Seniors in the Building

Elaine Sauer, Rick Sauer, Signe Swanson, Jack Waschenfelder

Welcome to Seniors in the Building. Join us as we talk, think and laugh our way through growing old. We are four friends experiencing aging for the first time and learning new technologies. We don't plan to go quietly into the night. We'll burn, rage, keep moving, tease, and wander down strange roads. Come join our conversation.

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20 episodes
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Avg 34 min
English

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S4 · E16
Wednesday · 39 min
Is Retirement a Joy or a Struggle
As a group, we have collectively been retired for 12,10, 5 and 4 years. Have we made the shift? What kind of retirement are we experiencing? A meta research analysis of retirement adjustment identifies eight different types of people who may have trouble transitioning to retirement, even though they are capable and successful. Do we identify with any of them? Yes, we do and discover that we can even add a category that is not there. Talking about our experiences of retirement provides some clarity on what has gone well and things we want to change. When we no longer have work to structure our days, they can seem long. When we like to be needed, there may be no outlet. When we become physically challenged, the things we loved to do are no longer accessible in the same way. When we try to adopt a new identity, our old one keeps intruding. These all force us to adopt new behaviour and develop new interests while we build on the strengths of our relationships and the old interests we continue to enjoy. Retirement is definitely a journey. How is yours going?
S4 · E15
October 21 · 36 min
Sleep in Our Senior Years!
Sleep! Wonderful sleep! In today’s podcast we tackle the issue of sleep. Do we have more trouble sleeping now? Have our sleep patterns changed from younger years? How do we fall asleep? We have all developed ways of falling asleep like reading, thinking good thoughts, or practicing yoga nidra. But now we seem to require new ways to fall asleep maybe because we have more time to worry or are less physically active than earlier in our lives. Health issues can cause us to wake up, or get up in the night more often, or create anxiety. The good news is we can nap during the day if we need. We talk about dreams and nightmares, both recurring and new, and what they might be saying. We identify different strategies for getting a good night’s sleep and conclude that not all strategies work for everyone. We need to find our own unique ways for getting a good sleep. An interesting podcast that won’t put you to sleep!
S4 · E14
October 14 · 36 min
Finding Our Happy Places
As seniors are we seeking more safe places or happy places than in our earlier lives? Do we have places that we like to go to when we are under stress or need a break? Is it a physical space? Is it something we create in our mind? Geographic places can give us a feeling of safety, belonging or a sense of peace, sometimes they are long standing for us and sometimes we discover them in surprising ways, places like Wales, Lake Michigan, or Newfoundland. When we are forced to find safer places to be due to a break down or perpetual anxiety, we may look to eastern practices of meditation to help us. Following the breath is a way to let go of the thoughts that chase us. Shifting and realigning our whole way of being once we are no longer working means shifting and reframing our lives. Because of that, peace, serenity and quiet do come in different ways than earlier in our lives and we are adjusting and adapting our happy places all along our journey.
S4 · E13
October 7 · 36 min
What Makes Us Smile?
A smile lights up our faces and according to science has positive health benefits. Smiling at someone else makes us approachable and often brings a smile in return. So, what makes us smile? Music, movies and tv shows make us smile. Favourite comedians make us smile. Grandchildren, gardening and telling stories make us smile. But sometimes we don’t feel like smiling or laughing and we must work at making a space for laughter. Health issues particularly pile up as we age and sometimes it is hard to remember what makes us smile. What we do know is that where there is life, even in tough times, there is still the ability to laugh and smile. Sometimes it’s laughing at ourselves, sometimes it’s laughing at the absurdity of life, sometimes it is taking pride in the multicultural fabric of our country and relishing in the hopefulness that brings. Maybe laughter is the best medicine.
S4 · E12
September 30 · 33 min
Staying Informed But Not Overwhelmed By The News
How do we stay informed about what is going on in the world without letting all the alarming news colonize and overwhelm our inner life? What do we do to stay centred in the face of what seems like chaos? We watch the news because we want to know and be engaged in what is happening around us. It influences actions we take, it calls us to use critical thinking, and it can make us very anxious and fearful. Building resilience means managing the news, at times censuring it to avoid visceral reactions or taking a time out from it, a break. It also means looking outside of mainstream media for the rest of the story. Building resilience also means focusing on our inner life and enriching it with spiritual practices that help us to fight off apathy and take small actions that can have a big impact. Most importantly, lessons from our own lives teach us how to stay informed and not be overwhelmed by today’s news.
S4 · E11
September 23 · 30 min
Reflections On The Changing Seasons
Do the seasons affect us differently as we grow older? Have we become more aware not only of the changing world around us, but also of the changing seasons of our own lives? In the northern hemisphere, we experience the changing of the seasons quite dramatically with four very distinct seasons and we are moving through the autumn into winter. We may say the same of our lives, but our conversation continues to reflect our own unique responses to the seasons and how those responses have changed somewhat over the years. With Rick and Elaine still out east, this time in Digby, Nova Scotia we explore our own resilience as we adapt to our changing bodies, changing interests and how those are reflected in the changing seasons. Quilting, gardening, ice skating, hockey and playing outside in the dark, and Johannesburg all make an appearance in our conversation.
