A Family-Friendly Checklist to Plan Your Final Affairs
Four years ago, I wrote the blog Estate Planning: Final Instructions, and as I said at the time, “The Elephant in the Room” (rarely or awkwardly talked about) was “How to Prepare Your Family for the End” – sharing your final wishes and necessary financial, legal, and estate information.
Our guest author for this month, Charlie Baker from the law office of Travis R. Walker, recaps a more detailed listing of the needs to make your end-of-life transition as smooth and stress-free as possible for your heirs. Although you won’t be around to hear them thank you for this advance planning, no matter how busy you are right now (or how uncomfortable thinking about this eventual “final passage”), don’t put it off! PKF
Here is the summary the essential categories of TO-DOs:
Estate planning doesn’t have to be a grim affair. This 25-step checklist will make it easier for your family to settle your affairs after your passing. Even if you already have a will or trust in place, there may be additional steps you can take to give your family the peace of mind they need in the days after your death.
Assemble Necessary Information
[ ] 1. Itemize Inventory
Before you write out your will, take note of the material things you own. These may include:
Property
Physical investments
Precious belongings like jewelry or art
Expensive at-home equipment
It’s in your best interest to create an inventory of your belongings in an electronic spreadsheet, but you can also work with your family members to create a physical copy.
Make sure you share the finished copy of your inventory with your executor.
[ ] 2. Itemize Non-Physical Assets
You can also create a separate inventory detailing your intangible investments, including your:
Once again, share this document with your executor. You can also keep an additional physical copy with your tax returns and any documents regarding your insurance policies.
[ ] 3. Assemble Insurance Policies
Regarding your insurance policies, print out all information relevant to your life insurance, home/renters insurance, car insurance, and related coverage. It’s in your best interest to keep this information in a fire-safe or at a bank.
Your executor can receive instructions on accessing these documents if they don’t already have copies on hand.
[ ] 4. Note List of Debts
There’s a chance you’ll leave behind debts upon your passing. These can range from credit card debts to essential mortgage debts to unanticipated medical expenses.
You can work with trusted family members to take account of these debts. Your family can then address those expenses as painlessly and simply as possible.
[ ] 5. Make a Membership List
If you’re a member of an organization that offers life insurance benefits at no additional cost to you or your loved ones, note those institutions among your documents. Your loved ones may have the right to collect additional benefits after passing.
[ ] 6. Gather Titles and Deeds of Properties
While creating an inventory of your belongings, ensure that you produce any related proprietorial documents and include them in your estate planning kit. These documents can include vehicle titles and deeds of property.
You may want to retitle any relevant properties if you have a trust in place, so that said property falls under the trust’s protection at the time of your death.
[ ] 7. Gather Proof of Identity Documents
You can also find the original copies of your social security card, birth certificate, marriage certificate, divorce certificate, and any discharge papers. Consider making copies of relevant documents and storing them in a fire-safe or bank box.
Again, make sure your executor knows how to access these documents or comes into possession of relevant copies.
[ ] 8. List Digital Logins and Passwords
In this increasingly digital age, your death may see you leave behind a litany of online accounts. With this in mind, list your social media accounts, financial accounts, email addresses, and passwords. You could also invest in terabyte storage blocks so you can make copies of any pictures or relevant documents you may have stored on your computer(s).
Manage and Review Finances
[ ] 9. Consolidate Your Finances
If possible, ensure you can transfer your finances to a single bank or create a paper trail that your loved ones can later follow to consolidate your finances. You want to make it easy for your executor to distribute your applicable finances upon your passing.
[ ] 10. Review Retirement Account Beneficiaries
The beneficiaries you name in your retirement account will receive the benefits before anyone noted in your will. Make sure you’ve named the appropriate beneficiaries and add those parties you want to be protected. You can also remove certain parties from your retirement account after you first establish that account.
[ ] 11. Review Insurance Beneficiaries
Similarly, double-check your insurance beneficiaries and take the time to add any parties you want to benefit from your chosen protections.
[ ] 12. Prepare for Estate Tax Obligations
While you may not have the opportunity to get ahead of your loved ones’ tax obligations, you can work with a personal executor to prepare your loved ones for your state’s specific estate and inheritance taxes. You can also note any federal laws that might impact your loved ones’ inheritances.
[ ] 13. Take Advantage of College Funding Accounts
If you want to create a college fund for any children or grandchildren, you can establish a 529 account during estate planning. Establishing a 529 account comes with tax advantages you can discuss with an accountant or an estate planning attorney, depending on your circumstances.
Decide on Your Plan
[ ] 14. Talk with an Estate Attorney
Between the emotional stress and the sheer number of documents you need to establish a postmortem action plan, you may find you need a hand planning your estate. You can work with an estate attorney to gather the necessary documents and establish the appropriate support nets for your family.
[ ] 15. Choose an Executor or Administrator of Your Estate
Most estate planning attorneys prompt you to elect a personal estate executor when you first draft your will. If you have not elected this individual at this point, you must do so.
Your executor should be someone you trust to be responsible with your loved one’s feelings and your estate. Choosing an executor who is financially stable and mentally fit is also advisable.
[ ] 16. Assign Transfer on Death Designation
When you take the time to assign a transfer of your accounts upon the designation of your death — provided you can do so — you can prevent your loved ones from waiting through a lengthy probate process to take control of your assets.
You can work with an aide to connect with the relevant institutions and ensure your accounts are handled correctly. You have the right to ease the transference of your IRAs, retirement funds, 401ks, and insurance policies in addition to your bank accounts.
[ ] 17. Select Guardians for Children and Pets
Most people don’t forget to declare a guardian for their children in the event of their death. If there’s a specific party you want to watch over your loved ones — including your pets — you need to declare as such in your will.
You can connect with an estate planning attorney if you need to modify an existing will to account for a new family member or pet under your guardianship.
Complete Important Documents
[ ] 18. Last Will and Testament
Your last will and testament identifies your executor, giving them your instructions regarding how you want your property to be distributed. This document must be witnessed and notarized, ensuring you were of sound mind when you distributed control over your estate.
[ ] 19. Living Trust
You can use a living trust to distribute a portion of your estate to a specific designee. Living trusts come with explicit instructions about how portions of your estate should be distributed upon your passing.
You can choose to create either a revocable or irrevocable trust.
You retain control over a revocable trust until your death.
An irrevocable trust technically owns itself and thus places less of a taxable burden upon its recipient.
[ ] 20. Living Will
A living will specifies your desired actions in the event that you can no longer make medical decisions for yourself. You can also use a living will to issue “do not resuscitate” orders.
[ ] 21. Power of Attorney
The power of attorney title determines who wields control over your estate and affairs if you can no longer do so due to your death or a severe injury.
[ ] 22. Statement of Wishes
You can include a statement of wishes along with your will, but it’s not an essential document. Instead, it’s a statement of wishes outlining what you would like your loved ones to do upon your passing regarding your funeral arrangements and additional postmortem care. You can also use a statement of wishes to elaborate on decisions made in your will.
Updating and Managing Your Estate
[ ] 23. Store Documents in a Safe and Accessible Place
You must store your postmortem documents in a location safe from environmental harm and foul play. It’s best to store multiple copies of essential documents in a fire-safe or bank box.
