What does it mean to live a balanced life? For me, finding balance means creating well-being in all aspects of life — in body, mind and spirit. While focusing on a healthy lifestyle by exercising and eating right is great for our bodies, balanced living means protecting our mental and emotional health as well. Managing our responses to stress needs to be at the top of our list.
Creating balance in our lives is something we considered as we approached retirement.
People often ask me when they should retire. My response is to pose a question back to them: “What do you plan to do in retirement?” It doesn’t matter if they choose to be an expert gardener, take up an artistic pursuit or play sports — as long as they’re passionate about what they’re doing.
When thinking about wellness, we continue to learn about the importance of social connections. That’s why the RTOERO Foundation has a special focus on combatting isolation in older adults. Recently, the foundation started the Chime In program. It allows people who feel isolated, or who just want to talk, to meet virtually once a week with other members across Canada.
Our districts have numerous activities in which members can participate, including monthly lunches, trips to plays, cross-country ski ventures and travels to distant places within and outside Canada. Participating in these activities enriches our member experience and builds our healthy active retirement lifestyle.
One common activity for many of our members is volunteering. More than 70 per cent of members are active volunteers. We enjoy giving back to our communities, and volunteering gives us a sense of purpose.
To me, ultimately, a balanced life means being happy — bringing a positive outlook to every day so we can find true enjoyment in every facet of our lives.
Here’s to balanced living!
Rich
