YEI #19: RETIRED ? WHY NOT VOLUNTEER?
Also In This Edition:
Amazon And Their Private Brands
How Not To Be A Jerk To Yourself
Anthony Bourdain’s Travel Map
List Of Misconceptions
A Newsletter Recommendation
VOLUNTEERING IS GOOD FOR YOU (And The World)
I write a lot about the importance having a purpose in your retirement. Volunteering is a very popular way to create meaning in your retired life. After years of working to pay the bills, you now have the chance to give back, to help out. Besides helping your community, there are great benefits for you, such as:
Staying active and engaged.
Socialization
Learning something new.
Having a purpose, something that gets you out of bed in the morning.
Feeling good about yourself.
There are endless opportunities.
I spent a few years as a volunteer with Junior Achievement teaching financial literacy in public schools to K-12 kids. I think I learned as much as the kids did.
For the last 4 years I’ve been on our Condo Board. I enjoy helping the community, while at the same time I question my sanity for putting up with some of the BS.
If you love to read, I see volunteers during our regular trips to the local library.
Hospitals - I recently read about a retired gent who offered to volunteer at a hospital and ended up rocking premature babies in the NICU.
Schools - My mother read to kindergarteners a couple days a week.
Churches - Earn a few more points with the Big Guy before you need them.
Senior Centers - Endless opportunities to help.
Animal shelters - If you love animals, they are always looking for people to spend time with the abandoned critters.
If you are interested in volunteering, make sure you are deliberate about your choice:
Why do you want to? What do you want to get out of it?
How much time do you have to offer? It’s easier to add to your time commitment than to try to reduce your load.
Do you have any skills you want to share? If you are an avid reader a library is perfect. Are you into crafts? Schools and nursing homes are places to consider.
Are there physical limitations that you need to keep in mind?
Be open to opportunities and ask around. You could easily stumble upon a fantastically rewarding chance to serve.
DOLLARS & SENSE
Amazon And Their Private Brands
Amazon is in the perfect position to study, copy, and steal business from the products they sell. In fact, Amazon has over 100 of their own brands that they own and are disguised as separate businesses. Whether it’s batteries, food, workout gear, or clothes, Amazon has created an unfair marketplace. This CNBC video goes through the details of how they do it and, even though we initially save from their practices, in the long run, we get hurt. CNBC: Amazon And Their Private Brands
Treat Yourself Right
How Not To Be A Jerk To Yourself
For two decades Dan Harris was an anchor for ABC News. He famously had an on air panic attack during one of his broadcasts (search for it on YouTube). As part of his healing process, he did a deep dive into self analysis. Part of which included an anonymous survey of people close to him where he learned he was considered a bit of a jerk. In this entertaining TED Talk, he shares his experience in improving his relationships with others and himself. How To Not Be A Jerk To Yourself
Fun And Frivolity
Where Did Anthony Bourdain Travel.
One of the best parts of watching Anthony Bourdain’s shows was seeing the great destinations he went to. This interactive map allows you to get a nice summary of each location. Waste a few minutes and enjoy. Anthony Bourdain Travel Map
More Fun And Frivolity
Popular Misconceptions
Since this edition of Your Extra Innings was put together during my time sick with COVID, I found myself stumbling into many ways to kill time. This Wikipedia List Of Misconceptions sure did the job.
Here’s
A Quote To Chew On
“I'm your chef, not your doctor.”
-- Restauranteur and celebrity chef Guy Fieri, responding to criticism about the type of food he features on his show "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives." via CNN