[ ] 24. Make Copies of Your Documents
Having multiple copies of your postmortem documents is always a good idea. You can create physical copies of your estate plans to divide among the relevant parties. You can also make digital copies of these documents to store in the Cloud or on a personal storage drive.
If necessary, you can request that your executor distribute access to these documents to the relevant parties upon your death.
[ ] 25. Reassess Your Plan
There is always a chance your plans for the future may change after you’ve assembled your estate planning documents. With that in mind, make sure you revisit your documents after significant life changes, such as marriage, divorce, and the birth of a child.
You can also revisit your plan if the person you named as your executor or a beneficiary passes away. An estate planning attorney can help you rework your plan upon your request.
Visit this website for the Law Offices of Travis R. Walker based in Florida.
Creative Ways for Musicians to Make Money Beyond Gigs
Most of us who chose becoming music educators were motivated by our own experiences in creative self-expression and playing or singing in ensembles, and inspired by our incredibly dedicated school and private music teachers and ensemble directors. The “calling” of entering this profession was due to wanting to share this joy of making music! The best part of all of these musical experiences and training? Most of us retain these skills throughout our careers and even in retirement — many participating in community bands, orchestras, choirs, or jazz combos — some for hire!
Guest blogger Ed Carter reminds us that there are many ways to literally “cash in” our musicianship and supplement our income.
Article by Ed Carter
As a musician, making money can be challenging, especially when starting out. However, there are unique and unconventional ways through which musicians can earn extra money. Here are some ideas worth considering.
Live Streaming
Live streaming has become a popular way to reach audiences, especially because of its convenience and cost-effectiveness. As a musician, you can leverage this platform by hosting online concerts, meet-and-greet sessions, and private performances. To earn money from these events, consider using these platforms.
Selling Merchandise
Merchandise sales are a great way to promote yourself while creating extra income. Consider offering merch such as hats, stickers, or even signed t-shirts. The key is to make your offerings unique and appealing to your fans. To ensure maximum exposure and sales, consider selling your merchandise at live events and through your website or social media channels.
Starting a YouTube Channel
YouTube has proven to be a powerful platform for musicians to gain exposure, build their fan base, and earn money. You can create a channel hosting content such as behind-the-scenes clips, tutorials, or even live performances. To earn money through YouTube, consider joining the YouTube Partner Program or utilizing sponsored content. Additionally, use other forms of social media platforms to promote your channel and gain more subscribers.
Tutoring
By sharing skills and experience, musicians can earn money through teaching. Consider offering lessons to beginners or those looking to advance their skills. To ensure consistent income, you can offer both in-person and online lessons. Creating a lesson plan, setting a reasonable rate, and marketing your services online will help you attract students.
Networking
Getting involved in your local music scene is essential to connecting with other musicians and growing your fan base. Consider attending open mics, local concerts or festivals, joining a band or musical group, or even volunteering. By building relationships with other musicians, you can collaborate on projects, gain valuable experience, and increase your exposure.
Playing Gigs
Playing for events is a great way to not only earn extra money but also gain exposure to potential fans. Consider contacting event planners, wedding coordinators, and event organizers to offer your services. To succeed in this avenue, be reliable, punctual, and consistently produce quality music. By offering a unique musical experience, you will earn more referrals and increase your client base.
Composing
If you have experience in musical arrangement and composition, there is a high demand for those skills. Consider working with bands, orchestras, and other musical groups to create unique arrangements. To get started, create a portfolio of past arrangements, market your services online, and network with other musicians in your community.
Striking a First Impression
If you are a musician, having an engaging and memorable business card can help you stand out from the crowd and promote yourself. One solution to create professional and visually appealing cards is to use online tools. You can include your contact information, social media handles, and music style description on your card and distribute them at events, live performances, and networking opportunities. This may be a solution to help you make a lasting impression and expand your fanbase.
As a musician, there are various ways to earn extra money while building your career. By leveraging different platforms and services, such as live streaming, YouTube, and merchandise sales, you can increase your revenue and grow your brand. Remember, consistent quality and hard work are key to achieving success in the music industry.
I’m Ed Carter, and I am a retired financial planner. Over the years, I’ve worked with clients of all ages, backgrounds and incomes. About 10 years into my career, I saw a need for financial planners who specialize in helping individuals and families living with disabilities. Regardless of their nature or how long they’ve affected someone, physical and mental limitations often cause stress and confusion when it comes to financial planning. Many people are unaware of just how many options they have when it comes to financial assistance and planning, so it’s an honor to offer my experience and change people’s lives for the better.
Now that I’m retired, I’m committed to continuing my services, even though I work on a broader scale than when I was working 9 to 5. I now spend my free time writing financial literacy articles for people to share on their blogs, collecting resource links for people to share on their websites, and collaborating with like-minded folks who want to make a difference.
Kathy Merlino is the author of kathysretirementblog.com, a blog about her perspective and thoughts on the emotional side of retirement and her journey as a caregiver. She is one of the most thought-provoking and influential writers on non-financial retirement topics. Kathy believes retirement is a journey, not a destination. Readers can leave a comment on Twitter:@kathysretiremnt
Kathy’s article was originally posted on November 26, 2022.All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
PKF: This personal reflection is timely for all of us retiring and retired individuals, especially those of us with elderly or ailing family members. For a loss of a loved one, we all have to face and cope with the five stages of grief:
Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance
Grief is personal and individual, and every person experiences its nuances differently. Your personality, your support system, your natural coping mechanisms and many other things will determine how loss will affect you. There are no rules, no timetables, and no linear progression. Some people feel better after a few weeks or months, and for others it may take years. And in the midst of recovery there may be setbacks — this nonlinear process can’t be controlled. It’s critical that you treat yourself with patience and compassion and allow the process to unfold.
PKF: Check out their excellent article on the common signs and symptoms, triggers, myths and facts about grief as well as ways to take care of yourself, posted by healgrief.org here.
A Penny by Kathy Merlino
Shortly after Martin died, I walked down my long driveway to fetch the mail. Usually, I have little or none. But, in the days following his death, my mailbox held more than junk mail. There were sympathy cards and official letters from various institutions. As I pulled out the cache of the day, I saw something I’d never seen in my mail. A penny. It lay underneath the cards and letters and the ubiquitous junk mail. A penny so tarnished it almost faded into the background of the black metal floor of the box.
My mind flooded with the rhetorical questions. Who would leave a penny in my mailbox and why and how? I lived on a busy road, so someone walking by was unlikely. The leaving must have been thoughtful, intentional. “A penny for your thoughts” (Sir Thomas More) came to mind. Was it my faithful mail lady who left it? I lifted the penny out, slid it into my jean pocket, and walked back to the house. Inside, before turning my attention to the mail, I fished it out and set it on a mosaic trivet Martin had made in an art class.
Over the next couple of days, I eyed the penny still wondering how it got in my mailbox. Did a penny have any significance? “See a penny and pick it up and all day you’ll have good luck” (Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes). Since we can pretty much Google anything these days, my curiosity finally gave way to asking Google. To my surprise, a penny has significance for the deceased or their loved ones. In the case of a veteran, a penny left at the grave means someone visited. For a widow like myself, a penny in the mailbox represents a new beginning, a rebirth, renewal of your life. A penny being first and one represents singularity. If you are part of a couple, one of you will die first leaving the other alone, single.
