Richard Aerni on sun 4 sep 11
Yep, I get it, we work hard. Not sure whether I should feel sorry for =3D
all of you full-time potters, full-time teachers, part of each, or cheer =
=3D
because you're doing a job in a field you picked. =3D20
We made the choices, we are doing the work. It often seems like we're =3D
overworked and underpaid...I'm sure about 99% of the workers of the =3D
world feel that way. =3D20
Here's the bottom line, in my book: When it all comes to a screeching =3D
halt, as it must eventually do, are you going to feel good about what =3D
you did while you were able to do it? If the answer is no, and you =3D
aren't expecting great rewards in the afterlife, I'd advise you to start =
=3D
doing something you actually want to do. =3D20
As for the bitching...my friend Ellen Shankin told me years ago that =3D
when she and Brad and other potting friends around Floyd got together =3D
for dinner, they allowed themselves 10 minutes to bitch and whine about =3D
their aching bodies, fragile finances, etc. After that, time to zip it =3D
and have a good time. As for me, taking time to inventory the things I =3D
am grateful for is a wonderful balm. =3D20
OK, off the soapbox!
Richard Aerni
Rochester, NY
Lee on mon 5 sep 11
On Sun, Sep 4, 2011 at 4:54 PM, Richard Aerni
> I'd advise you to start doing something you actually want to do.
This was my perspective from early on: What did I want to
do in my retirement? I decided to start doing it NOW. I came to
this attitude after seeing my mother die a year after her firs Social
Security check and my Uncle in Sakai dying within a year of
retirement. I also have seen friends and relatives savings
disappear because of illness and/or the nursing home.
If you do what you want to do in retirement now, you will
have nothing to retire from. Take care of your body. Use soft
clay. Use ergonomics to arrange your workspace. The sentence of
the wooden gong at all Zen monastaries have an inscription that says,
"Life is short! Don't waste time!"
I share this quote below here at least once a year:
From W. H. Murray in The Scottish Himalaya Expedition, 1951.
"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, the
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the
decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents,
meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would
have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's
couplets:
Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius,
power and magic in it!"
--
=3DA0Lee Love in Minneapolis
http://mingeisota.blogspot.com/
=3DA0"Ta tIr na n-=3DF3g ar chul an tI=3D97tIr dlainn trina ch=3DE9ile"=3D9=
7that is, =3D
"The
land of eternal youth is behind the house, a beautiful land fluent
within itself." -- John O'Donohue
Hank Murrow on mon 5 sep 11
On Sep 4, 2011, at 2:54 PM, Richard Aerni wrote:
> As for the bitching...my friend Ellen Shankin told me years ago that =3D
when she and Brad and other potting friends around Floyd got together =3D
for dinner, they allowed themselves 10 minutes to bitch and whine about =3D
their aching bodies, fragile finances, etc. After that, time to zip it =3D
and have a good time.=3D20
Say Richard;
Our group of friends(admittedly in the 'elder' category) spent the first =
=3D
twenty minutes of any social gathering performing what I call the "Organ =
=3D
Recital"....... my prostate, your migraines, etc. Since I coined the =3D
phrase, organ recitals have diminished somewhat!
Cheers, Hank in Eugene, hoping for an Indian Summer so our bountiful =3D
crop of grafted-tomatoes might ripen.=3D
William & Susan Schran User on mon 5 sep 11
On 9/4/11 5:54 PM, "Richard Aerni" wrote:
> Here's the bottom line, in my book: When it all comes to a screeching ha=
lt,
> as it must eventually do, are you going to feel good about what you did w=
hile
> you were able to do it? If the answer is no, and you aren't expecting gr=
eat
> rewards in the afterlife, I'd advise you to start doing something you act=
ually
> want to do.
Richard,
Couldn't agree more!
I have begun my 34th year of teaching at my community college.
While in undergrad/grad school I could never have seen myself as a teacher.
Just some happenstance incidents that led me in this path.
I tell all my students I don't care what it is they select to do with their
lives, but please follow your heart/your passion - don't follow the money.
Find that career that leaves a smile on your face at the end of the day.
When I leave in the morning at 730am, knowing I will not return until after
11pm, I tell my wife I'm off to school. I have never said I'm going to work=
.
At the end of each class, most of my students walk out and say thank you.
Who could ask for anything better?
Bill
--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
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