Page 8 - Boca Exposure - August '21

Page 8, Boca Exposure
Reality Check √… Healthy Answers On Living And

Loving Life: ‘T.G.I.M. Something To Look Forward To!’

By Dale Brown, B.S., Explore opportunities – Put your talents and passion Take time to relax – Meditate and have fun without
M.A., C.E.C. Dale is a to work. Many of the things we wish to accomplish in feeling guilty about wasting time. Remember, you have
motivational speaker who our lives are put on the back burner because of work or earned your stripes. It’s time for you to share all you have
has spent many years as a family obligations. learned in your lifetime.
Certified Life Coach and has Stay in touch – Keep up with co-workers so you can have Whether you are part of the work force or enjoying the
written numerous articles a sense of a social continuity. Finding a new social support freedom that retirement offers, let’s all toast to each and
and e-books relating to self- group can take time, so joining in with old colleagues for every day. Let’s thank God for Mondays, and every day of
improvement and ways to happy hour, sporting events, or dinner can ease the transition. the week that follows. You have the choice to celebrate the
build a high-performance Create a weekly schedule – It might look much like you present moment or wait for moments unknown. Remember,
team. Her education and did when you worked every day, including fitness activities, you only have one life to live. Make it one you love no matter
years of experience in hours devoted to volunteer work, visits with family, and what day of the week it is!
physical fitness and training networking with local community organizations.
of elite athletes has enabled her to sharpen her knowledge in
columns devoted to many topics that deal with the mind/body Council Corner: More Good News,
many health-related areas. The following is one in a series of

connection and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.
Dale, a Bocaire resident, can be reached at dalebrown@ Including Job Opportunities!
lovingmondays.com.
What is your favorite day of the week?
When I was younger, working and traveling for business, By Boca Raton City - Identified 310 safety improvements.
Fridays were always the best day of the week. Like everyone Councilm an Andy Here’s the schedule for the neighborhoods we’ll be
else, I anticipated enjoying the weekend after a hard week of Thomson, who was first coming to next:
work. Once I left my corporate life and entered into a more elected during the special - Aug. 1: Golden Triangle;
retired lifestyle, all that seemed to change. City Council election - Aug. 7: Riviera / Por La Mar;
I no longer looked at Friday as a day to rest and relax. in 2018, and re-elected - Aug. 8: Santa Barbara.
To me, every day of the week was a weekend, and TGIM without opposition to the As we make our way through the city, I’d love for you
(Thank God for Mondays) became my mantra. Most people Council. to join me. Whether you run, walk, or just meet up with
dread the thought of Monday morning, dragging themselves Surfside Tragedy. us to give me your thoughts, I want your input. Let me
into work after a fun weekend. But why not celebrate each The tragedy in Surfside know what your neighborhood needs and what the city
and every day, regardless of what day of the week it is? dramatized the need for can do better. If you or your organization want to partner
As you get older, the days seem to pass by faster. I hear strong measures relating with us as we #RunTheCity, you can sign up at www.
it often. “It’s August already? What happened to July?” One to the structural integrity of large condominium and andythomson.com/run-the-city.
day seems to blend into the next, until you realize another commercial buildings. Miami-Dade and Broward New Elementary School Coming to Boca! For
week or month has passed by in a blink. You may no longer be Counties require that structures be recertified after 40 several years, many public schools in Boca Raton have
looking forward to Friday’s happy hour or Monday morning’s years, while Palm Beach County has no such requirement. suffered from overcrowding. Since the schools here are
wake-up calls, but still, time marches on. People who are At the City of Boca Raton, where we have many large excellent and Boca is a wonderful place to raise a family,
conventionally unemployed sometimes find they have too condominium and commercial buildings near the ocean, it was no surprise that more and more families wanted
much time on their hands or, just the opposite: they feel time upon learning of the situation in Surfside our city staff to take advantage of the great education. At some point,
is running out. For many retired folks, the lack of purpose immediately began working to draft and implement even though, the classes can become so crowded that the
and goals can lead to disappointments and even depression. stricter recertification measures, which our City Council quality of the education can begin to suffer, so something
This brings to mind an individual I coached through this discussed at our meeting on July 27. had to be done.
particular phase of his life. Gordon was a young man of 62, We continue to pray for everyone impacted by the Thankfully, the School District of Palm Beach County
soon to retire. He came to me beaming with enthusiasm Surfside tragedy. just broke ground on a new elementary school in Boca
telling me his retirement life had come at last. He was anxious #RunTheCity Update—Halfway There! We keep Raton, near the corner of Military Trail and Potomac
to relax and unwind after 35 years of doing the same work moving in my #RunTheCity initiative, where I’ll be Road.This school, which should open for the 2022/23
regimen. running and cleaning all 475 miles of Boca Raton streets school year (i.e., not this school year, but next), will help
When the day came, Gordon found retirement was not all in 2021. At this point, we’re halfway done. Since Jan. 1, alleviate the overcrowding at Boca’s elementary schools
he had expected. He was searching for how to make better here’s what we’ve done: along with the rebuilt and expanded Addison Mizner
use of his time. After all the anticipation of not working, - Ran 251.87 miles (53.03 percent of Boca Raton); Elementary and Verde Elementary. These new facilities,
he found himself feeling empty and unproductive. As an - Picked up 699.44 pounds of trash, including 436 pieces of PPE; together with the expansion of Spanish River High and
executive in a large company, he knew he added value and - Had 195 volunteers join us to help keep their city clean
felt appreciated. Now, when Monday morning rolled around, and safe; Council Corner on page 9
he had the whole week ahead of him with nothing to do.
Gordon is not unlike many others whose identity is tied
to their work. Retirement is a time to enjoy doing things you
never had time to do. It’s the time in your life to celebrate
Mondays! For many people like Gordon, retirement is an
adjustment to a new way of living. If you can relate to
Gordon’s situation, you might be interested in some of the
questions I asked of him.
1. What are your inner talents? Upscale Resale
I’ve always liked to tinker in my garage, repair things, and
work with my hands.
2. What makes you feel appreciated? Experience The Difference
When someone likes what I’ve done for them.
3. How have you kept in touch with close friends at work? New and consigned furniture, unique lighting, accessories and gifts.
I only keep up with a couple of people. It’s not the same when Complete wallpaper and fabric library for all your design needs.
you don’t work together.
4. What can you do now that will make you feel productive?
I think I’d like to do something part-time, not for the money
but just to stay busy.
5. What will it take for you to look forward to each new
day?
I’d like to have a purpose to my day, to do something that
gets me out of the house. Maybe I could do some handy work
within my community.
Gordon’s answers said it all. He missed the work that
made him feel appreciated, valued and useful. In reality,
Gordon is still the same person. It’s his perception of who Call us to sell. See us to buy.
he has become that has changed. He no longer sees himself Over 16,000 sq. ft. in 2 locations to serve you!
as viable, youthful and strong. The challenge becomes how
to help Gordon realize his value regardless of what he does PALM BEACH GARDENS: Promenade Plaza
or where he worked. 9810 Alternate A1A • 561.694.0964
The list of goals designed for Gordon to discover his
purpose may give you the incentive you need as well: WELLINGTON: Wellington Marketplace
Keep working – Look for a part-time job or volunteer for 13857 Wellington Trace • 561.798.5222
a local or charitable organization. “Walmart greeters” are a
great example of finding a reason to get up and get going myconsignanddesign.com Nanci Smith, CEO
every day.