S4 · E10
September 16 · 37 min
On Being Canadian
In a departure from our usual focus on aspects of growing older, we wanted to talk about what it means to be Canadian at this time in history. Rick and Elaine join the conversation from Newfoundland, having just attended the 25th Anniversary Commemoration of 911 in Gander, Nfld. That event was a moving reminder of who we are as a welcoming, compassionate, get ‘er done kind of people who embrace difference and try to ease hardship. Jean Chretien, who spoke, is one of our country’s many heroes. We acknowledge our huge country and the landscape that shapes us, giving us resilience, persistence and a sense of looking out for others alongside acknowledging our history of indigenous land claims and reconciliation. We share our experiences of travelling and studying internationally, of being an immigrant and of instilling in our children a sense of the breadth and depth of Canada. Listen as we talk with pride and passion about being Canadian.
S4 · E9
September 9 · 34 min
Unmasking and Remaking Ourselves in our Seventies
When we retire, others may think we have retreated from the world, but in fact we are now free from the versions of ourselves that we didn’t choose. So, what looks like retreating is simply being a more authentic self. This can be both freeing and daunting at the same time. Sometimes those masks are learned behaviour, or are based on gender or societal expectations which are all more difficult to shed. We may find that after wearing a particular mask for so long we aren’t sure who we are without it. As we talk through what it means to find a new self in our 70’s we discover that who we are now is still in development. We also discover that we have more agency to reject masks and be unfiltered. We are more aware of our capacity to learn and to disregard the expectations of others as we move toward our new selves. In short, in the words of Karl Jung, “Later life is not merely decline but it can be an undertaking for establishing a different psychological and spiritual vocation.” An exciting task for our seventies.
S4 · E8
September 2 · 25 min
What Are We Still Looking Forward To?
In this brief but mighty podcast (cut short by construction noise) we not only share the things that we still look forward to, but also those things that keep us leaning toward tomorrow. We look forward to being with family, taking a nap, reading in bed, and oddly enough, doctor appointments, things that in the moment give us pleasure and satisfaction. Staying curious and excited about space exploration, new science discoveries and even our own adventures as we travel keep us looking forward. The knowledge that nothing lasts forever and that eventually things will shift gives us hope and helps us to stay engaged in finding solutions when things go sideways. Ultimately, as we age, we find ways to adapt to our changing lives, counteract the down side of human nature and embrace an evolving world.
S4 · E7
August 26 · 38 min
On Second Thought - Changing Our Minds
Most of us have held beliefs and opinions that once seemed right to us. But then we meet new people, have new experiences and learn new things, discovering in the process that what we once were so certain about doesn’t seem so certain anymore. In this podcast we explore some of those areas where we have changed our minds. The women’s movement helped us to shift from having a career “to fall back on” to having a legitimate career in our own right as women. We have shifted our thinking about gender identity and sexual orientation and who gets to be married and ordained. Our faith traditions broaden to include many other ways to express our religious beliefs. We have even been influenced to change what we wear and how we look, accepting a broader range of options. Listen to our interesting conversation about changing our minds.
S4 · E6
August 19 · 36 min
Who Am I When Nobody Needs Me Anymore?
What happens in our lives when we notice that fewer people need us? How do we measure our worth? We are loved and beloved by our family and friends and as we age and roles shift, we must somehow accept the limits in our ability to give back to them. It does not change who we are, but it does change how we think about ourselves which can affect our sense of self-worth. Do we feel useless? Can we shift from that to just being present? It’s a process and others who have gone before can be models for us. We laughed about not being able to get up on a ladder anymore, but it is significant as a metaphor because it symbolizes a shift. It is a shift from being needed to needing help. In the end as we each face our own journey of accepting our limits and inviting people to help us, we acknowledge it as part of our human journey and being present to each other on that journey is paramount.
August 12 · 16 sec
On a Break.
A brief reminder that we're taking a brief break
S4 · E5
August 5 · 38 min
Keeping It Together in Challenging Times
We live in a challenging world with a lot coming at us from many directions. How do we keep our compassion, our hope and our joy alive? Or do we? We point out all the obvious ways to cope: using humour, taking a walk, reading a book, limiting the amount of bad news we watch and seeking out good news, or doing something nice for someone else. But we also acknowledge the importance of sitting with our distress and listening to the distress of others with open ears and heart. It is not so much about keeping it together as it is about working through and finding a response to challenging times that is uniquely ours and that helps us to take the right action. The conversation is one that makes us work at articulating our beliefs about human nature and how finding and hanging onto the best of our human qualities is important to counteracting the worst of human qualities abundant in the world.
S4 · E4
July 29 · 37 min
No One Gets Out Alive - A Conversation About Death