I’ve been alone for nearly eighteen months. While Martin still lived, it was not with me. If there is a silver lining here, it’s that I had ample time to adapt to my aloneness and grieve this impending, profound, enormous loss in my life. The outcome? I was not filled with the expected feelings of grief. Rather, as I held Martin during his final moments, I cried tears of gratitude for the end of his suffering. He was free of this disease. I was free of this disease. Our family was free of this disease. Relief instead of deep sorrow. Comfort in knowing he was at peace. As I stroked his face, I noted how serene his countenance. Peace at last.
Though I’ve had fits of grief, I’ve also felt immense joy when contemplating my future. During the last year, I deliberately divested myself of anything which smacked of negativity in my life. I decluttered the house paring my personal belongings. I feel washed clean, ready for a new start. Martin would want that for me. A friend asked if I thought Martin’s spirit left the penny. I would like to think so. I may never know who left the penny in my mailbox, but it is now my talisman for fresh beginnings, rebirth, a reawakening of my life’s potential. And a second chance at the retirement we dreamed of.
Other articles by Kathy Merlino. Thank you for sharing!
“Wherever you turn, you can find someone who needs you. Even if it is a little thing, do something for which there is no pay but the privilege of doing it. Remember, you don’t live in the world all of your own.”
— Albert Schweitzer
“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.”
— Winston Churchill
“Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation’s compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another.”
— Erma Bombeck
Besides spending more time with family and friends, the most precious benefit of the freedom afforded to you “living the dream” in retirement is… (drum roll, please)… becoming eleemosynary! (Look it up!) It’s crucial to make it a priority to give back to your community!
I wrote an article in our local community magazine UPPER ST. CLAIR TODAY. (Yes, I guess I’m bragging a bit – find it hereon page 20 and you’ll see pictures of my Pirate costume for escorting at the hospital and holding my doggies!) I cite many reasons for becoming a volunteer. (Disclaimer: Some of the statistics below are a few years old, but you get the idea… The trend is ever-growing!)
The Surge of Volunteerism
Did you know?
There are 77.4 million volunteers in America alone.
6.9 billion volunteer hours were recorded in 2018 (last Volunteer Demographic Statistics/National & Community Service Report)
33.8% of the female population and 26.5% of the male population volunteer
30.7% of Baby Boomers (1944-1964) who are U.S. residents volunteer
36.4% of Gen X (1965-1979) U.S. residents volunteer – the winning group!
28.2% of Millenial (1980-1996) U.S. residents volunteer
If you have any doubts about WHY you should volunteer, revisit my August 2021 blog “Those Were the Good ‘Ol Days – The E in RETIREMENT is for Energy, Engagement, Excitement, and Endurance” here. For retirees everywhere, this is worth repeating.
“It has been suggested that one problem of retirement is that one no longer matters; others no longer depend on us… The reward of retirement, involving a surcease from labor, can be the punishment of not mattering. Existence loses its point and savor when one no longer makes a difference.”
– Rosenberg and McCullough
We learn from Revitalizing Retirement: Reshaping Your Identity, Relationships, and Purpose by Nancy Schlossberg that for retirees, it is important to feel “needed” and that pursuits that foster “mattering” are crucial to a positive self-esteem, good mental health, and stable life balance.
What to Do with Your Free Time?
This, too, has been covered in past blog-posts, conference sessions, webinars, and articles in PMEA News. A quick recap:
Walk dogs at animal shelter
Assist food banks and meals-on-wheels agencies
Enlist as special advocate for abused or neglected children
Work as a hospice volunteer
Maintain parks, trails, nature habitats, or recreation centers
Host an international student
Assist at local hospital, senior center, or nursing home
Serve in charity fund-raising projects
Become a youth director, mentor, or scout leader
Share your hobby or experiences in a specialty and teach night classes or summer school
Give guided tours or lectures as a docent at a local museum
Apply office management and clerical skills to benefit libraries and other nonprofit associations
Run a school club or coach a sport
A quick scan of the website https://www.volunteermatch.org/ would fetch many specific volunteer job openings (these for the Pittsburgh, PA area where I live):
Provide hospitality at Pittsburgh sporting events
Serve coffee and snacks at winter warming stations
Write articles or submit photographs to local publications and e-media
Visit hospice patients and provide other free-care services
Crochet, knit, or sew blankets for needy families
Connect with local veterans
Manage nonprofit events and organizations
Ring the Salvation Army kettle bells all year long
Mentor an underserved child (everything from athletics to computer skills)
Make weekly reassurance calls or personal welfare checks of senior citizens
Become a delivery driver of “care packages” of food, baby items, pet necessities, household items, and more
Retired music educators have an advantage, a valued skill which also represents their “calling” and “life’s work” – fostering creative self-expression. There’s so much “we” can do to “bring on more music” in our community, and if you wish, several of these may provide supplemental income:
Performing gigs locally
Directing community or church ensembles
Accompanying community or church ensembles
Coaching/assisting local music programs
Teaching college music education methods or supervising student teachers
Composing/arranging music
Adjudicating or guest conducting music festivals
Serving in the music industry
The best part of retirement is you can say “NO” anytime you want. You can cut out any perceived drudgery, routine “chores,” and excessive paperwork that “the institution” may demand, but still assist in collaborating and sharing your experience, expertise, vision in working with “the kids.” You can continue to develop your own personal artistry (now with more time to practice) and leave your “musical stamp” on other programs and projects whenever and wherever you please.
Adventures in Volunteer Escorting
Every hospital, outpatient facility, and senior nursing/assisted living center I know needs volunteers… a lot of able-body helpers. Have you considered lending a hand in pushing patients to/from their procedures, discharges, etc. in your community? I have, and it is truly a joyful experience.
For two days a week, I spend the better part of my day at St. Clair Health in Mt. Lebanon/Scott Township in the South Hills area of Western PA. (If you live in the area, visit their website here.) Although on occasion, I get to visit the Family Birth Center (my favorite) and hospital rooms to help check out patients, most of my shift is assigned to the Dunlap Family Outpatient Center, a new state-of-the-art facility (opened in May 2021 – still has that “new car” smell) for “in and out” procedures. It would not be an exaggeration that I escort as many as 50 individuals per day undergoing outpatient surgeries, endoscopies, colonoscopies, or other diagnostic testing, along with an equal number of family members to/from the treatment rooms. On a given Thursday or Friday, I can check my Apple Watch and iPhone digital health monitors and find I take as many 17,000 steps!
The best part? Do I have to tell you that since I retired to the same basic geographic area in which I spent my entire career, how many of my school colleagues, former students, and their parents I have discharged? One thing you realize helping out in your hometown (the place you taught all those years)… you will run into many of your former “charges” now grown up with kids of their own. It is a real joy to see them again (albeit due to the need for a colonoscopy or surgical procedure), and catch up with all those shared memories, their life’s happenings and successes, and future dreams.
