Author Archive: Virginia Berger

Retirement – A Journey, not a Destination

Posted on by

My next discussion group/workshop based on the book,Retirement YOUR Way by Gail McDonald and Marilyn Bushey, meets the needs of most people in the over 60 age group, my perfect clients and friends.  Because that group includes people from 60 to 100+ years, all “retirees” are not the same. We have left our work life at different ages and for different reasons and have made different choices about how we do retirement.  We’re also at different places on a typical retirement journey.  McDonald and Bushey focus on how to make better choices […]

Continue reading→

Taking the Learning Forward

Posted on by

For many of us 2021 couldn’t arrive fast enough.  As we gathered virtually for the traditional New Year’s Eve Burning Bowl and White Stone service at The Unity Center, it was easier than ever to fill the page of Things to Let Go Of from 2020.  Watching that list magically dissolve in a bowl of water and flush it away was very freeing.   This year, however, there was a different list to fill out – “Taking the Learning Forward.” Here was the opportunity to look at the changes 2020 brought in […]

Continue reading→

Finding Joy in December 2020!

Posted on by

  Joy is a feeling or mindset that we associate with the holiday season. In her book It’s Never too Late to Begin Again, Julia Cameron includes a chapter on “Reigniting a Sense of Joy” and promises the reader will “uncover many of your true values, and it is acting within our true values that brings us a sense of abiding joy.” Other joy inducing topics she explores are grandchildren, pets, play, humor, and even luxury. Joy brings us positive energy. Now with Covid cases rising, the loss of lives and incomes, […]

Continue reading→

FALL 2020- DAY 2 OF THE PANDEMIC

Posted on by

One of my best discoveries during this Covid-19 pandemic has been Brene Brown’s podcast, Unlocking Us. As I dusted the house this weekend, I was eager to hear her first fall episode – “Day 2,” named for “the messy middle” of the many 3-day intensive trainings Brene and her colleagues have conducted. This “messy middle” is where she believes we are now on this seemingly endless Covid-19 journey. Using this and other metaphors, Brene gave some direction and hope for our Covid-19 situation that I wanted to pass on along with some […]

Continue reading→

Building Something Better

Posted on by

When I last wrote, about six weeks into the pandemic, our country was in a very different place. Yes, the pandemic is still with us, and even surging, but fewer are dying as we learn more. This crisis was upstaged when the inhumane death of George Floyd sparked hundreds of protests and highlighted deeply ingrained racism Our attention and energy have shifted from “Let’s just shelter in place and get rid of this virus as fast as possible” to “How can we learn from these losses and move forward in community?” While […]

Continue reading→

Musings on the Poem “Trough”

Posted on by

Poetry has taken up a new place in my heart as I spend more time in reflection, journaling and other mindfulness practices. When I was a younger, I felt pressured when reading poems to come up with some deep, intelligent interpretation of the author’s intent. This actually spoiled poetry for me for many years. Now I can relax and appreciate the feelings evoked, often surprised by how the words describe so vividly and accurately something I and others are experiencing. This happened when my friend Priscilla shared “Trough” with our women’s group […]

Continue reading→

“How Long have you Decided to Live?”

Posted on by

A friend recently gifted me with a copy of the book I’ve Decided to Live 120 Years-The Ancient Secret to Longevity, Vitality, and Life Transformation by South Korean author, Ilchi Lee. Intrigued by the title, I read it on a recent plane trip. I have never asked or answered the question –“How long have you decided to live?” -in my years of study and facilitation of conscious aging workshops. I wondered why since I encourage creating a vision for how you choose to be as you age. How long you’ll “be” is […]

Continue reading→

Changing Holiday Traditions as we Age

Posted on by

Ready or not, the holidays are here! You may be excited about celebrating the family traditions, or you may feel stressed and guilty about all the expectations that come with these traditions. As you get older, your level of energy and family situations may change, creating a need to adapt or let go of some traditions, like shopping for every family member, decorating every inch of the house, or preparing a huge feast. Here are some ideas about how you might do that. First, it might be helpful to reflect on the following […]

Continue reading→

Five Work Benefits that Become Retirement Needs

Posted on by

Retirement has been morphing for the past fifteen to twenty years from a short period of leisure and rest to a much longer period of healthy, active and often meaningful pursuits. One effect of this change is the great need for pre-retirement planning. A helpful place to begin is by considering how to replace the five benefits of work that have become integral parts of our lives: financial compensation, a purpose, a social network, time management, and status. Financial compensation is the work benefit that people know they need to replace in […]

Continue reading→

The Positivity Effect on Relationships as We Age

Posted on by

Researchers have confirmed that close relationships and social integration – “how much you interact with people as you move through your day”- are the best predictors of longevity and also lead to greater health and happiness. These relationships help us get through the challenges aging can bring with more ease and success. This information, plus my own experiences navigating the complexities of relating to our adult sons, teen and toddler grandsons, and my spouse of almost 50-years, have inspired me to research the changes in relationships as we get older. There are […]

Continue reading→