There is still great optimism in volunteering

by Sbexon | May 22, 2025 | Career, Community, History, Lifestyle, News, Nostalgia, Tips, Wellness

I had the privilege of attending the ‘International Year of Volunteers’ world conference in Amsterdam in January 2001. It was a monumental event – national committees from countries all over the world were there. Amazing guest speakers from the United Nations, Kings...

Challenge to self: slow down

by Sbexon | May 17, 2025 | Career, Community, History, Lifestyle, Nostalgia, Retirement, Writing

My second ‘65th year challenge to myself’ dawned on me slowly. Mostly because I was rushing around finishing projects before I met my friend for dinner prior to heading over to an antique typewriter display together – before all of which I had stopped for coffee with...

The hills are still alive

by Sbexon | May 1, 2025 | Community, History, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Nostalgia, Retirement

I was excited to pick up a copy of the recent Life magazine that was celebrating the 60th anniversary of The Sound of Music. Seeing that movie for the first time sixty years ago had broadened my tiny world ever so slightly. It was 1965, I was four years old, and my...

The long and winding road to The Bay

by Sbexon | Apr 25, 2025 | Community, Finances, History, Lifestyle, Nostalgia, Retirement

“Meet you at The Bay” was a regular refrain for me growing up. As a young teenager it was to the Market Mall location, where me and my friends would scrutinize the make-up aisle and spritz on their free perfume samples. Then there was always a mission to some other...

Challenge to self: don’t be stuck in my ways

by Sbexon | Apr 16, 2025 | Community, Food and Recipe, Hobbies, Lifestyle, Nostalgia, Retirement, Tips, Wellness

My friend from yoga showed me what my first ‘65th year challenge to myself’ should be. When I wrote the column about spending my 65th year putting forth a little monthly challenge to myself, I started wondering what the heck that would look like and what I would do....

Oh, how my view of aging has changed

by Sbexon | Apr 10, 2025 | Author, Career, Community, Lifestyle, Nostalgia, Retirement

You know when you have a spare bit of time and you devote it to clearing out one of the storage bins so your kids don’t have to deal with all of it when you die? Sounds harsh, but that’s sort of how I view organizing the clutter these days. Thing is, statistically I...