So many stories…
Several weeks ago, I brought down to the main floor a delightful lady from our pre-post anesthesia unit to connect with her ride home, and I saw her driver was in a Uber-lit-up car. I remarked to the patient, “Wow, the only Uber driver I ever knew was one of my former choral students named Lisa…” and sure enough, that’s who came to pick up her mother-in-law. Even though we always wear masks in the hospital, I guess my Upper St. Clair HS marching band “broadcaster’s voice” is recognizable, and countless people in the lobby (usually accompanying family members) stop me, “Hey, is that you Mr. Fox?” Of course, HIPPA dictates we never repeat their identities or any confidential information…
Being a music teacher, I cannot help myself. My mission is to be “the distracter” – divert their attention from the inevitable? – and to help calm, reassure, and perhaps even entertain the patients for a few moments transitioning through those awkward (and sometimes fearful) medical procedures. They need a bright, cheerful, and funny if not somewhat crazy escort. I provide the jokes and the songs!
One day, I was literally singing Maria from West Side Story while pushing Maria-the-patient to her endoscopy, and another person walking with us for her own test said, “Well, it’s nice you are singing to us. But, my name is Sharon, and they don’t have a song for my name. No, Sharona is NOT my name,” she added with emphasis! After I took both ladies to their respective rooms, I had to do some research, but came back after Sharon was prepped and received her IV waiting for the doctor. “You forgot about The Song for Sharon composed and sung by Joni Mitchell,” I said (perhaps not my favorite example from the artist’s albums).
The hallway from the waiting room to the procedure suites is long and offers time for my style of “interaction and distraction.” Another funny episode, I was escorting two men to their appointments in the outpatient surgery unit. To the first, I said, “Did you know they wrote an entire musical featuring your name? Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He replied he had never heard of it. I sang a few bars of several theme songs, and told him to look up Donny Osmond’s Close Evr’y Door and other tunes from the show. We were almost at the nurse’s station when the second gentleman turned to me and said, “Don’t you dare!” I looked down at my call slip and saw his name was George, and searched my mind. What song could was he concerned about? “Oh, oh, not that cartoon theme George of the Jungle? ending with the lyrics “…watch out for that tree?” He told me he was tormented mercilessly by his brothers, sisters, son, daughter, and now the grandchildren re-enacting painful renditions of “his song!” In this quiet, pristine, antiseptically-clean environment, we all took a moment and enjoyed a good horse laugh together (even the head nurse)!
The male volunteers usually dress up in an all-red jacket (one giant candy stripe), but on occasion, I have been known to bring a costume… for Halloween or Christmas, to try to bring a little joy and good humor to the patients.
I feel blessed to have the good health and mobility to serve as a volunteer escort, and the opportunity to meet with on a daily basis so many wonderful people. Many of my retired colleagues (even those from where I last taught) have joined the force. To say the least, we appreciate the comradeship, gratitude, and feelings of being eleemosynary for what we can share with others!
Anyone from my neck of the woods? Visit this website and sign-up! WE NEED YOU!
As if you need any additional urging, for the young and young-at-heart alike, Joi Henry of the 2013-2014 Youth Leadership Council (21st Century Leaders) probably said it best commenting on why community service is essential:
“Community service involvement is important because volunteering teaches people of all ages and backgrounds compassion and understanding. One thing I like about community service is that there are opportunities to improve and leave your mark on your global and local community. Volunteering and putting on service events can be used as a way to advocate for causes that you are personally passionate about. Community service… can also be the avenue to explore areas that you express interest. Volunteering is something that has no time limit; you can volunteer as much or as little as you’d like or have time for and still feel some type of fulfillment from it.“
If you are a frequent visitor to this blog site, you may have noticed that, for some reason, I haven’t posted anything for almost two whole months. Cat got my tongue? Nothing to add? Busy with other things?
We have been doing what comes naturally! The most important “stuff!” Although hectic at times and in a frenzied pace, all is well! My wife and I are healthy, happy, actively engaged in the projects that matter to us, and mastering those all-essential ingredients in a healthy lifestyle (retired or not): “finding purpose, structure, and community” (reference to the book How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free by Ernie Zelinski).
Well, I can tell you I am still vested in volunteering my expertise, experiences, and services on a number of fronts. Normally extremely verbal, I just have not had a couple hours to spare to write anything down or contribute to the voluminous material to what has become a massive archive of articles (editorials and how-to’s), links, and other resources.
What have I been doing lately?
First off, we are just finishing up our marching band season. As the official admin and announcer for the “Pride of Upper St. Clair” Marching Band (I spend my time inside, not directing practices on the fields), I attend all rehearsals as attendance bookkeeper, forms manager, librarian, quasi-nurse, and when necessary, act as a sounding board or shoulder to lean on for “the band director.” This was our first year going “competitive,” participating in regional festivals of Pennsylvania Interscholastic Marching Band Association (PIMBA), and by all accounts, “we” achieved excellence. The band is unrecognizable from past years – the students are much more committed and focused – but we still have a ways to go!
Of course, all during this, our football team made it to the playoffs. On Friday, we will support our team in the “first round” WPIAL Class 5A match at Gateway HS. The extended season brings with it challenges of its own (keeping the band members on-task and embracing new goals), but the rewards outweigh the extra rehearsals. And, all through this, we are making plans (and building excitement) for the launch of the first-ever USCHS winter guard and drumline programs!
Funny thing! I’m now a part of the band’s “brand.” For 38+ years, I have been “the voice” announcing the pregame and halftime shows for Upper St. Clair High School. I’ve also emceed a couple dozen of the USCHS Marching Band Festivals, plus senior recognitions, USC Halls-of-Fame exhibitions in the stadium, and outside music invitationals. It is truly a joy to “cheerlead” our musicians… and my wife would tell you, I have a very loud broadcaster’s voice! And now, ladies and gentlemen…
In two weeks, I will conduct the fall concert of our community ensemble South Hills Junior Orchestra, now in its 40th year. Although COVID did its best to wipe out our enrollments and recruitment efforts, our online academy kept things going, and we now support a small but dedicated chamber group. (Surprisingly, I have a good balance of instrumentation including sometimes rarely-found musicians on French Horn, bassoon, bass clarinet, electric bass, and piano, but one of my trumpet players is having to read clarinet parts.) Our theme is in support of Ukraine. We just “stumbled upon” several appropriate folk songs from the region, including the tribal tunes of Russian Fantasy (Robert Bennett Brown), the ever-popular Ukrainian Bell Carol, Dance of the Slave Maidens from “Prince Igor” (by Borodin, part of the “Russian Five”), and Slovakian Folk Songs (bordering Ukraine).
After this concert, we will prepare a holiday program for a nearby assisted-living facility with most of the SHJO members each taking a turn to conduct the sing-along of carols and seasonal favorites.
If interested, we warehoused a lot of our old SHJO Online Academy media and lessons here. (Use the password symphony.)
Staying involved in my professional associations, I am happy to report I was accepted to present at two conferences, the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Eastern Division event in Rochester, NY on April 13-16, 2023 and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) Annual In-Service at the Kalahari Resort/Poconos on April 20-22, 2023. I have been asked to do my interview clinic session at both conferences and a workshop for PMEA on music educator burnout remediation, self-care, health and wellness.
