Submitted by Will Arscott March 15th, 2016

 

MARCH 14TH - MEETING RECAP - REGULAR MEETING AT THE BESSBOROUGH ‘rE-kINDLING Your Spark; Navigating the Mid-Life Malaise’ - Patricia Katz

 

The meeting was presided by President Bev Dubois

Greeter - Duron Nelson

Cashier - Avis Hardy

Visitors and Guests - Avis Hardy

 

O Canada was led by Wayne McGillivray

 

Grace - Al Morton - ‘help us to be of use to others and to understand the full meaning of the Golden Rule.

 

Visitors and Guests there were none other than our guest speaker Patricia Katz

 

 

 

- Bev thank Heather Clysdale for coming on board as Club Secretary. Heather has offered to finish out this year and be secretary during Jack B’s term. Farooq is moving to Toronto to continue his work.

 

- Reported that last week’s meeting at Holy Cross High School was a success. All attendees seemed pleased and there was good information presented by the RAP people and by the administration of the school.

 

- Past District Governor Cam King passed away on the weekend. Funeral arrangements are pending and will be sent by email.

 

- Adventures in Technology starts April 24^th and lasts one week. The project is still in need of billets and drivers. If you can help even on one of the days please speak to President Bev or to Steve Wilson. We will have the students at our meeting on Monday April 25^th. Bill J has a subject planned that will fit with the Adventures in Technology theme.

 

- The executive and others from our club have been invited to the 3^rd annual partnership breakfast at Mount Royal. Please let President Bev know if you plan to attend.

 

- As always grocery cards are available to help support our club. Now that Wayne S. is back they should be available at every meeting so bring your chequebook.

 

- The ‘Hockey Review’ the magazine of Saskatoon Minor hockey featured Sammi our exchange student on the cover and in an article. We are luck to have such a great ambassador as a student in our club.

 

- Dave S will be contacting those who volunteered to help with the Masters Golf Pool shortly in order to get the mailing underway. He also announced that because of his poker trip there is a spot on the fishing trip available. Please contact Dave or Merv McKee if you are interested in fishing. Finally Dave announced that there is a place for one volunteer from our club to join the Enchanted Forest project. This project will run from about November 18 to January 10 this year with training required ahead. I believe it will involve about eighteen shifts. Please contact Dave if you would like to be involved.

 

- Jack Brodsky reminded us that the Badge Shield and Star Dinner which supports our RAP program is booked for Thursday April 21^st. Reserve the date. Joanne Fisher told us that the Picatic site is up and you can obtain your ticket online at Picatic.com/bss2016

 

- President Bev announced that the website for the District Conference is up. The Conference is in May in Gimli. You can complete your registration online and pay by credit card.

 

 

 

- Tim had the audacity to fine those who had not seen his retirement notice. His last day was Feb 29^th. Tim made a very generous $50.00 donation to the Foundation in celebration of his retirement. Tim is now off to Italy until mid-September to begin to enjoy his new retirement. On another note there is no truth to the rumour that Tim began his retirement by buying a brand new Lexus. One can’t imagine how a rumour like that could even get started.

 

 

 

- Peter Z five happy dollars for a wonderful vacation in Hawaii.

 

- Wayne S put in seven happy dollars for one week in Hawaii which he said he had to enjoy even more than Peter because he had less time.

 

- Happy dollars from Wayne Mac for the joy of teaching foreign ski students from Spain, Mexico and Germany. He also has been trusted to babysit his young granddaughter for the first time.

 

- Mark Gryba put in a happy dollar for the success of the Huskies women’s basketball team who won the Canada West division.

 

- Heather C for good dance and basketball successes in her family and for the good sportsmanship shown throughout.

 

- Dave S (again!) For ‘blind dinner’ which was a great success and learning experience. Relieved he does not have to do it everyday. Also another happy dollar for Heather stepping up to be Secretary.

 

- Finally we got a sad dollar from Vic D for Graham DeLaet’s near success on the weekend. His putting let him down.

 

 

 

Patricia Katz was introduced by Bill Johnson as consultant, published author and watercolour artist.

 

Pat started with some observations which are familiar:

 

Most of us will live a long time. Life expectancy is now into our low 80s. People are working longer into their lives. There are twice as many people working in their late 60s now as there were even in 2000. Only about one-third of all people are fully engaged at work. The current workplace is not necessarily happy and does not always provide the meaning people need in their work.

 

We all need a spark but malaise is a recurring theme in our lives: Way back at the turn of the century (2000) Pat came to mid-life and was very busy and successful in her life. Despite her life going well she did not feel excited about her life. There seemed to be a pesky annoying fog. She would now call that fog a malaise. It was a feeling of being stuck or uninspired. She has come to know this is very common as people reach mid-life. (Pat describes mid-life as ages 50 to seventy or earlier or later depending on the individual.)

 

Two forces appear in mid-life: unfulfilled expectations and the demands of our lives. We have built our expectations over time right back to the beginning of our lives: ‘What are you going to be when you grow up?’ Maybe a better question would be ‘what do you want to be as you grow old?’

 

As she has observed people’s approach to their mid-life malaise Pat has identified three approaches people use:

 

Resignation: You can just give up. What makes you think there should be more? Presenteeism is a loss. The person just wants to coast in and drag themselves across the finish line. (Presenteeism is Pat’s term for somebody who shows up in body but whose mind is elsewhere - it is estimated that this costs the economy more than actual Absenteeism.)

 

Detonation: These people want to make a big change and be someone else. Sometimes it can be a good choice if it is thought through properly. Often there is much collateral damage. People give up or impair what is good in their lives.

 

Exploration: You move through. This process can’t be hurried. This is not for ‘planning’ but for growing. In exploration you make time in your life for new things. It is a three step process:

I) Find fuel what has potential for me? (In Pat’s case Watercolour art)

II) Strike match - begin to pursue it slowly at first. Try doing something that interests you. If it is the spark you will often realize it quickly.

III) Fan the flames. Take the time and effort that is necessary to explore the new spark. This will often involve reducing or ending other things in your life. Often the ‘chorus’ will try to take you away from the new spark as it requires you to change your life. This chorus may be one or both of a voice in your head or people in your life. To be successful you need to learn to shut these voices down.

 

Pat went on to quote a nurse who worked in palliative care and by observing many people face end of life issues came to realize that their number one regret was not to have lived a life that was true to themselves rather than as others expected them to live. To be successful in the exploration you need to take time to listen and reflect. Find those things that give you energy. Many people find there are things missing in their lives like novelty and creative expression.

 

In her journey to become an artist Pat took a leap of faith in herself. She learned at least three things:

1. When joy increases in one area of your life it inevitably spills over into other areas of your life.

2. When you are more joyful you will be more encouraging to others.

3. You will find ways to incorporate new things into life. Doors will open for you though this may require a leap of faith.

 

Is there a seed of something good and something more in your life that you should pursue? We can always be more than we are.

 

Thanks by President Bev. Pat drew for a book of her watercolour paintings of Saskatoon Scenes. The prize was won by Will Arscott who had seen the book but was glad to have a copy and will display it in his office.

 

 

Next Meetings: March 21^st: Chris Offer - Rotary’s Million Dollar Initiative

 

March 28^th: Easter - NO MEETING