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Why does grass grow more slowly in winter?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gregory-moore-1779">Gregory Moore</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> A reader of The Conversation recently wrote in to ask: <blockquote> Why does grass grow slower in winter? </blockquote> It is a great question and at first the answer might seem obvious. There is less sunlight and it is colder in the winter months. This affects grass and plant growth in general. However, there is more to it than meets the eye. Different grasses respond to and cope with winter in different ways. <h2>Grass: a recent arrival</h2> Grasses are relatively recent arrivals in plant evolution, first appearing in fossil records about <a href="https://academic.oup.com/plphys/article/125/3/1198/6109905">65 million years ago</a> and becoming widespread in parts of Asia by about <a href="https://academic.oup.com/plphys/article/125/3/1198/6109905">30 million years ago</a>. Geologically, and in plant evolutionary time scales, this is quite recent. It means much of grass evolution has occurred under modern geological, environmental and climatic conditions. So, more than most plants, grasses have adapted to a modern, if pre-human, world. This affects their climatic responses. Some of our best-known grasses evolved from ancestors that first appeared on Earth hundreds of millions of years ago. Their physiology developed to cope with an Earth that had a very different atmosphere from that of today. These plants have a type of photosynthesis called <a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pastures-and-rangelands/native-pastures/what-are-c3-and-c4-native-grass">C3 metabolism</a>. <h2>What is C3 metabolism?</h2> C3 metabolism is about how the plant does the job of turning light, water and air into food (photosynthesis). About <a href="https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095545945;jsessionid=F1D6CE7E04A3DF20C48A6949F4A2F683#:%7E:text=C3%20plants%20make%20up%20over,let%20in%20more%20carbon%20dioxide">95%</a> of all plants you can think of – trees, shrubs, annuals, fruits, vegetables and many traditional (often called cool season) grasses – have C3 metabolism. Plants with this form of photosynthesis tend to grow well in a wide range of environmental conditions, even if the temperature is cooler and there are higher than usual levels of carbon dioxide in the air. They tend to remain green all year round if water is available, and may continue to grow well through late autumn. Many are frost-tolerant, but they may become dormant in hot dry weather. C3 grasses, such as ryegrass, do slow their growth for the winter months as sunlight becomes less intense. Their metabolic processes (in this case, photosynthesis) slow down when the temperature <a href="https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/pastures-and-rangelands/native-pastures/what-are-c3-and-c4-native-grass">drops</a>. Biological reactions are chemical reactions, after all. The rate of a reaction is temperature-dependent – speeding up when it’s warmer and slowing down or even stopping when it gets colder. But they tend to do better in winter than their cousins, the C4 grasses. <h2>I’ve heard many lawn grasses are C4 grasses. What does that mean?</h2> As the level of CO₂ in the atmosphere declined and geological events led to the development of tropical regions around the equator, a different group of plants evolved. These plants used a form of photosynthesis called C4 metabolism. <a href="https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.13033">C4</a> plants grow very well under lower CO₂ levels in the atmosphere, use water more efficiently, and can cope with poor soils better than C3 grasses. But they struggle in the cold. They grow best in warmer, wetter conditions. While only about <a href="https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095545945;jsessionid=F1D6CE7E04A3DF20C48A6949F4A2F683#:%7E:text=C3%20plants%20make%20up%20over,let%20in%20more%20carbon%20dioxide">5%</a> of all plants have C4 photosynthesis, some of them are important grass species, such as: <ul> <li> bermuda grass </li> <li> buffalo grass </li> <li> paspalum </li> <li> <a href="https://www.anbg.gov.au/gnp/interns-2004/themeda-triandra.html">kangaroo grass</a> </li> <li> couch grass, and </li> <li> zoysia grass. </li> </ul> So if your lawn is sown with one of these grasses, you will definitely see a slowdown in winter, when they become <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC167095/">dormant</a>. Their leaves tend to turn from bright green to a dull pale green or even yellow. Their growth slows quickly and dramatically in early autumn as the light levels fall, temperatures cool and chlorophyll production starts to decline. The upside, of course, is they usually grow very well when the weather warms up again.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/206616/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/gregory-moore-1779">Gregory Moore</a>, Senior Research Associate, School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-does-grass-grow-more-slowly-in-winter-206616">original article</a>.

Home & Garden

When babysitting your grandkids is not the retirement plan

Megan Giles is a retirement designer for women. She supports and coaches women approaching retirement to successfully transition and create a lifestyle that is fulfilling, meaningful to them and lights them up each day. You’re retiring, or maybe you’re about to cut down to part-time hours and you can smell freedom in the air. You have the schedule for a pilates studio on your fridge, a list of restaurants to try, and a couple ideas for that abandoned corner of your garden. At last you have time to do all of those things you’ve always wanted to do. And then the phone rings. “Mum, now that you’re not working, it would be great if you could look after [grandchild] on a Friday…” And your heart sinks. You love your grandchild to bits, but a regular baby-sitting gig is not part of your plan. While this is the perfect scenario for many people approaching retirement, it’s important to recognise that it’s not for everyone. What happens if your family has other ideas for your life after work, e.g. caring for grandchildren, or they have assumptions about what you can and can't (or shouldn't!) do in retirement. Do you acquiesce and abandon your dreams or do you recognise the value of your time and dreams and decide to ‘just go for it’? The trouble with choosing to pursue your own path is the huge amount of guilt this can bring up, particularly for women. You feel that you should be there for your children and grandchildren. You know that your support will make their life easier as they have demanding jobs and because the cost of living and day care is expensive. Or perhaps you convince yourself that you do have the time and energy because, well, you’re not working anymore. But the risk that goes with this is that you start to feel resentful because you’re not being true to your dreams. Broaching this with adult children, however, can be a tricky thing to do. It brings up conflicting emotions including love, guilt, joy, fear and obligation and the last thing you want to do is make a loved one feel bad. In recognition of this, the following provides tips for sharing your retirement ideals with your family in a positive way: <ul> <li>Make an uninterrupted time to talk. While it might be an easy time to catch your children, try to avoid the early evening ‘witching hour’ when feeding and bathing can create mayhem</li> <li>Share your goals. Rather than assuming your family know what will be important to you, let them know what you would like to get out of retirement, particularly while you are active and have good health</li> <li>Articulate your concerns or fears. Let them know, for example, that you worry about being able to keep up with your energetic grandchild, or that you risk letting them down in the longer term when you decide to go travelling and can’t do that regular Tuesday ‘gig’</li> <li>Listen to what it is that your adult children are seeking and see if you can come up with alternate options together (it doesn’t always have to be one thing or the other)</li> <li>Let your family know that you love and care for them unconditionally. Not being able to provide regular baby-sitting duties does not mean that you love them any less</li> </ul> As the saying goes, you first have to look after yourself before you can look after others and this applies especially in retirement. However uncomfortable it may seem initially, have the conversation in order to understand and align both your and your family’s expectations, and then give yourself permission to follow your dreams in retirement! Images: Getty

