Don’t Retire, ReFire: Soak in the Summer

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times It is ever so subtle.  The days are starting to get just a little bit shorter. When that starts to happen, there’s a sense of urgency that comes over me, like I better be outside as much as possible, soak up the warmth of the sun and thoroughly enjoy the last forty-five days left of the summer. While Fall is a wonderful season, as the leaves turn their...

Don’t Retire, ReFire: Enjoy your independence

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times As you make your plans to celebrate Independence Day on the Fourth of July, what do you look forward to the most? What is the first thing you think of? Do you think about how happy you are because you have the day off? Do you think about the many barbeques you’ve been invited to which you’ll attempt to make them all? Do you look forward to seeing your...

Don’t Retire, ReFire: Take a summer break

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times Think of all the people on summer break. There are teachers, students and people who understand the importance of getting off the “highway” of life and taking the back roads or the beaches or the mountains or the amusement parks of life to reconnect with themselves and what brings them joy, in spite of the fact that they still have to go to work five...

Don’t retire, ReFire: What sets your soul on fire?

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times This is a question we should all ask ourselves, as soon as we open our eyes to greet the day.  How many of us actually do that?  How many of us know the answer to that burning question? Do we know if the answer is there, deep inside of us, bubbling up, but somehow it’s clouded by our everyday routine and obligations or is this concept, for some, a new...

Don’t Retire, ReFire: Embrace the possibilities

By Gail Suplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times Possibility. That’s a great word, isn’t it? You can interpret it however you want.  You can create possibilities. You can invent possibilities.  Possibilities are endless! What does possibility mean for you, in your life? You can look at possibility as a thing that may happen or be the case. It can mean chance or likelihood, probability or hope, risk...

Don’t Retire, ReFire: ‘Spring’ into Spring

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times Although Spring will not officially begin for another two weeks, we can now see the light at the end of the “winter tunnel!”  The days are getting longer. The birds are chirping louder and I even saw some growth popping out of the ground!  It’s great to think about these things, in anticipation, particularly since, as I’m writing, it’s snowing! Have...

Don’t Retire, ReFire: Getting through the winter months

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times One thing is for certain, in the winter months, the days are short and the weather is cold and unpredictable.  That combination can lead to the “winter doldrums”.  It would be very easy to give in to that and “wait out” the time in hibernation, doing nothing and accomplishing nothing. Productivity and purpose are essential to living.  Nothing good...

Don’t Retire, ReFire: What is your mission?

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times Happy New Year!  Does the New Year excite you?  Does it scare you?  Do you ask yourself, “What is my mission going to be?  What am I going to do, in the coming year, if anything, to improve my health, my relationships, my finances, my work, and/or any other aspect of my life?”

Don’t Retire, ReFire: The magic of the season

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times Ah, to look at life through the eyes of a child, especially during this magical time of year.  Well, you can!  All you have to do is put yourself back to a time in your childhood where you were wide-eyed and filled with joy, wonder and excitement. Soon, you will have a grin from ear to ear and a skip in you step. Being the passionate person that I am, this...

Don’t Retire, ReFire: Pay inspiration forward

By Gail Supplee Tatum, Columnist, The Times Do you give yourself enough credit?  Most of us don’t.  If we did we would feel so much more fulfilled.  It would give us a purpose.  If you struggle with feeling a sense of purpose, consider inspiring someone else. The saying goes that it’s better to give than to receive.  This certainly is true in my life. No matter what our age, each of us is...