the newborns  successfully.

What an experience. Ha ha! Never too 

old to learn at 61. I learned that right after 

being born, you need to wipe them with

rags especially the nose because 

they might still have some sticky fluids

that might hamper their breathing.

Just recently she gave birth

again, this time to two newborns. So cute!

Guys, we're raising a herd, hopefully🐐

🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐

We have chickens, too, and our beloved 

Santo, our pet askal. Them, I leave to the

care of my husband, also a senior, mind

you.

Again, wishing to put my skills into

good use, in anyway I can, I tried

having an online job. My background 

as an English Teacher was just right. 

As a transcriber, I transcribe/

type audio material into my computer.

God! This one I enjoyed so much, and I 

get paid for doing work I am happy and 

comfortable with. It was really, really 

hardwork but it paid well.

 

I thank the heavens for the opportunity

of being accepted. But, one time 

when I was doing transcription work, 

my internet bogged down. True enough,

I received a negative feedback.😔 I

only had wifi, not strong enough

for such kind of work. I tried another

online job, this time - data entry.

I got scammed. A month's work

of copy paste, typing data,

etc. down the drain. I was not paid. 

That was it. I'm done. I love the pay

though. I am eligible to apply again

in six months time.

One more time to my old reliable laptop

once again. Diana Bilohorka's videos 

introduced me to beadwork. I am 

fascinated with flowers, still do

obviously. My former colleagues can

attest to that. I always hadflowers

in school, at home. So, I started

making wired flowers and thought what

if I sell them?Will they sell? I could try.

I needed to upgrade my skills, from 

beginner Bilohorka flowers to 

more intricate ones. 

French beading techniques can be learned,

you just need an eye for detail though. And 

patience - lots of it. 

I am constantly learning everything about

my craft - kinds of beads, size of wires to

use with every new design, color 

combinations, etc. Tough! Ever 

experienced numbness on your fingers

because of overuse?Uggh...

From there, I made a page on my FB 

account for my craft then on to learning 

how to market the product. Posted my 

flowers everywhere in order for people

to take notice. I couldn't thank my friends

and former colleagues enough. So grateful

for the support💗...to this new 

teacher-retiree who is continually 

learning, striving to make time 

worthwhile and remaining grateful

for all things. A place in the sun...

what we all could hope and

pray for.

Retiree Lyf🌿 is a mindset. 

Go learn a hobby and earn.

👴👵💗

Drop by my FB Page: BeadedFlowers by Len

Here's the link: https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088245852675

* to open the link - highlight the link, right click, and click Go to....

Note: This is the first of a series of articles on being senior today.

/EAB