It is important to share information from one generation to the other. Just today the New York Times had an article about the importance of sharing family stories from one generation to the next. It claimed that this history gives stability and a sense of identity to children.

"Two roads diverged in the yellow wood, and I -

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference."

R. Frost

It is no fun being stuck. Retirement can have this effect on us. We can feel strapped to our past or our present. We can't seem to conceive of a reason to do anything.

IIt was Family Day in Canada - a national holiday. It was the first one ever. Seems like a worthwhile title for a holiday.

Retirement introduces a special element to our reading life. We can feast over the entire reading realm. There are no limitations; sort of like our earliest experiences. We can read for pleasure alone.

Retirement gives us time to think about the past. Mistakes, bad decisions, regrets and empty dreams come to us - many times in the depths of night. But to mull over the past and dig up old hurts to me or committed by myself doesn't appeal to me.

One worn out piece of advice that seems to hold true all of our life is that we need to "pick our battles". Retirement has its limits. We are older. Our bodies do not move like they once did.

We love a road trip in the family car. We feel free - and like we are truly on vacation. We are now making our plans. We are enjoying the stage of anticipation according to the cult of happiness.

Finding meaning in our lives was the topic of the previous podcast. I wanted to continue that train of thought. We know having meaning in our lives is important but sometimes we have trouble finding it. Many times It may be more of a problem of recognizing it.

Finding meaning in life seems to be a never ending quest - sort of like pursuing more air to breath. Parents, teachers, bosses and our own children no longer control us and they no longer give meaning to our lives. We are on our own.Many of us are still pursuing that topic.