Retirement Life

Why does my dog eat grass? And when is it not safe for them?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-hazel-402495">Susan Hazel</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joshua-zoanetti-1439474">Joshua Zoanetti</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> Have you ever wondered why your dog is eating your beautifully cropped lawn or nibbling at the grass at the dog park? Eating grass is a common behaviour in pet dogs. Some surveys show <a href="http://raw-feeding-prey-model.fr/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/WhydogogsandcatseatgrassGrassVetMed2008-2.pdf">up to 80%</a> of guardians notice their dog regularly snacking on the grass. Grass eating isn’t a new behaviour either, or only done by our new designer dog breeds. Studies in Yellowstone National Park show plant matter (mostly grass) is found in up to <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/136/7/1923S/4664711">74% of wolf scats</a>, suggesting the behaviour is possibly inherited from the beginning of doggy time. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=390&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=390&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=390&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=490&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=490&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529490/original/file-20230601-21796-wl09tw.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=490&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <h2>So why does my dog eat the grass?</h2> A lot of people think dogs eat grass when they have a sore stomach, believing grass causes dogs to vomit. This is probably not the case; a study with <a href="https://www.une.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/32446/bjone-brown-price-grass-eating20patterns-raan-2007.pdf">12 dogs that ate grass daily</a> found there were few vomiting episodes and the ones that did occur came after the dog had eaten a meal. And if a dog has a mild gastrointestinal disturbance because of something they’ve been fed, they are in fact <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159109003311">less likely</a> to eat grass than if they are fed a normal diet. Other theories include that dogs eat grass because they want a laxative or that it provides roughage in their diet (get that fibre!). Like the vomiting discussed above, there is little to no scientific proof for most of these theories. For example, in the study of <a href="https://www.une.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/32446/bjone-brown-price-grass-eating20patterns-raan-2007.pdf">12 dogs mentioned above</a>, all of them were wormed and had no previous digestive problems. Yet all 12 still happily ate grass (709 times). Their main finding was that when the dog had not yet had their daily meal, they were more likely to eat grass. In short, the hungrier the dog, the more likely they were to eat some grass. The answer to why your dog eats grass may simply be: because they like to. Your dog may be bored, and chewing on grass is something to do. Maybe your dog just enjoys eating grass. Ripping grass from the ground can be satisfying. The texture and taste of grass offers something different to what they usually eat. You may even notice they prefer grass in certain seasons; perhaps fresh spring grass a favourite delicacy. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529491/original/file-20230601-23190-7g4mhp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <h2>Is there any reason why you shouldn’t let your dog eat grass?</h2> Well, yes, there are several. Firstly, you may not want your dog eating your neighbour’s immaculately presented fancy Kikuyu lawn. More importantly, though, grass is sometimes treated with herbicides. Grass at the local oval or parkland may have been treated or sprayed. Some local councils use a non-hazardous dye to show where grass has been sprayed with <a href="https://www.yassvalleytimes.com.au/general-news/council-to-use-marker-dye-when-spraying-weeds/">herbicide</a>, which is very helpful. Lawn chemicals are frequently detected in lawn for up to 48 hours after they’re applied, and have also been detected in the urine of dogs with <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969713003100?via%3Dihub">access to grass</a> treated this way. Research has suggested there may be a <a href="https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/224/8/javma.2004.224.1290.xml">link</a> between bladder cancer in dogs and exposure to herbicides. In fact, dogs may even act as sentinels; the same chemical exposures appear in the urine of dogs and people <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-clinical-and-translational-science/article/environmental-chemical-exposures-in-the-urine-of-dogs-and-people-sharing-the-same-households/C3F9330A4AA7723FE78CE5D492071F55">sharing the same environment</a>. <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/529492/original/file-20230601-22271-5juhsh.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> If you are using herbicides on your own grass, remove your dog, their toys, food and water bowls from the area prior to any application. Make sure the pesticide has completely dried out before you allow the dog back in the area, and be certain to check the packaging for the appropriate drying time period. This is particularly the case for granular pesticides or fertilisers that soak into the soil, as these can require up to 24 hours or longer. If you want to reduce the risk even further, hand weeding may be a <a href="https://www.cnet.com/home/kitchen-and-household/is-weed-killer-safe-for-pets-what-to-know/">better option</a>. Apart from grass, many leaves, flowers and berries from common plants can be toxic to your dog. <a href="https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/o?&">This includes</a> plants such as oleander and arum lily; even oregano and bay leaves can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs. One of the best things you can do for your dog is take them for a walk. And if they eat some grass along the way, provided it has not been sprayed with herbicide, you have nothing to worry about. Don’t worry if they occasionally vomit. If there is more serious vomiting or diarrhoea, however, please consult your vet.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/205658/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> Image credit: Shutterstock <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/susan-hazel-402495">Susan Hazel</a>, Associate Professor, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/joshua-zoanetti-1439474">Joshua Zoanetti</a>, PhD candidate in Veterinary Bioscience, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-adelaide-1119">University of Adelaide</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-does-my-dog-eat-grass-and-when-is-it-not-safe-for-them-205658">original article</a>.

Family & Pets

The power of friendship in retirement

Megan Giles, Retirement Transition Consultant, supports those approaching retirement to successfully transition and create a retirement they will love to live! When we think about staying healthy in retirement, we often think about becoming more active, eating better and ensuring a good night’s sleep. But there’s another powerful antidote and it doesn’t require active wear, perspiration or watching calorie intake. Did you know that maintaining strong friendships in retirement can have a significant and positive impact on your wellbeing? As we age we are going to become more dependent on others. Not only may we become less mobile, but amongst your group of friends it is almost invariable that there will be debilitating illness, divorce, death, job loss and other major life challenges. It is times like this that it is so critical to have a strong friendship circle to surround us - people who can help us to weather the tough times. These friends will rally around you in times of need, intuitively knowing what needs doing and making things more bearable. Good friends will do exactly what you know you would do for them if the roles were reversed. Not only that, but these friends will celebrate your successes too! What are the health impacts of loneliness? The workplace is a hot-bed of human interaction – there is always a morning tea, someone to do the coffee run with and meetings to be held, and so as we step away from the workforce, our social networks tend to decrease. The research shows that loneliness is linked to a number of health issues including poor sleep patterns, increased prevalence of stress hormones, increased risk of heart disease and stroke, and accelerated cognitive decline. In turn, these can contribute to a lowered life expectancy and depression. The lower quality of life associated with these health issues is not what people envisage when they think about a fulfilling and enjoyable retirement. Loneliness is not a symptom of failure - that you are no longer relevant. The feeling is simply a reminder to reach other to others. The challenge is that life has never been as busy as it is now in the 21st century. But stop for a moment. Don't be so busy working hard and saving for retirement that you let the fun things fall by the wayside, such as weekend fishing trips, ladies nights at the theatre, or barefoot bowls. How 'golden' will those years be if you no longer have people to share them with? Do you need to re-connect with friends? Fortunately there are simple things you can do right now to reinvigorate the important friendships in your life. Make that call! Who is that one person that you have been meaning to catch-up with for ages, and what can you do to connect with them today? Go on, nothing beats memory sharing and a deep belly laugh! Take the lead! Rather than wait for catch-ups to be organised, step in and connect with the people you hold near and dear. Just be mindful to set yourself up for success. For example, rather than trying to go out for dinner as a group once a week, make it once a month (or even once a quarter) so that it doesn’t seem like a burden and something that everyone will look forward to. Let them know Don’t be afraid to tell your friends that you care. Let them know how much you appreciate them and why. And do it often! Choose your friends wisely One of the great things that comes with age is caring less what other people think. As such, choose which friendships you cultivate mindfully. Spend time with the people who light you up, not drain your energy or take advantage of you. As the saying goes, you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family. The power of friendship is real. Is your inner circle full of people that you know will be there for you when you need them (and vice versa)? Images: Getty