What stops us from talking about death? What stops us from preparing for it? If we talk about death, can it change how we live? Do we talk about death more once we’ve experienced the death of someone close to us? As we answer these questions, our conversation moves from being aware of our death as something unique to the human species to how we are planning for our own death to sharing our stories of the deaths we’ve experienced. Talking about our own death is far easier than talking about the death of someone we love because the thought of them not being in our lives is too painful. Yet, having the conversations with loved ones is important to help us all approach our deaths with healing memories, resolved hurts and a deep love for one another so that our stories live on and our grief reflects our love.
S4 · E3
July 22 · 36 min
What Makes a Good Day?
What we now think of as a good day is different than when we were younger. Now a good day can mean being able to roll with what comes, making connections with others, getting out and exercising, checking one thing off the list or simply acknowledging and accepting we are out of sorts. As we laugh and talk about not going to the emergency room as a good day and that eating ice cream makes everything better, we touch something deeper in the human condition. Acknowledging that we are complex as humans helps us understand that pain and joy coexist on a continuum. We cannot appreciate one without the other. Knowing ourselves and understanding how our minds works help us develop the strategies to make our days and our lives richer as we navigate our “good” and “bad” days. Listen to our slightly off the wall yet, insightful podcast.
S4 · E2
July 8 · 39 min
Decluttering
What things do we keep, why do we keep them and how do we know when it’s time to let them go? That is the question we asked ourselves today. We have gathered and acquired things over a lifetime and now, as we transition from work to retirement and start downsizing, to make it easier for our children when we’re gone, we must figure out what to do with all this stuff. When are we going to get at all those boxes of photos that we have already moved several times? What about the things that belonged to our parents? What about the t-shirts we have hung onto? Or the books? Or the notebooks? Discerning what belongs with us now as we continue to live, remember and become who we want to be is tough. It requires being ready to feel the emotional ups and downs of a well lived life and to let go. It requires establishing a process for making those decisions especially one that works for both partners when the decisions are joint. It requires some grieving. It’s not about rejecting the past or stripping the house bare, it’s about keeping only what belongs with us now and sustains us as we move forward.
S4 · E1
July 1 · 33 min
Are We Still Trying?
We are socialized to be competitive from an early age and given messages about being the smartest, most athletic, or best looking. Conversely, we are told that we are not smart enough to go to university, or athletic enough to make the team or that we are average looking. Were we competitive at a younger age to prove something? Are we still competitive? Can being competitive motivate us? Perhaps seniors are competitive in a different way than when we were young. It is hard to let go of the competitiveness that we once had, especially if we have health issues but the motivation seems to shift from trying to be better than someone else out of fear or insecurity, to bettering ourselves as a way to find joy or contentment.
S3 · E20
June 24 · 36 min
Is This Still Possible? Fragile Wishes and Longing
In earlier years we had bucket lists, things we put on a list and checked off as we accomplished them. In our 70’s we find our lists have become wishes or desires and each thing on it must be examined as to whether it is still possible. We now live under the shadow of health and financial circumstances that may be limiting, family realities and the shortening horizon of time. But that does not limit our wishes, desires or longings, we still have them and having them brings hope. Living by the ocean, becoming a personal trainer, reconciliation with a sister, seeking a way to express our spirituality, are all works in progress that capture our hearts and imaginations. We also have previous desires that we have let go of, no longer running or traveling in the United States or driving across the country are conscious choices we have stopped pursuing. Finding inspiration and meaning in our retirement is the universal impetus for our wishes and desires and is reflected in the choices we make as well as the ones we discard.
S3 · E19
June 17 · 36 min
Feeling Secure as Seniors?
In our last podcast on what surprises us we discovered that we experience more fear than we had expected. So how do we thrive and live as full a life as possible in the face of things that make us fearful? What does feeling secure look like? Our discussion identified physical, financial and social components among others, that can create areas of uncertainty. We identified that knowing what our resources are and having a security plan that we can rely on as our needs change are both important. Some of our insecurities have come with us from childhood and we are still looking for ways to overcome them. Being supported by others as we tace our insecurities helps; an affirming shop owner, a good hair stylist, someone to play music with, and a mantra of "I belong here". Being connected to our gym and taking the classes that maintain our mobility is a source of security, as well as knowing that it is a rich resource for the future. The tenacity of others we find there inspire us. Acknowledging what we still have, rather than what we don't have, can be the best way to help us feel secure.
S3 · E18
June 10 · 39 min
Surprises in our Elder Years
Surprise! We are now in our 70’s and calling ourselves seniors. What are the surprises? What isn’t a surprise? While exploring these questions we discover that we are most surprised about how busy we are with less time than anticipated to pursue our own interests. We are also surprised that out of all the places we have once lived, we find ourselves in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. We are surprised by grandchildren. We are surprised by the nature of the health problems we have but not surprised that we have them. We are surprised by the increase in anxiety and worry; where once we would jump at solving problems, we now would like them to just go away Our conversation about surprises covers the gamut from daily experiences to the political and economic landscape of our lives with some hilarious stops in between. What are your surprises?

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