In the meanwhile, not to let any grass grow under my feet (or more leaves to fall on my head), locally I have been giving teacher ethics presentations at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (a wonderful class of 44 freshman music education majors – the future looks good!) and Washington & Jefferson College undergraduate and graduate education majors.
I open my session offering to give a hundred dollar bill to the first student who can correctly name the exact title of their educator’s code of conduct (PA Code of Professional Practice and Conduct – CPPC) and identify the agency which enforces it (PA Professional Standards and Practices Commission – PSPC). No one ever guesses it. (I could also likely get away with this challenge at any school faculty meeting in the Commonwealth! Educators seldom receive formal ethics training in our state – that’s why I am sharing these recent updates from the PA Department of Education!) Now that I have publicized “the big question,” I guess I’d better put away that C-note for good!
A sampling of my slides and handouts are available for perusal from the top section of the “Training/Jobs” menu bar link here,or you can find past blogs on the subject of educator decision-making presented in reverse chronological order here.
In a similar vein (and with equal passion), I have teamed-up with retired social studies teacher and attorney-at-law Thomas Bailey to sponsor continuing education classes for both educators and administrators. I am inspired by Tom’s knowledge of the PA regulation framework and school law. We just finished an excellent 25-hour approved non-PDE Act 45 course for school system leaders. You should visit his informative website here, and especially check out his court case blog here. If you are a school superintendent or administrator, our next series of online classes will begin on November 29; register for the course here.
Additional future projects include assisting on the PMEA Strategic Planning committee for “member engagement,” planning for the PMEA CRESCENDO virtual student conference scheduled for January 31, 2023 (more info here), and serving on the PMEA Council for Teacher Training, Recruitment, and Retention (I am state chair) – “the life cycle of an educator.” A wealth of free information for music educators (which I try to revise frequently) is available on sections of the PMEA website: the Council TTRR focus area (click here) and Retired Members (click here).
Outside the scope of teaching profession, I have been active as Communications Director, Fine and Performing Arts Chair, and Trustee of the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair (CFUSC). I publicize a weekly eUPDATE (samples on the website here) to announce our township events for donors and supporters, serve as “the duck maestro” – the mascot for the annual duck races on USC Community Day, and look forward to organizing “a really big party” in celebration of the CFUSC’s 30th anniversary on April 21, 2023 at the St. Clair Country Club… although I will be in the Poconos on the same date doing a PMEA workshop! The Fox calendar is bursting with a few overlapping dates!
Besides all of the above, I am still volunteering at the hospital several days a week, pushing wheelchairs to/from procedure rooms at St. Clair Health. One thing you realize helping out in your hometown (the place you taught all those years)… you will run into many of your former students now grown up with kids of their own. It is a real joy to see them again (albeit due to the need for a colonoscopy or surgical procedure), and catch up with all those memories, their life’s successes, and future dreams.
The only personal goal that remains unfinished is consideration on how I can better distribute (dare I say “promote”) the numerous blogs that remain timely and relevant at this website. It’s just a little too overwhelming (and dense) for some passersby. A few of the links in the earlier postings may have expired and need to be updated. However, a lot of my insight, hard earned perspective (with sweat and tears), and past experiences have been poured into these writings, and I could only hope many of them could become useful tools for college music education majors, the rookie educator, those feeling challenged by today’s post-COVID times, or anyone recently transferring into the profession. Here’s another list of menus… go ahead, sight-see and enjoy the journey!
As you can see, I am not really retired… perhaps a better term would be “refired” or “redirected” or “reinvented.” If you are already “living the dream” in your post-full-time employment years or anticipate this happening in the near future, that’s how it’s done. That’s what I wish for you, too! Do you want to live-it-up to Moses’ age – supposedly 120 years old? Then, you better plan to be physically and mentally active and engaged! After all, a mind is a terrible thing to waste!
Are you retiring soon? Thinking about “taking the plunge” and “Crossing the Rubicon” into your “second beginnings” or “next chapter” of senior life?
No matter how busy you are now, you need to “take five” from your work or personal to-do’s and review the following recommendations from past blog posts at this site. Consider this a personal toolbox for the retired and soon-to-retire professional… and assigned HOMEWORK!
Now the top-ten list – a well-balanced collection of online essays. The more you read, the better you will be able to embrace a healthy transition through this major life passage!
1. Plan ahead for retirement: “It’s Not Only About the Money”
It is agreed that a period of adjustment will occur during the first years of “interning” as a retiree, especially critical during the “pre-retirement” stage (believe-it-or-not, as many as six to ten years prior to “taking the big leap” to FREEDOM!). The solution to a smooth transition is to be prepared: communicate your intentions with your family members, and reflect on the vast considerations of the “who, what, when, where, how, and why” of retirement. This prep to your “golden years” is the perfect time for a little self-assessment and self-reinvention in finding new purpose, meaning, and fulfillment in your life.
2. Identify and take steps to alleviate the stress of leaving your job: “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”
The phases of retirement are discussed in greater depth here, as well as different departure scenarios and the usual post-employment “cycles of emotions.” This piece is particularly good if you have ever felt pushed into early retirement or experienced being unappreciated, disrespected, uninspired, unsupported, or “burned out” in your career.
3. Are you really ready? “Signs it is time to retire… OR “Signs is NOT okay.”
This “countdown to retirement” article poses the essential question “Are you psychologically (or emotionally) prepared to retire?” and offers a “road map” of seven easy steps towards closure for prospective music teacher retirees.
This early blog post proposed several factors to consider for the choice of where you want to live in retirement… both geography and floor plans. Another good source to read on this topic is the book that was published two years later by the retirement guru and former PMEA session presenter Dave Hughes:The Quest for Retirement Utopia – How to Find the Retirement Spot That’s Right for You.
5. Maintain your professional associations: “Ask not what PMEA can do for you, but what you can do for PMEA!”
A retired educator is a valuable resource. If you care about the profession, there are many ways you can continue to contribute your experience and wisdom, albeit less stressful and time-consuming moments, but still assist your colleagues who continue to “fight the good fight” in the field.
6. Acquire a more carefree attitude: “It’s Not Your Sandbox”
It may be at times a challenge to surrender your urge to continue as “an agent of change” or, as E.A. Wynne has written in “The Moral Dimension of Teaching” (Teaching: Theory into Practice, 1995), habits of “moral professionalism.” Learn how chill out and NOT to stress out over someone else’s supposedly poorly run “sandbox” and limit the need to provide unsolicited advice or major problem-solving for other organizations.
7. Make music: “Dust off your chops” and 8. “Sing your heart out…”
What led you to select a career in (and the “calling” of) music education? Retirement is the perfect place and time to expand on your love and skills in creative self-expression. When a music educator retires, among the many joys and fruits of his/her career in the arts is a sudden life-style change – the glorious transformation of being set free from those things you no longer want nor need to do (routine day-to-day drudgery, paperwork, meetings, etc.), embarking on new journeys to explore and embrace revised personal goals – hopefully including a renewed refocus on making your own music!
9. Explore mind-stimulating engagements: “Have you fed your brain today?”
The mind is a terrible thing to waste, even during retirement. Discover something new every day! Maximize your “brain health” with a host of these ideas to consider for your bucket list.