Retirement Life

How forgiveness benefits your health

Megan Giles, Retirement Transition Consultant, supports those approaching retirement to successfully transition and create a retirement they will love to live! Holding onto anger can never be a good thing. By the time we reach the retirement age it is inevitable that at some stage we have been hurt by actions or words of another. Perhaps they criticised your parenting skills, spoke ill of you to others, or took your kindness for granted. Some people appear to forgive more easily whilst for others tend to hang on to that resentment and anger because they want the other person to bear the weight of what they have done to them. The think “how dare they treat me like that and think they can get away with it!” Holding onto that grudge, however, requires much energy and over time this can pose problems for our physical health. Negative emotions such as anger, resentment and the desire for revenge over a prolonged period of time can lead to depression and anxiety, disrupted digestion, increased blood pressure and a weakened immune system. Not only that, but by not forgiving the other person, we reduce our own capacity to enjoy the present moment, get the most out of the retirement that we have worked so hard for, and be our best self for the people we care about most. Forgiving others Whilst we may not want to forgive the other person, it is important to do so for your own well-being. Forgiveness does not mean that you condone their behaviour, nor does it mean that the wrong is justified, it simply means that you acknowledge what has occurred and then get on with your life in a positive way. I’m sure that you’ve seen it – people who have wasted years of their lives in bitterness and resentment, playing the victim and complaining about everyone and everything that has wronged them. What else do you notice about that person? The chances are that they look older than their years. Anger and resentment hasn’t been kind to them. As Ghandi said, “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” By recognising that we are all human and make mistakes, it allows you to move on in a positive way. The act that hurt or offended you might always remain a part of your life, but forgiveness can lessen its grip on you and help you focus on other, more positive parts of your life. It may be hard to forgive others when your pride or self-esteem is injured, however, the reality is that the anger or resentment you feel towards a person does them no harm whatsoever in the way that you would like. You are the one dealing with grief, anger, resentment on a daily basis, taking up your valuable energy. Conversely, leading a happy and fulfilling life (free of anger) is the best response to those who have hurt you most. Forgiving ourselves Interestingly, when we talk about forgiveness, one of the most difficult people to forgive is ourselves. We are often our own harshest critic and we can berate ourselves for a myriad of things that we have done wrong such as not speaking up when we should have, hurting a loved ones, or blowing the family budget yet again… By the time you reach retirement age you will have had your share of regrets, but the important thing is to forgive yourself. As Joan Collins once said, “Show me a person how has never made a mistake and I'll show you someone who has never achieved much” – mistakes are part of what makes us who we are and adds to our richness. In forgiving yourself it is helpful to remember that we are all human and are simply trying to do the best we can in any moment. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and chances are that had you known that your action would cause pain or grief for yourself or another, it is unlikely that you would have done it. As such you have permission to forgive yourself and move on. Key ways to forgive that will leave you feeling empowered. If there is someone that you need to forgive in order to live a life in retirement that is full of joy, positivity and strong connection to the people around you, you may like to start your forgiveness journey with the three steps below. <ul> <li>Step into the other person’s shoes and consider the alternate point of view. What were they experiencing, feeling or thinking at the time that they wronged you. Could there have been a particular event or circumstance driving their behaviour at the time, such as a relationship in crisis, financial hardship or a traumatic event? Whilst you do not need to excuse their behaviour or words, the impact may be lessened if you are able to feel some empathy for the other person.</li> <li>Write your forgiveness down on paper. You might like to do this in a journal or a letter to yourself or the other person (though not necessarily to send) and articulate the actions that hurt and the impact it had. It is not critical that you forgive the person face-to-face, the important thing is that you release the negative emotions and memories that currently have a hold on you.</li> <li>Find the positivity in the negative experience. Life doesn’t always go as planned. Consider what you have learned, how you have grown from the experience and even how you might be able to share those learnings to benefit others.</li> </ul> Image: Getty

Retirement Life

12 things you should never do to your lawn

Whether you have a green thumb or not, it’s easy to maintain a blissful, barefoot-worthy backyard. For starters, avoid these no-nos. Don't remove grass clippings Leaving grass clippings on the lawn after you mow can cause thatch problems, right? Nope! That’s a myth. Turns out, grass clippings can actually help with the overall health of your lawn. And (bonus!) that means less work for you when you mow. Don't skip aerating Most lawns, whether seeded or sodded, are planted over a fairly skimpy layer of topsoil. Over time, lawn mowers, pets and football games compact the soil, making it difficult for air, water and vital nutrients to penetrate to the grassroots. Your challenge: to restore healthy soil conditions that nurture your lawn. To loosen and aerate the soil, rent a power core aerator. They’re available at rental centres, plus some hardware stores and garden centres. Don't use a dull mower blade Dull mower blades rip through the grass blades instead of slicing them cleanly, and that stresses the plant. You can always tell a lawn that’s been mowed with a dull blade because it looks brown on the top. Get on your hands and knees and you can actually see the damage. Be sure to sharpen your mower blade each season to keep your lawn in good shape. Don't water every day Did you know your lawn can actually get dependent and needy if it has too much water? Instead of watering every day for 15 minutes, choose one day a week to water the lawn for an entire hour. Your lawn will be watered deeply, and it will be healthier and more drought-tolerant. Don't forget to dethatch Thatch is a layer of slowly decomposing grass stems, roots, clippings, and debris that accumulate at the soil surface over time. It can build up in your lawn and virtually choke it to death. Excessive thatch build-up is commonly found in lawns that have been overfertilized or overwatered and have never been aerated. Thatch build-up of 2cm or more will restrict water and nutrient penetration into the soil (think thatched roof) and can harbour disease organisms that can increase the need for pesticides. Slice open a section of turf. If the thatch is more than 2cm thick, take action. Don't give up on shady areas Growing grass under shade trees isn’t easy, but one key to success is choosing the right shade grass species and planting method for your region. In cool-season areas, you’ll get a better result using seed rather than sod. Sod is grown in wide-open fields under conditions that favour sun-loving grasses. Garden centres will have grass seed mixes formulated for shade. Late summer and mid-spring are the best times to establish cool-season grasses in shady areas. Don't wait too long between mowing If you came back from a holiday and didn’t arrange to have the grass mowed while you were away, don’t try and mow it down in one day. Cut off some of the length and then wait a couple of days and mow again. This will cause less stress on the grass. You may need three passes depending on how long the grass grew. Don't cut grass too short Every grass type has an optimal cutting height, and you’re better off on the high side of that height. Here are a few reasons: The grass blade is the food factory of the plant. Short blades just can’t generate as much food as long blades. Long blades also shade and cool the soil. That means weed seeds are less likely to sprout, and you won’t have to water as often because water won’t evaporate as fast. Not sure what type of grass you have? Take a sample to a garden centre for identification. Don't mow in the same direction every time Instead, mow in a different direction every time: front to back, back to front, diagonal, etc. Repeatedly mowing the exact same way will cause the grass blades to grow at an angle, and you may develop permanent tracks from the mower wheels. Don't cut wet grass Mowing wet grass can cause the mower wheels to leave ruts in your yard, and you could leave behind giant clumps of clippings that could smother the grass beneath. And the wet grass will carpet the underside of your mower deck with a thick mat that’s a pain to clean. Yikes! Don't overfeed If you apply too much grass fertiliser, especially in sandy soils, a good share of it will leach through the soil and make its way into our precious groundwater, rivers, streams and wetlands. Lawn grasses only need a certain amount of food. More isn’t always better. Don't ignore pet areas Dog spots are round patches about 10 to 20cm in diameter with dead grass in the middle, encircled by dark green grass. They’re most apparent in the early spring when dormant grass first begins to turn green again. You have to replant your grass; it won’t come back on its own. But first, you have to dilute or remove the caustic urine from the soil. Thoroughly soak the area with lots of water. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/gardening-tips/12-things-you-should-never-do-to-your-lawn?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Home & Garden

