By Renee Langmuir There are no instruction manuals for navigating a first serious illness. Even nurse navigators with all good intentions, and a very helpful title, might overlook something compelling. A little shared wisdom and experience would have gone a long way, recently, for my husband and me. …
Read MoreBy Renee Langmuir There are many explanations for why time seems to speed up as we age. Common theories suggest that as we age, each year is a smaller fraction of our total time in this world. Also, unique experiences slow down time, and we do not have as…
Read MoreBy Renee Langmuir I have been retired for six years. One of my greatest accomplishments, that no one in particular would applaud, is the greatly improved quality of my home cooking. This less-than-astonishing fact benefits just a few: my husband and me and the occasional guests to our home….
Read MoreBy Renee Langmuir Why is it that sometimes the words of others have an eternal shelf life? Such was the case during my teaching career when my principal said, “You are just one step below a perfectionist.” Although intended as a compliment, at the time it landed as an…
Read MoreBy Renee Langmuir Whenever I am in a medical office and I need to make the next appointment, I always tell the receptionist I can come anytime because I am retired. Such an interchange prompted my partner in conversation, who was nearing retirement age herself, to tell me that…
Read MoreBy Renee Langmuir As we age, one of the challenges we face is casting off familiar roles. I used to gleefully describe myself as a mother, teacher, and dancer. I could never visualize a world where any of these roles would recede. If I was honest with myself at…
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