10. Take time to “give back” and volunteer: “What does it mean to be eleemosynary?”
In the scheduling our free time in retirement, it is important to feel “needed” and find activities that foster “mattering” to promote a positive self-esteem, good mental health, and stable life balance. Are you making choices to contribute to the musical and personal success and welfare of others? For the realization of the mission of this blogger’s retirement pastime: “I refuse to sit idle, binge-watch movies on Netflix, or view hours of boring TV.” To quote the song’s lyrics, this “senior citizen” will never lament…
Life is so unnerving For a servant who’s not serving He’s not whole without a soul to wait upon Ah, those good old days when we were useful Suddenly those good old days are gone Ten days we’ve been rusting Needing so much more than dusting Needing exercise, a chance to use our skills Most days we just lay around the castle Flabby, fat, and lazy You walked in and oops-a-daisy!
PMEA Annual Conference April 6-9, 2022 at the Kalahari Resort (Poconos)
PMEA retired members, please take note of these special events especially geared to YOU:
Free Retired Member Breakfast Meeting (including take-away gifts) on April 8 at 8 a.m.
Retirement 101 session on April 8 at 11:30 a.m. – Retired music teachers are encouraged to participate on the guest panel to “tell your own story” to help any interested soon-to-retire colleagues.
Three keynote speakers will join this year’s event: Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, Lesley Moffat, and David Wish.
The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” will be featured on Thursday evening (April 7).
The return of in-person gatherings of PA music educators and students!
Here’s a “sneak preview” of the upcoming annual professional development convention for members of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) and Pennsylvania Collegiate Music Educators Association (PCMEA).
After being “hunkered down” for two years of online workshops, virtual conferences, digital music industry exhibits, and Zoom rehearsals of PMEA All-State ensembles, we can now “crush COVID-19” with “face-to-face” meetings of the PMEA TOGETHER CONFERENCE on April 6-9, 2022 at the Kalahari Resort in the Poconos.
Not just a “play on words,” this LIVE event brings TOGETHER the awesome and inspiring vision and efforts of the PMEA Professional Development Council, state officers, and staff, along with a twist from tradition – offering a place to getaway from it all!
Ask your spouse or “significant other,” children or grandchildren, nieces or nephews, other fun-loving family members, or close friends if they are available to join you for a three-day escape to the Poconos – “the world’s largest indoor waterpark” at Kalahari Resort! Experience great music, career development sessions, catching-up with colleagues, reconnection with your loved-ones, and entertainment for all ages – all wrapped up in one location.
Bring the family? Each spacious hotel room comes equipped with two double beds, a pullout sofa, microwave, and refrigerator, and the discounted $149/night conference rate allows you to register up to four people with access to all the resort’s amenities for no extra charge!
What resort amenities? Enjoy rides and slides (lots to “splash in” or just relax on the lazy river), a “big game” room, mini golf, mini bowling, 7-D motion theater, gourmet restaurants, spa, salon, fitness center, and amazing shopping and sightseeing excursions in PA’s northeastern region. While YOU are attending PMEA keynote sessions, clinics, concerts, and exhibits, the rest of your party could be “living it up” on as many as 29 waterpark thrills (from “mild” to “wild,” check out all of them on their website):
A joyful car trip to local scenes and attractions? The word “Pocono” means “the stream between two mountains.” This region encompasses 2,400 square miles of lakes, rivers, and woodlands just waiting to be discovered. Just how adventurous are you?
Explore numerous opportunities to hike, bike, bird watch, ski, fish, and photograph the wildlife, waterfalls, and other breathtaking landscapes.
Peruse the various exhibits of local artists at the White Mills Art Factory, 736 Texas Palmyra Highway (Route 6) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Wednesdays).
Try your luck at the Mount Airy Casino Resort Spa.
Or be a “wandering tourist” and visit nearby Stroudsburg, Milford, Jim Thorpe Honesdale, Lake Wallenpaupack, Hawley, Skytop, Bushkill, Lake Harmony, or Tannersville.
Now down to the business of professional development! In your free time from the above refreshing and re-invigorating moments of “down time,” you won’t want to miss the PMEA general sessions featuring keynoters David Wish of Little Kids Rock and Lesley Moffat, author of Love the Job, Lose the Stress. After opening the music industry and collegiate exhibits, numerous workshops, interactive demonstrations, and panel discussions will be hosted on a variety of “state-of-the-art” and timely topics:
Sandwiched in between these clinics and meetings of PCMEA, PA Society for Music Teacher Education, PMEA Council for Teacher Training, Recruitment, and Retention, PMEA Retired Members, Pennsylvania-Delaware String Teachers Association, and others will be opportunities to observe rehearsals and performances of the PMEA All-State Band, Chorus, Jazz, Orchestra, and Vocal Jazz, and attend concerts of guest performing ensembles – among “Pennsylvania’s finest.” Congratulations to:
Looking for that new classroom accessory, concert selection, educational travel group, fundraiser, instrument, technology tool, or uniform, or seeking to talk to representatives from music schools? Take time to visit the exhibits. PMEA thanks the continuing support of its PMEA Corporate Sponsors.
Yours truly (blogger) is proud to announce he is presenting three sessions at the conference:
CODES, CASE STUDIES, and CONUNDRUMS – The Challenges of Ethical Decision-Making in Education
THE INTERVIEW CLINIC – Practicing and Playacting to Improve Your Performance at Employment Screenings
RETIREMENT 101 – The Who, What, When, Where, Why, & How of Preparing for Post-Employment
PMEA will need volunteers to assist as presiding chairs or to serve at the INFO BOOTH near registration. In addition, the PMEA Retired Member Coordinator is seeking retirees to help serve on a guest panel of “semi-experts” for the retirement session.
It’s still a little early for much additional detail. However, check out this MOVIE TRAILER preview of the 2022 Conference, featuring The Pennsylvania March composed by PMEA retired member Ron DeGrandis.
As of January 17, 2022 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), Kalahari Resort room reservations are open! The link to conference registration will be coming soon. For more information, please visit the PMEA website. Keep your eye out for revisions in future PMEA News, UPDATES, and other e-publications.
Do you believe in formulating annual goals or drafting a couple “New Year’s Resolutions?”
THE STATS DON’T LIE
Every year around this time, the web highlights many so-called experts touting the benefits of making personal improvement plans… and is just as quick to admonish us for breaking them. The statistics are not encouraging:
Success/Failure rates over the first 6 months
Of those who make a New Year’s resolution, after 1 week, 75% are still successful in keeping it.
After two weeks, the number drops to 71%.
After 1 month, the number drops again to 64%.
And after 6 months, 46% of people who make a resolution are still successful in keeping it.
In comparison, of those people who have similar goals but do not set a resolution, only 4% are still successful after 6 months.
Overall success/failure rates
According to a 2016 study, of the 41% of Americans who make New Years resolutions, by the end of the year only 9% feel they are successful in keeping them.
An earlier study in 2007 showed that 12% of people who set resolutions are successful even though 52% of the participants were confident of success at the beginning.
Reasons for failure
In one 2014 study, 35% of participants who failed their New Year’s Resolutions said they had unrealistic goals.