Robert Irwin’s awkward fan interaction

Robert Irwin has accidentally rejected an American tourist who may be in love with him after “missing” her message. The son of the great Steve Irwin was called cute by Megan Grass after he completed a show at Australia Zoo. She shared the footage to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@megangrass12/video/7109012062063562030?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> of her complimenting him before asking for his number to a round of laughter. Robert said he was “flattered” and proceeded to ask where she was from to which she responded Utah, America. “Utah is great. I’ll tell you what, the easiest way is literally on Instagram so my people can monitor and see where it comes from because my number is hit and miss,” he said to her. Megan then to his surprise revealed that she had in fact messaged the night before to let him know she was going to Australia Zoo. He asked for her name and said “I’ll look it up” before waving and putting his thumb up. It however appears that Robert did not “look up” Megan as she is yet to receive any form of communication from him. "I think it definitely paid off because I got the opportunity to meet Robert, which is really cool," she said on The Today Show. "I definitely was not expecting it to blow up the way it did but it was a really cool experience all together and Robert was so sweet about it." When asked about what she liked about Robert, Megan said it was the fact that “he’s a great guy all together”. "I just think he's literally the sweetest person ever, like I was a stranger who asked for his number and he didn't have to be polite about it but he definitely was," she continued. "Robert's also like really busy and if he sees it [her message], he sees it, and if he doesn't, it's totally okay." Images: TikTok/Today

Relationships

Megan Gale's Daylesford retreat up for rent

After purchasing their dream weekender a year ago, model Megan Gale and her husband, former Carlton player Shaun Hampson, have <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/28790133?source_impression_id=p3_1618269099_qcQ704JcVbotUTyk&guests=6&adults=6" target="_blank">listed it on Airbnb</a>. The couple bought Dollywood, a 1940s bungalow in the pretty Victorian town of Daylesford, from their friends, former footballer Marcus Baldwin and his wife Eloise Fox. After giving it some subtle updates, the couple listed it on Airbnb in April for up to six guests per stay. The weatherboard home is known for its neon ink sign at the front, and features vintage Hollywood and Palm Springs stylings throughout. As regular visitors to Daylesford, Gale and Hampton visited the area before and after they had their children, River, 7, and Rosie, 4. “Daylesford, for Shaun and myself, has always been a really special place,” Gale told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.domain.com.au/living/stay-at-dollywood-the-daylesford-airbnb-owned-by-megan-gale-and-shaun-hampson-1103561/" target="_blank">Domain</a>. In 2018, they discovered Dollywood, and snapped it up when it hit the market in September last year. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQN5G11DAVC/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQN5G11DAVC/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by MEGAN GALE (@megankgale)</a> </div> </blockquote> “We thought it was so sweet; it had great charm and the kids loved it,” Gale said. The bungalow now features an indoor wood heater, backed by a curved timber wall separating the living area from the bedrooms, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows that open out to the verandah. Throughout the house, artwork including a cactus print, a neon sign (a nod to Dolly Parton), and various wall hangings, have been chosen by Gale. “I wanted some warm mustard, navy and pink tones coming through the house, so I injected that here and there,” she said. Guests can stay at the home for between $400 and $800 a night and can enjoy a hamper filled with local goodies and curated soundtrack of Hollywood classics during their stay. Images: @dollywood_daylesford (Instagram)

Real Estate

Naomi Osaka's feud with Piers Morgan heats up

A Twitter feud has started between Naomi Osaka, conservative commentator Megan Kelly, and Piers Morgan, after Kelly and Morgan hit out at the tennis star over her recent magazine feature. Osaka recently appeared on the front cover of Sports Illustrated in a swimsuit photoshoot, making history as the first Japanese and Haitian woman to do so. After sharing the cover on her social media pages, Osaka attracted criticism for appearing in the media after her recent break from the spotlight. Since taking time away from the tennis court on mental health grounds, Osaka has announced a collaboration with Barbie for her ‘Role Model’ doll, a Netflix mini-series about her, and made appearances in Vogue, Time Magazine, and Sports Illustrated. All of these media engagements would have been in the works for months, but sports pundit Clay Travis called Osaka out for her latest media appearances during her break. Kelly and Morgan echoed their support for his criticisms. “Since saying she’s too introverted to talk to the media after tennis matches, Naomi Osaka has launched a reality show, a Barbie, and now is on the cover of the SI swimsuit issue,” Travis said on Twitter. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Let’s not forget the cover of (& interview in) Vogue Japan and Time Mag! <a href="https://t.co/PAAUEwAVi0">https://t.co/PAAUEwAVi0</a> — Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/megynkelly/status/1417154841898622977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2021</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> ANOTHER magazine cover for brave inspiring Naomi! No wonder she had no time for beastly media press conferences! 🤣 <a href="https://t.co/ckrKodKBc5">https://t.co/ckrKodKBc5</a> — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) <a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1417186968472072194?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2021</a></blockquote> In a now-deleted tweet, Osaka hit back at Kelly and criticised her for not doing her ‘research’ and for ‘spewing negativity’. “Seeing as you’re a journalist I would’ve assumed you would take the time to research what the lead times are for magazines, if you did that you would’ve found out I shot all of my covers last year,” Osaka wrote. But, after appearing to block Kelly, the commentator continued the attack on the tennis star. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Poor <a href="https://twitter.com/naomiosaka?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@naomiosaka</a> blocked me while taking a shot at me (guess she’s only tough on the courts). She is apparently arguing that she shot her many covers b/4 publicly claiming she was too socially anxious to deal w/press. Truth is she just doesn’t like Qs she can’t control. Admit it. <a href="https://t.co/izyRzOrUVm">pic.twitter.com/izyRzOrUVm</a> — Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/megynkelly/status/1417193630671032320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2021</a></blockquote> Morgan also weighed-in, saying he has been blocked by Osaka as well. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Yep, and she just blocked me too. The only media Ms Osaka wants to tolerate are sycophantic magazine editors telling her how perfect she is. <a href="https://t.co/oLcyJviR4v">https://t.co/oLcyJviR4v</a> — Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) <a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1417194272886038534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2021</a></blockquote> However, others were quick to jump to Osaka’s defence, including tennis great Martina Navratilova. “A**hole much, Megyn?!? You have no idea what you are talking about. But go ahead and take your shot. It missed badly!!!” Navratilova tweeted.

