How many of us in retirement are as overextended in our activities, saying Yes, when maybe a No would be best? I read in delight and awe in a recent NYTimes article entitled Defining Tony Kushner; https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/07/theater/tony-kushner-angels-in-america-broadway.html. He is the talented creator of Angels in America and so much more. What stands out and shouts at us (me) is how he is habitually “stretched out and overextended.” So much so that it dwarfs my constant consternation expressed as
I can’t get to everything, I am too busy.
Kushner is astonishing, working up a new screenplay for Bard Pitt, and finishing another version of West Side Story with Steven Spielberg, updating his first play, “a Bright Room Called Day”–perhaps to be a statement about our president, completing an opera topic, Eugene O’Neill, rehearsing the revival of Angels in America, (on my list to see when I can give it 6 plus hours at a time) and on and on. Phew, I am breathless. All of this from the article. Read it, especially if you are sitting quietly on your chaise lounge with favorite drink in hand and wonderful book on your device and music flowing into your eardrums. It will spur you into motion.
Perhaps we should change our ways and become the retired stereotype; rocking chair, hot pads and ice packs where it hurts, watery eyes, raspy voice, perhaps updated to include headphone and music or podcasts in our ears and an occasional computer game or email reply, a glass of beer of wine. No, I have plenty of company among my readers. We won’t stop. But that is a positive result, We have lived (hopefully) long and full lives instilling our selves in study, learning, skill development, taking risks, learning from those risks, knowledge that we bring to this overwhelming load as we continue to say yes I will do it. Another benefit–we learn from our younger colleagues as well and continue to grow until running
out of time. I can still click my heels together and laugh, shout and dance to R and R music with glee and delight for every minute I walk on this beautiful home called Earth.
Ann Carol Goldberg