33% of participants who failed didn’t keep track of their progress.
23% forgot about their resolutions.
About one in 10 people who failed said they made too many resolutions.
Of course, it does not have to be this way! Last year, yours truly made a promise to “practice what music teachers preach” and “make meaningful music” at least a little every day on his instrument. How did it go? Success! I made it to the middle of July without missing a day (until I sprained my left hand). But the goal led me to playing better than I have for decades, more self-confidence, a lot of fun polishing off movements from my favorite sonatas and concertos, and even the purchase of a new viola. Now? It is time for me to find a tuba, dive into my past “brass flame,” and join a community band!
As we succeed in everything else for our lives, the process of setting aside time to analyze our personal pathways, assessing our needs, and making new goals is healthy. For the eternal pursuit of happiness and self-fulfillment in retirement, I found these secrets to a ”winning” set of New Year’s Resolutions in the “Top-10 List” by the UAB School of Medicine:
Start with specific micro-goals. (Keep them small, simple, and easy to accomplish.)
Set resolutions for the right reasons. (Choose what is important to you, not someone else’s expectations.)
Document your progress. (Write it down.)
Practice patience and forgiveness. (No one is perfect. Just keep at it despite the curve balls thrown at you.)
Schedule time to achieve goals. (Dedicate the necessary resolve and resources to accomplish them.)
Embrace the buddy system. (Share in collaborating on group goals. You don’t have to achieve them alone!)
Consider your budget. (Finances may play a role. Stay within your means.)
Slow down and meditate. (Breathe, refocus, and be mindful.)
Reward yourself for achievements. (No matter how big or small, treat yourself for reaching your targets.)
Ask others to keep you accountable. (Publicize your intentions. They might help you achieve your goals.)
You probably do not need someone to suggest things-to-do in 2022 or ways to self-improve. Effective goals and action plans must come from within yourself. However, there are countless advisors “out there” offering ideas to motivate you:
Keep a Positive Mindset
Commit to at least 10 Minutes of Exercise Daily
Make Better Dietary Choices
Stay Young-at-Heart – Surround Yourself with Young People
ENGAGEMENT, ADVOCACY, & ASSOCIATION IN MUSIC EDUCATION
Modeling PROFESSIONALISM, these terms promote the power of “collaboration” and connections among music education colleagues and stakeholders (music students, parents, and the general public). To foster a broader picture and devise “bigger than self” New Year’s Resolutions, we should embrace forming partnerships throughout our pre-service, in-service, and retirement years with enhanced goals of active engagement, advocacy, and support of our professional associations.
On a personal note, besides getting back to my viola practice and resuming my love of playing the tuba, I resolve to continue a focus on “giving back” whenever possible to my local community, PMEA, and the music education profession. How will I do this in 2022? By bestowing the gifts of SERVICE:
Chair of the PMEA Council for Teacher Training, Recruitment, and Retention
Coordinator of PMEA Retired Members
Artistic Director of the South Hills Junior Orchestra
Trustee and Communications Director of the Community Foundation of Upper St. Clair
Volunteer Escort for the St. Clair Health
Author, clinician, and workshop presenter on the topics of educator ethics, interviewing and job search, professional standards, retirement, and self-care
Additional blog posts on the topic of New Year’s Resolutions and helping others in retirement:
Editor’s Note: This month’s blog will feature guest writer Ed Carter, a retired financial planner. (See his website here.) His piece intrigued me, and also made me reflect on the numerous music educators who do freelance work. Even for retired music educators, it is important to continue our active involvement in the field of “creative self-expression” – (what inspired us to go into music in the first place?) – regardless of whether it is for pay or pro bono and now part-time: private teaching, church directing or accompanying, performing in or conducting music ensembles or musical theater, adjudicating festivals, coaching, composing, or arranging for school groups, teaching in higher education, or serving in the music industry. How are you “making music” today?
Research shows that about 45 percent of Americans have a side gig, and they do this for many reasons. It’s obviously a great way to ease financial strain, but it’s also a chance to delve deeper into something that you enjoy, hone skills, and change up your network.
Artists, who often experience economic instability, are one party that might find themselves supplementing revenue from their artwork with a secondary job. On the flip side, you might be considering flexing your creative muscles by engaging in an artistic moonlighting opportunity.
If you need or are interested in earning extra cash while pursuing art, a side hustle may be the way to go. Here are four tips to help you get started.
1. Do a Cost-Benefit Analysis
There are many profitable avenues you can pursue on the side, from blogging and data entry to making balloon animals at parties and walking dogs. A number of gigs even allow you to express your creative side while making a profit and leaving time for you to practice the art that is your main passion, such as selling items on Etsy. You need to pick a job that meets three criteria:
You get what you need from it
You can do it, and
You have what you need to do it.
List the options that appeal to you the most. Research startup costs, competition and markets. Look at each potential gig and ask yourself a few questions:
Does this give you enough flexibility?
Is the initial time and money investment something you can afford?
Do you have the skills and ability to keep doing the work long enough for it to pay off?
Is there enough profit potential to justify the effort, not just physically but emotionally and mentally?
If you are still inclined to take a chance on a side hustle after reviewing the above-mentioned aspects, don’t immediately throw everything you have into it. Do a test run instead; offer services for a limited period or only produce a set amount of product to see if your plan is feasible and if you enjoy it enough to stick with it.
3. Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Organization
Keep your side gig details separate from other parts of your life. Use a different email, different files, and possibly even a different bank account. As the source Company Bug points out, the latter helps with filing taxes and looking professional.
Check out automation for bookkeeping and invoicing purposes. Keep detailed records with online backups, and consider adding an app that makes it easy to stay on top of your finances and share data with your accountant.
4. Manage Your Energy Efficiently
Everyone has a finite amount of energy. Managing your time and energy carefully helps you be more effective and happier as you go about your daily tasks. As Todoist recommends, write down a to-do list each morning and schedule out blocks of time so that you can stay abreast of your obligations. Consider planning ahead by weeks and months as well. If you need a break, though, be sure to take it to avoid burnout and waning motivation.
Doing your art for art’s sake is one thing, and doing it as a business is another. When starting a side gig, it is important to make sure you understand what you are getting into and that you have the resources to do it. Being aware of the risks and costs, organizing and doling out energy cautiously can help you secure success.
The “E” in RETIREMENT is for Energy, Engagement, Excitement, and Endurance
This blog is all about how to stay young and vibrant – BECOMING A VOLUNTEER! Geared to those of us who have retired, this is very personal and unique to every individual, no matter what the age!
Do you remember the song, “Those Were the Days” performed by Mary Hopkins (1968), the Fifth Dimension (1969), and even Dolly Parton (2000)?
Those were the days my friend We thought they’d never end We’d sing and dance forever and a day We’d live the life we choose We’d fight and never lose For we were young and sure to have our way. La la la la Those were the days, oh yes those were the days
In June 2021, I went back to work. Well, not exactly full-time… but it felt that way!
Remember the times as music educators we spent 15-18 hours a day or more thinking, planning, creating, teaching, problem-solving, schlepping stuff, sweating, and working out beyond the regular school day and during summer months with major music projects like the marching band, spring musical, music adjudication trip, etc.?