News

Mystery solved: Why do cats eat grass even when it makes them sick?

While our feline friends are full of mysteries - there are some questions that should be answered for the sake of health. Cats have a strange habit of eating grass despite it making them ill. Researchers from the University of California’s School of Veterinary Medicine believe they have found the reason behind the odd practice. Experts suggest feline’s ancestors would chew on roughage (comparable to grass) to get rid of intestinal parasites. Cats would pick up parasites from eating rodents then eat the grass to flush out the worms. Chewing on grass would provoke muscle activity in their digestive tracts. While it is unnecessary for our furry friends to keep the habit in modern times, researchers believe it is what cats choose to do when they have an irritation. “Given that virtually all wild carnivores carry an intestinal parasite load, instinctive plant-eating would have an adaptive role in maintaining a tolerable intestinal parasite load, whether or not the animal senses the parasites,” the statement read.

Caring

How to treat dog spots on grass

Round patches on the lawn about 100mm wide with dead grass in the middle and dark green at the edges are called dog spots. The patches occur when a dog wees in the same area a number of times and the high concentration of acids, salts and nitrogen in the urine burns the grass roots. Dig out the dead spots and replant the affected area by adding topsoil and grass seed to match the surrounding area. Prevent spots by giving the dog plenty of water to make its urine less concentrated and soak its favourite areas of lawn to flush salts out of the root zone before they kill the grass. Train the pet to urinate in a special spot and cover the area with mulch. Step 1: Hose the spot Hose the spot until the grass is soaking to dilute the urine acids and salts and wash them deeper into the soil, away from the grass roots. Step 2: Scrape dead grass Scrape up the dead grass with a hand rake to remove it then rough up the area to loosen the soil to 20mm deep as seeds germinate better in soft soil. Step 3: Sprinkle topsoil Sprinkle topsoil in a thin layer then add an even amount of grass seed, covering with another thin layer of soil. Keep the area moist until the new grass is about 50mm high Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.handyman.net.au/treat-dog-spots-grass">Handyman Australia</a>.

Home & Garden

6 tips for maintaining a healthy lawn at sea

Maintaining a healthy green lawn can be difficult enough on land, so we were really impressed when we discovered there was a cruise ship that maintains real grass onboard. The highest deck on the cruise ship, Celebrity Solstice, is covered in a lawn of luscious green grass. It is the only cruise ship in Australia to have real grass onboard. Can you imagine the challenges involved in trying to maintain a thriving lawn at sea? There’s wind, salt spray, humidity and climate changes to contend with. Not to mention the fact that the grass is not actually taking in root in the earth. Yes, there are problems aplenty but the crew at Celebrity Solstice seem to have it figured out. The ship employs two highly trained lawn keepers and an onboard Environment Manager who is tasked with overseeing grass maintenance, among other things. To keep the lawn in peak condition, the keepers monitor the area daily and undertake vigilant pest control practices. The grass is mowed to precisely 35mm, as often as every day where conditions are warmer and every three days in cooler climes, using a non-gas emitting cylinder mower or reel mower. The lawn is watered using automated sprinklers, sub-surface sprinklers, as well as old fashioned manual watering. Mineral and organic lawn care products feed and protect the grass, and of course deck chairs and high heels are discouraged. The lawn consists of Couch grass during the warmer months. In places like Alaska, where temperatures are much cooler, the Couch grass is overgrown with Rye grass seeds that germinate and provide green grass even in arctic conditions. The grass grows on a porous base made of lightweight calcium clay, crushed and blended together with sieved and washed volcanic pumice. Not only do these materials have nutritional benefits for the grass, the calcium clay and volcanic pumice provide great drainage after rain and when the area is irrigated. Staffers were really impressed with the quality of lawn care practiced at Celebrity Solstice so when Environment Manager Nick Asproudas offered to share his lawn care tips with us we jumped at the chance. Nicks says his tips for maintaining healthy grass can be easily applied to residential lawns. We agree. Nicks tips are in line with our own advice when it comes to keeping the lawn green and luscious. Here are Nick's tips. 6 Tips For Maintaining A Healthy Lawn At Sea Or At Home 1. Cut with care Never cut your grass too short – I suggest taking off no more than 10% of the leaf at one time because more than this can damage your grass. 2. Control weeds While herbicides are great for preventing weeds from spreading, it can take days before the chemicals kick in, not to mention the damage most do to the environment. So if you have a smaller backyard there is nothing better than good old fashioned manual weeding - it’s what we do on Celebrity Solstice’s lawn - just make sure the whole root is removed from the soil. 3. Fertilise A slow-release fertiliser is always best and won’t burn your grass. I recommend you fertilise every 6-8 weeks -just don’t forget to water your lawn after the application. 4. Water the lawn It’s vital to water your grass all year around, but it is especially important to do so during Australia's harsh summer months. Watering by hand is always best as sometimes sprinklers do not provide a sufficient amount of water. 5. Eliminate brown patches Firstly, check soil moisture levels using a soil probe. If you find your lawn soil is quite dry, water it manually or use an oscillating sprinkler. If it isn’t, brown patches are often caused by a disease. If this is the case, isolate the area so nobody steps on the grass and apply a fungicide to stop the disease from spreading. 6. Mow with purpose Change your mowing directions each time you mow your lawn to increase the density of your turf and reduce scalping. The round the clock technique works best, which involves changing your mowing pattern based on the numbers on an analogue clock. For example, one day you may mow from 12 to 6, another day from 9 to 3 and then another day from 2 to 8. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.handyman.net.au/6-tips-maintaining-healthy-lawn-sea">Handyman.net.au.</a>

