Retirement? It's the time stay in action
Try some new activity. It's exciting and novel, and your health will improve and your mental attitude as well. Credit: iStock
When I turned 50 years old and received my AARP card, I informed my husband, Don, that we should do whatever we really wanted to do and buy whatever we wanted to buy -- within reason! When we retired a few years later from teaching, we knew that slowly doing the chores and lolling around were not enough for us.
Don decided to pursue his passion and continued working part time, giving musical presentations at various public libraries and assisted-living centers. He spoke dramatically and in a charismatic way about great singers, such as Mario Lanza, Robert Merrill and Luciano Pavarotti, and about other subjects such as "Senior Opera Singers, 80-100 years old." He produced and hosted a Connecticut radio show.
Every day should be an adventure. I loved parasailing at Lake George for the first time and white-water rafting in the Canadian Rockies. However, it is also exciting to impart a new skill to an 8-year-old grandson, such as teaching Dylan to solve cryptograms and other word puzzles.
We must not become complacent. Our sedentary activities must be combined with other pursuits. Recently, for the first time, I started a beginner's class in Zumba. This should be a real challenge!
Barbara Goldberg,
MerrickKeep on moving
I just love to exercise. It invigorates me, and I feel enthusiastic and relaxed.
As a youngster, my dad and I would take long walks and hikes together. It was especially exciting traipsing in the Catskill Mountains. My family and I walked everywhere when we lived in Brooklyn. When I was 16 years old, they finally got a car, and we moved to Malverne. There were many days when I walked from Malverne to Lynbrook when I worked part time at Picker's Pharmacy. Later on, when I started Brooklyn College, I modeled at A&S in Hempstead in the College Shop. I met my husband at A&S, and we both enjoyed tennis, walking and dancing.
As time went on, I took aerobic classes and then kickboxing. It was so much fun and a great way to lose weight.
Today, I'm retired, but I still play tennis, swim, walk and now I'm taking Zumba classes!
Try some new activity. It's exciting and novel, and your health will improve and your mental attitude as well. Exercise is my favorite pastime. It relieves stress and anxiety and helps you mentally, as well.
So go out there today and move your body. I guarantee you will love it!
Roberta Solomon,
Massapequa Park