Asked by my friend and current Upper St. Clair School District performing arts curriculum leader/HS band director Dr. John Seybert, I signed on to the newly-expanded extracurricular activity (ECA) position as administrative assistant and announcer of the marching band for the school from which I had retired. Filling in the gaps, taking attendance, handling mounds of paperwork, interacting with a whole new generation of music students, and learning a few new software applications along the way like FamilyID, Canvas, Remind, and the district’s Blackboard website, I threw my hat in the ring, not just to continue to serve as the voice of the “Pride of Upper St. Clair” at football games halftime shows (now in my 36th year), but to manage the full schedule of rehearsals, meetings, performances, and blessedly (?) exhausting 24/7 week-long band camp. I forgot how it felt to get up at 6 a.m. and return home around 9:30 p.m.
It has been exhilarating. It has been exhausting!
On another stage, when the local COVID stats fell two months ago, I was invited back to our local community hospital to serve as a volunteer – discharging patients from their rooms or escorting them from the outpatient surgery or endoscopy units. Yes, I was called upon to somehow restore the physical demands I (used-to) place on my personal stamina. Fully fatigued and expended after a shift of 4-7 hours of driving my wheelchair taxis (sometimes carrying over-sized people even though we’re only supposed to move those weighing 250 pounds or less), I find myself yearning for a retiree “power-nap,” only to regroup for the next day’s challenging schedule and another early-morning wake-up.
The best part of these 8-15 hours per week? Choosing one of the finest medical facilities in our metropolitan area – St. Clair Hospital (now “Health”) – I have the chance to meet former music students (grown up), their kids, parents and grandparents, friends, and other acquaintances at their greatest need. And, there’s almost no finer escort “call” than going to the family birth center and bringing to the car a new mommy and two-day-old baby… sharing that special moment with an alum or school staff member!
It has been exhilarating. It has been exhausting!
WHAT
In past articles on a satisfying retirement, I often quote the book How to Retire Happy, Wild, and Free, the search for self-reinvention and new avenues for fulfilling those essential needs of “purpose, structure, and community” that employment had previously provided us. Author Ernie Zelinski’s definition of “purpose” are these goals:
To make a difference in people’s lives
To make a contribution
To find creative expression
To take part in discovery
To help preserve the environment
To accomplish or achieve a challenging task
To improve health and well-being
We learn from Revitalizing Retirement: Reshaping Your Identity, Relationships, and Purpose by Nancy Schlossberg that for retirees it is important to feel “needed” and that pursuits that foster “mattering” are crucial to a positive self-esteem, good mental health, and stable life balance.
It has been suggested that one problem of retirement is that one no longer matters; others no longer depend on us…
The reward of retirement, involving a surcease from labor, can be the punishment of not mattering. Existence loses its point and savor when one no longer makes a difference.”
– Rosenberg and McCullough
The opposite of “mattering” is feeling “marginalized.” I would rather feel worn-out than useless/ignored/discarded!
In his book Design Your Dream Retirement, Dave Hughes recaps with his four essential ingredients of life balance:
Physical activity
Mental stimulation
Social interaction
Personal fulfillment
If you read my bio in the “about” tab above, I think all would agree: mission accomplished! I’ve made myself extremely busy. (Perhaps I “matter” a little too much?) “It’s a good thing I am retired… I would not have enough time to do all of these things if I still had a job!”
Yes, it FEELS good!
WHY
Now some rationale from the online pundits. First, review the article “Why Elderly People Should Volunteer.” According to the “experts,” volunteering is:
Socially beneficial
Good for mental cognition
Giving back to the community
Physically engaging
An opportunity to learn something new
Flexible
A strategy to fill up your day
The reason you get out of bed in the morning
Of course, one has to be careful and follow your doctor’s advice on what tasks will not overwhelm you! The CDC and other medical professionals urge adopting a “safe” routine of regular physical activity as a part of an older adult’s life. Check out websites like https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/activities-olderadults.htm and https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001482.htm. Besides keeping your mind active, increasing your physical activity as a volunteer while “living the dream” in retirement will:
Reduce the risk of serious illnesses (heart disease, type II diabetes, and depression
Help you manage a “healthy weight”
Improve your balance and coordination
Decrease the risk of falls or other injuries
Talk with your doctor to find out if your health condition limits, in any way, your ability to be active. Then, work with your doctor to come up with a physical activity plan that matches your abilities. If your condition stops you from meeting the minimum recommended activity levels, try to do as much as you can. What’s important is that you avoid being inactive.
Volunteering is all about being more eleemosynary (adjective defined as “generous, charitable, gratuitous, or philanthropic”). In my workshops on retirement transitioning, I frequently quote two gurus on the benefits of “giving back.”
With a frequently untapped wealth of competencies and experiences, older people have much to give. This fact, coupled with fewer requirements for their time, gives them unique opportunity to assume special kinds of helping roles.
Our increased longevity and generally better health has opened our eyes to new and increased opportunities to contribute to the betterment of society through civic, social, and economic engagement in activities we believe in.
But you already knew all of this, right? There are so many ways to “bring it on” and “make a difference” in your “golden years.” (Wow – three cliches in a row!)
There are so many directions you can go to offer your free time to volunteer:
Escort at local hospital or nursing home
Walk dogs at animal shelter
Serve in charitable fund-raising projects
Assist food banks and meals-on-wheels agencies
Enlist as special advocate for abused or neglected children
Work as hospice volunteer
Maintain parks, trails, nature habitats, or recreation centers
Host an international student
Become a youth director, mentor, or scout leader
Teach summer school, night classes or Performing Arts workshops
Give guided tours or lectures as a docent at a local museum
Apply office management and clerical skills to benefit libraries and other nonprofit associations
Run a school club (share your hobby)
As trained music educators, we can share our precious skills in creative self-expression :
Accompany, coach, or guest conduct school/community groups, college ensembles, or music festivals.
Run for office or chair a committee or council of your state or local MEA association
Serve as presiding chair or member of the your state’s MEA planning committee or listening committees for the music in-service conferences
Participate as guest lecturer or panel discussion member at a conference, workshop, or college methods program
Judge adjudication festivals
Help plan or manage a local festival or workshop
Assist the local music teacher in private teaching, piano playing, marching band charting, sectional coaching, set-up of music technology, instrument repair, etc.
Write for your professional organizations’ publications (like PMEA or NAfME)
If you are a retired music teacher and member of PMEA, you could sign-up for the Retiree Resource Registry and serve as an informal consultant to others still “slugging it out” in the trenches. Go to the PMEA retired member focus area for more information.
Anyway, back to a little “bragging!” At least “yours truly” is holding his own and hopefully contributing what he can to the success and welfare of others! Are you? In my retirement pastime, I refuse to sit idle, binge-watch movies on Netflix, or view hours of boring TV. To quote another song’s lyrics, this “senior citizen” will never lament…
Life is so unnerving For a servant who’s not serving He’s not whole without a soul to wait upon Ah, those good old days when we were useful Suddenly those good old days are gone Ten days we’ve been rusting Needing so much more than dusting Needing exercise, a chance to use our skills Most days we just lay around the castle Flabby, fat, and lazy You walked in and oops-a-daisy!