Cruising

Why you should learn one new thing every day in retirement

Retirement Life

Life in retirement: Why it’s never too late to start a business

<a href="http://www.megangiles.com/" target="_blank">Megan Giles</a>, Retirement Transition Consultant, supports those approaching retirement to successfully transition and create a retirement they will love to live! Think you’re too old to start a business? Think again. The 55+ age bracket is the fastest growing demographic for launching a new business and proves that age is no barrier to entrepreneurship. A recent US study found that almost 40% of Baby Boomer respondents indicated they were interested in starting a business or not-for-profit in retirement. And why not! Retirement provides a wonderful opportunity to pursue your passion on your own terms and earn an income in the process. As Jill says, “I love being over 60 and just figuring out my new career. So many wonderful things still to come” Why kick back in the recliner if you would rather be doing something else? How a business can help realise your purpose in retirement There are a number of motivators for starting a business after stepping away from one’s ‘real’ career. It might be that you developed a specific or highly desirable skill set during your career and don’t want your skills to lose currency. It might be that you have a hobby and are excited to purpose it with passion, or that you are an empty nester with more time on your hands and want to do something meaningful with your days. Whatever your motivation, why not give it a go! Remember that there is nothing wrong with making money by serving and delivering great value to others. The unique contribution that Baby Boomers have to offer One of the most powerful points of difference that retirees have to offer is the ability to identify with, and respond to, the needs of a fast growing consumer demographic – the Baby Boomers themselves. According to the <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs%40.nsf/94713ad445ff1425ca25682000192af2/1647509ef7e25faaca2568a900154b63?OpenDocument" target="_blank">ABS</a>, at least 15% of the Australia population in 2017 were 65 or older, which accounts for 3.4 million people! Baby Boomers constitute a significant part of the consumer market and are inclined to do business with other Baby Boomers because they ‘get’ them. They think to themselves ‘you’ve been where I’ve been and you understand what I need’. As Ange* reflects “I’m 67 and most of the women I work with are baby boomers too. One of the things I realised is that women of a certain age come from a place of wisdom. We’ve lived, we’ve learned, we synthesise so much…And we’re truly experts on what we do because we have that deeper knowledge that goes beyond textbook knowledge” Challenge the stereotypes that retirees are past it and out of touch. Your experience, networks and resilience are just three valuable qualities you will bring to the entrepreneurial world. Setting off on the right foot - Key actions to take when starting a business in retirement 1. Do market research. For the greatest chance of success it is important to ensure you are solving a problem in a marketplace. Who is your ideal client? Can you describe them – what they like doing, how they spend their time, and what is important to them. Do you know someone who fits this description? Chat to them and find out if what you want to offer will appeal to them? Test and refine. Find some more people to speak with. Test and refine again. 2. Stop and reflect. Take a moment to stop and reflect on your strengths, your proudest moments, the challenges you have overcome and what you are truly passionate about. This will provide a positive foundation to build your business on. Remember that you don’t need to compete with the 20-somethings in this digital age. Offerings do not have to be tech-based to succeed. 3. Plan. Identify the problem or opportunity and assess if you have the right skills to respond. If there are any gaps consider if you need to bring in some expertise, be that coaching, outsourcing or upskilling. Don’t be afraid to use your connections and embrace technology. Determine how much money you are willing to outlay, how many items/sessions you need to sell to break even (and better yet earn a profit) and then make that one of your goals. 4. Set ground rules. Make the distinction between work and personal time. Remember, retirement is about lifestyle – you don’t want your business to become all-consuming. Set these expectations early and hold yourself to account! One bonus tip – it is not worth losing a friendship over a business. Before you launch a venture with a friend, ensure that your skills are complementary and create some ground rules about how the two of you are going to work together and speak up when things are not going as anticipated. After a long and successful career in recruitment, Lisa* established a personal image business. Through her career she frequently advised on creating a high impact first impression and recognised the importance of feeling good in one’s skin. She also had an amateur interest in styling with friends regularly asking ‘what should I wear to that important dinner’ or ‘what shoes go with this outfit’. Not surprisingly she created a business supporting women approaching retirement to transition from a corporate wardrobe to a more relaxed style. She appreciated that women (like herself) still want to look smart but reflect a new energy in retirement. Lisa has built her business via word-of-mouth, some networking and an online presence. She is conscious of the number of clients she takes on each week as she wants her business to be a joy, not a burden. To her, business is about pursuing something that lights her up (and being rewarded for it!). The Baby Boomers have always been the ones to break the rules and to challenge the social norms. Why should that be any difference in retirement? Why retire in the traditional sense of the word if you’re excited to be doing something else?

Retirement Life

Single in retirement? Here’s what you need to know

<a rel="noopener" href="http://www.megangiles.com/" target="_blank">Megan Giles</a>, Retirement Transition Consultant, supports those approaching retirement to successfully transition and create a retirement they will love to live! There are a myriad of reasons as to why you may find yourself single in retirement. Perhaps you have always been single, divorced years ago, separated recently, or perhaps you unexpectedly lost your loved one to illness. For some it is welcome relief, for others it is utterly heartbreaking but whatever your journey, you are embarking on retirement without a significant other. It was suggested that Singles experience a unique set of challenges and opportunities to their counterparts in couples when it comes to life in retirement. With this in mind, I set out to explore if this actually is the case by drawing on the experiences of recent retirees. The reflections recounted to me were particularly open and candid and so there is great value in sharing these. They also provide a wonderful opportunity to explore the action one can take to harness the opportunities and avoid their fears becoming a reality. What do single people fear stepping into retirement? <ol> <li>I will run out of money and I have no other person to fall back on.</li> <li>Who will care for me if I become seriously ill or disabled? For those who have cared for a partner, they appreciate what this involves and dread becoming a burden on others.</li> <li>Adapting my plans - I never expected to lose my partner so soon. All of my plans involved them and I have no idea how to move forward.</li> <li>A lack of companionship. I don’t need company 24/7 but it would be nice to have someone ask about my day or to do things with, particularly when work colleagues fall away.</li> <li>Not being able to travel and fulfil life-long dreams – the single supplements make travel so much more expensive and none of my friends seem to want to travel.</li> </ol> What are the opportunities that only come with being single? <ol> <li>I am able to invest and save money as I choose. There is no need to compromise.</li> <li>I am in charge of my own destiny and am able to pursue the things on my bucket list.</li> <li>I have flexibility in how to live my life, I am able to make decisions on my terms.</li> <li>Knowing that the house will always be as I left it when I get home!</li> </ol> The challenge then becomes how to acknowledge the fears and whilst channelling the positives in order to take action and create a retirement in which you will thrive. What to consider in your planning as a single retiree The most important thing you can do is plan, and consider the ‘what ifs’ (and really, this is advice that I would give to anyone approaching retirement). Don’t avoid thinking about the bad things, hoping they don’t eventuate. Acknowledge them and plan so that if the unforeseen should occur, you are able to make informed decisions, rather than urgent and emotive ones. 1. Create a lifestyle transition plan. Whilst you may thrive living independently now at 60, what might change over the next 25 years? Will you have adequate support and access to care where you are right now, particularly if you became unable to drive? Do you have a strong connection with the people around you? If the time comes that you need to move, what would your preference be? A seniors’ community may be a viable option with plenty of social activities and access to support. 2. Get your documents in order. Consider what would happen if you lost the mental capacity to make decisions. Who do you want to have enduring power of attorney? Empower the right person to make significant decision for you, and on your behalf, should you not be able to do so yourself. Ensure peace of mind that your loved ones will be looked after. 3. Seek financial advice. A trusted and accredited Financial Planner has the expertise and tools to leverage your finances and position you positively for retirement. This advice can be even more impactful when you don’t have a huge portfolio of assets, e.g. an extra few thousand dollars more may mean more to you than to a millionaire. 4. Look after your body and mind. If you are worried about your financial situation, one of the most powerful things you can do right now is get active and reduce your risk of illness and disease, thus avoiding high medical costs later in life. 5. Connect with the community around you. The people who do best in retirement are those who are engaged in their local community and regularly spend time with friends and family. Devote time to developing and maintaining relationships and don’t be afraid to ask for help as you know you would return the favour without hesitation. 6. Become comfortable in your own skin. If for example, you can’t find someone to go to the movies with, don’t let that slow you down. Recognise that most people are so preoccupied with their own worries that they won’t even notice you, let alone wonder why you might be out alone. If you love travelling, why not do your research and find companies that specialise in single travel (without the supplements!). Regardless of your relationship status, retirement is a wonderful time of life and very much the ‘beginning of the open road’ rather than the end of a journey. If you do find yourself single at this stage in life, embrace the positives and proactively plan for the anticipated challenges so that you truly can create a retirement you will love to live (on your terms)!

Retirement Life

So sweet! Megan Gale shares rare photo of six-month old baby Rosie

Australian model Megan Gale has taken to social media to share a rare beautiful photo of her six-month old baby Rosie. The mother-of-two wrote alongside the photo, “This is what pure joy & happiness looks like. And she brings it in spades! Love you so much my baby girl.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BgA5bZ8HhFh/" target="_blank">A post shared by MEGAN GALE (@megankgale)</a> on Mar 6, 2018 at 11:42pm PST </div> </blockquote> Fans were quick to share the admiration for the gorgeous little girl, with many commenting on how happy Rosie looks. “Beautiful love the smile and the gorgeous chubby limbs she is precious,” one fan wrote. “Rosie looks like a real cutie with a happy personality,” wrote another. Rosie Dee was born on September 29, 2017. Rosie is Megan’s second child with her partner, Richmond AFL footballer Shaun Hampson. The couple also have a son, River Alan Thomas, who will turn 4 in May. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BcUSQkmnKam/" target="_blank">A post shared by MEGAN GALE (@megankgale)</a> on Dec 5, 2017 at 2:19am PST </div> </blockquote> Megan was born in Perth and started to forge her successful modelling career at 18. In 1999, she hit the big time when she was selected to appear in a series of advertisements for Italian telecommunications company Omnitel. Do you think Megan's baby girl looks like her model mum? Do you see any resemblance? Tell us in the comments below.

Technology

To retire or re-wire? How to reframe your retirement

<a href="http://www.megangiles.com/" target="_blank">Megan Giles</a>, Retirement Transition Consultant, supports those approaching retirement to successfully transition and create a retirement they will love to live! Retirement is a gloomy word. It is derived from the French words ‘re’ and ‘tirer’, meaning to draw back and suggests that the best part of our lives is over once we are no longer working. It insinuates that retirement is simply a time to sit back and wait for the inevitable. But what if we framed it differently? I recently put the call out to my readers, thinking that surely there must be a better (and more inspiring) word than retirement to describe the life stage post-career. I figured who better to ask than those who are currently living this reality? I received a number of insightful suggestions but the one that really struck me was the notion to ‘rewire’ as shared by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/retiringnotshy/?ref=br_rs" target="_blank">Jan Wild</a> of <a href="https://www.retirement-planning.info/" target="_blank">Retiring Not Shy</a>. I love this as it evokes a sense of renewal, reinvigoration and the opportunity to challenge assumptions. What would you rather do – retire or rewire? Growing research in the field of neuroplasticity demonstrates that the brain is not static. It continues to evolve and adapt, i.e. rewire, as we age. Scientists have demonstrated that the brain is sufficiently plastic (i.e. able to reorganise its neural pathways) to transform and change at any age, even in adulthood. Significant learning is not confined to childhood and adolescence as previously thought. If your brain can rewire, what shouldn’t you? Do you want to challenge the stereotype that older persons are unable to learn new things – or that the best of your life has passed once you step into retirement? Here are three science-based facts to inspire you to rewire and grasp life with both hands as you step into retirement. Use it or lose it It’s only when you stop doing things that you forget how to do them. There is a tendency for people to limit themselves as they age by doing only the things that feel comfortable, i.e. undertaking only familiar and repetitive activities. What this means, however, is that this familiarity enables the brain to become a little lazy (Guglielman 2017). Provided you keep challenging yourself, there is no reason that you can’t get out there and learn a new language or take up stand-up paddle boarding. Your brain will adapt and allow you to learn new skills. Tip: Keep using your brain and your body in new and exciting ways. Fire up your network of friends, family and community (and those long held dreams!) and try new adventures and activities. Keep pushing yourself. Don’t allow old age to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Perhaps you’re a little nervous about driving and so you start to accept lifts from friends or catch the bus into town. You put mechanisms in place to ensure you can still get ‘out and about’ but without the stress of driving. This means, however, that your brain will stop receiving the stimuli that driving creates and instead focus its efforts on other functions. As a result you no longer have the competence (or confidence) to drive. This is known as negative learning (Merzenich, 2005). Tip: Don’t assume that because you are older, there are things you ‘shouldn’t’ be doing. Provided your health will allow it, avoid ‘work-arounds’ and keep challenging yourself with complex (and perhaps exciting!) tasks. Avoid getting caught up in ‘seniors moments’ A lapse in memory can be inconvenient and even embarrassing. It can even be time-consuming, such as forgetting where you left the keys. But before you start researching the symptoms of Alzheimers and self-diagnosing, recognise we all have forgetful moments. Regardless of age, people tend experience significant drop offs in retention after 60 minutes and after 24 hours because out brains ‘bump out’ older information to make way for new information (Waddington 2009). Further to that, forgetfulness can be caused by a number of things such as stress, fatigue or medication. Tip: Avoid identifying with the stereotype. Acknowledge that you will forget things from time to time and get on with living a full and opportunity-filled retirement! The ability of the humble brain to change and adapt as we age is quite astounding. Be inspired by its capability and keep stretching, striving, flexing and challenging in all aspects of life. Forge your own path and create a retirement you will love to live!

Retirement Life

You hate your job: Is retirement really a silver bullet?

<a href="http://www.megangiles.com/" target="_blank">Megan Giles</a>, Retirement Transition Consultant, supports those approaching retirement to successfully transition and create a retirement they will love to live! There are people who hate their job and are counting down the days until they can retire. They share with glee that it’s only 673 days until they retire and are quick to point out the shortcomings of their job, their manager, the organisation and even their colleagues. You might know one of these people. You may even be one yourself! They assume that as soon as work is taken out of the equation, life will be great. They idealise retirement as an endless holiday, free of worry. The challenge is that for many like this, the dissatisfaction with their job can be all-consuming and it is not until they retire that they realise how strongly their job (and the associated complaining!) formed the basis of their identity. It’s positively exhausting to constantly complain and this means there is often very little ‘left in the tank’ to meet new people and try to new things outside of their job. Their world is work-centric and relatively small. I managed Sandie the Sandstorm. Clearly not her real name but that’s how I referred to her because in moments when stress overwhelmed her it was like a tornado whipping through the office! She had become cynical of change, regularly complained about how much better the ‘old days’ were, and frequently reminded me that she could retire now ‘if she wanted to’. Yet she worked well past the typical age of retirement. Why? I suspect because she was terrified of retirement. She worked long hours (I think simply so that she had something else to complain about) which meant she had limited time for friends and family and little else to talk about apart from work. Unconsciously she feared life without work. If you are miserable in your job, retirement may be a very appealing option. But without planning, retirement in and of itself is unlikely to be the silver bullet to your woes. Taking away something you dislike does not guarantee it will be replaced with joy and excitement. How to take action to ensure that retirement does, in fact, bring you (or someone you love) the joy you seek. 1. Start taking action now Plan for retirement, but don’t just think about it in abstract terms, e.g. to be ‘happy’. Consider what that will look like in practice. Does this mean an overseas trip, regular tennis matches, spending time with the grandchildren or going to the movies weekly? Plot what a typical week in retirement might look like. Now, look at your list and identify what you could start doing right now to distract from your mundane job. For example, what’s currently stopping you from going to the movies once a week? If you chose to make time, could it become a reality? 2. Establish a hobby before you retire Make time to develop an interest outside of work before you retire. Not only will this help to create a sense of continuity when work no longer fills your waking hours but will create events to look forward to even while you are still working. It might be joining a book club (with wine!), taking up worm framing or training for a 5km fun run. What if there was more to each day than endless reports and emails. Imagine actually looking forward to something, such as an evening run. 3. Reconnect with friends Make a call or send a message. Who is that one friend that you have been meaning to catch-up with? What can you do to connect with them today? It is refreshing to laugh about old times (and a good belly laugh does wonders for your mood) and talk about interests outside of work. It is also reassuring to know that you’ll have support around you when you step into retirement. 4. Spend time with people who energise and light you up Make time for the people who make you laugh, and who bring out the best in you. These are the people who will encourage you to try new things and get out of your comfort zone. They may not be the people you work with. Distance yourself from people who bring you down and drain your energy. Be curious and allow yourself to see the wonder in life, particularly that outside of work. Take action today and set yourself up for a retirement you will love to live! And you never know, you may just enjoy the journey!

Retirement Life

The simple trick to creating a meaningful retirement for yourself

<a href="http://www.megangiles.com/" target="_blank">Megan Giles</a>, Retirement Transition Consultant, supports those approaching retirement to successfully transition and create a retirement they will love to live! It’s all well and good to say that you need to find purpose in retirement but for some this is well intended but frustrating advice. They have stepped away from work, caught up on sleep, cleared out the corporate wardrobe and now want to know what retirement can look like on a day-to-day basis. They want real examples because without work these are now a lot of waking hours to fill. The worry is that it is easy to fill for the days to get away from you. You can shop, have coffee and watch TV. But what will you have to show after 6 months, 12 months or 10 years? What people fear is the passing of time without a sense of purpose. To say ‘do something you enjoy’ is just too vague. You many enjoy going to the gym, but this is not something you can do all day, every day. Not only would you be exhausted, but you’d likely have shin splints, aching muscles and blisters to deal with as well! Rather than reinvent the wheel, why not just think differently about how you do what you already do. Here are five examples of how you can build on the activities you already enjoy in order to fill your days meaningfully and create experiences to look forward to in retirement. <ul> <li>Consider when you schedule activities. Perhaps you’ve belonged to a book club for years and you always meet on the first Tuesday evening of the month. Now that you are all retired, do your really need to continue meeting at night, squeezing in these catch-ups around work? Is this something you could instead enjoy over a leisurely lunch or afternoon tea (still enjoying that glass of wine that goes hand-in-hand with any good book discussion)? A day time book club might be particularly appealing if you no longer like to drive at night.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Incorporate your interest with travel. You may enjoy playing golf, but once or twice a week is enough. You don’t want it to become a chore. Have you ever considered planning a golf trip with friends? Imagine exploring the highlands and historic cities of Scotland, enjoying a dram of whiskey one day and playing one of the famed St Andrews courses the next! Or escaping the winter cold and heading north to play at a reciprocal club in more tropical climes. It’s a fantastic way to see a different part of the world and share the experience with friends. You might even like to make this an annual event.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Give back to your club or group. Perhaps you enjoy netball, triathlon or restoring furniture at the local men’s shed. Have you ever thought about joining the committee and contributing your skills and enthusiasm at the strategic level to make your club even greater? Often energy, motivation and a willingness to ‘get your hands dirty’ is enough, but you may have a specific skill set which your club or group could benefit from? It might be accounting, marketing, social media, grant applications or business development skills. This could be a wonderful opportunity to create a bigger impact and encourage more people to follow your passion.</li> </ul> <ul> <li>Avoid being limited by your circumstances. You’ve downsized to an apartment but enjoy gardening. Does this mean you can no longer be a gardener? The answer is no! There are many thriving community gardens out there seeking enthusiastic green thumbs to volunteer their expertise and energy. Most local government websites have information on where to find your nearest community garden, and the wonderful thing about becoming involved is not only are you creating sustainable gardening practices but you get to enjoy the fruits of your labour as well! Imagine what you could cook with all of those fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs!</li> <li>Teach others and pass on your expertise. Perhaps you have a grandchild or neighbour kid who constantly pesters you to know ‘why do you do that’ and ‘what would happen if you did this’ while you are tinkering in the shed, repotting those plants or mending a shirt. It is possible that they are not simply bothering you – they genuinely want to learn. Have you ever considered teaching them and passing on your skill? This needn’t require a formal qualification, it might just be a wonderful opportunity to have someone to share your hobby with. (One a side note, there are so many millennials who don’t know how to hem and instead take their pants to a tailor, paying $25 to get them altered. Maybe teaching others to sew could be your personal mission!)</li> </ul> You don’t need to suddenly find 1- new hobbies to fill your days meaningfully in retirement. Instead consider what you already enjoy and just approach is differently.

Retirement Life

Just like mum! Megan Gale shares rare photo of 3-year-old son River

With a supermodel for a mum and a handsome professional footballer as a dad, it’s no surprise that Megan Gale and Shaun Hampson’s son River is absolutely gorgeous, but a new, rare snap of the three-year-old has many predicting he’s got his own modelling career in his future. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; base64,ivborw0kggoaaaansuheugaaacwaaaascamaaaapwqozaaaabgdbtueaalgpc/xhbqaaaafzukdcak7ohokaaaamuexurczmzpf399fx1+bm5mzy9amaaadisurbvdjlvzxbesmgces5/p8/t9furvcrmu73jwlzosgsiizurcjo/ad+eqjjb4hv8bft+idpqocx1wjosbfhh2xssxeiyn3uli/6mnree07uiwjev8ueowds88ly97kqytlijkktuybbruayvh5wohixmpi5we58ek028czwyuqdlkpg1bkb4nnm+veanfhqn1k4+gpt6ugqcvu2h2ovuif/gwufyy8owepdyzsa3avcqpvovvzzz2vtnn2wu8qzvjddeto90gsy9mvlqtgysy231mxry6i2ggqjrty0l8fxcxfcbbhwrsyyaaaaaelftksuqmcc); display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"></div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BeAY3oAHM4y/" target="_blank">A post shared by MEGAN GALE (@megankgale)</a> on Jan 16, 2018 at 1:55am PST </div> </blockquote> “If you follow me on insta you’d know I rarely post photos of my son but I was going through our holiday photos and this one just stops me in my tracks every time,” Megan captioned the stunning photo. “He melts my heart!” Her fans were quick to point out that River certainly shares her good looks. “He has your eyes,” one commenter wrote. “He’s so you! Gorgeous young man.” Given he’s definitely inherited mum’s looks, time will only tell if he’s inherited dad’s talent on the footy field! Image credit: Megan Gale/Instagram.

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Why does grass grow more slowly in winter?

When babysitting your grandkids is not the retirement plan