Petchabun, Thailand

EKAR architects and landscape architects Groundsplay team up to create Walk / House, taking cues from nature to transform physical space into a boundless mediation on mental and physical states of being.

Surrounded by trees and mountains Walk/House is located in a tranquil part of a temple in Petchabun, Thailand.

The project is conceived as a walking meditation, not only a place for an abbot to live but also to maintain his daily ritual practice together with other monks.

For its inspired twist on the traditional home, Walk / House has recently been awarded a 2022 International Architecture Award by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and The European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

Instead of designing a traditional house, the key concept of walking meditationwhich is a concentration on the present dimensions of earth and sky to enhance awareness of mental and physical stateswas reinterpreted in the architectural context.

The configuration of the house is wide and long, facing the east to receive gentle morning light, with respect to the vast landscape of this faraway temple.

The continuous 59-meter long roof covers the whole space, with a slope that follows the mountains contour.

The space below and above the roof is designed to accommodate and support daily practices, including walking.

Some parts of the roof are indented, allowing trees to grow and sunlight and rain to pass through.

Meanwhile, the form of the long, curved roof helps divert rainwater flow to the middle line and to fall on the ground at the very endimitating a natural water flow on the mountain.

Under the bent roof, the lowest ceiling space, there are different functional areas for the abbot, including a sleeping area, working area, and praying area.

The interior space is compact, which is an attempt to comprise the nature of Buddhismhumbleness, in the place.

The long continuous path that also follows the natural contours makes a gentle slope for a comfortable walk.

Step, flat, and curve are the elements featured in the path, together with different simple materials, such as paving blocks, mosaic tiles, earth, and grass, allowing monks to walk barefoot and feel different textures.

The objective of the Walk / House is to offer no boundary for monks to meditate by walking, with the hope to enhance their ritual practice anywhere.

Project: Walk/HouseArchitects: EKAR ArchitectsLead Architect: Ekaphap DuangkaewDesign Team: Thaywin Wannabamroong and Saranyu KamphukaewLandscape Architects: Groundsplay (Athipat Ae-uam, Pacharee Sophonphaisit)Contractor: V-SathapatProject Management: Thaywin WannabamroongTechnician Assistant: Saranyu KamphukaewStructural Engineer: Pimol NontaleeClient: Dhammayan TemplePhotos Courtesy of Ekaphap Duangkaew

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Based on three path elementsstep, flat, and curveWalk / House enhances the walking meditations and daily rituals of monks - Global Design News

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The tragic departure of a beloved one, whether it be a husband, a son, a mother, or a friend, leaves a heartache, a dark void of emptiness caused by grief and bereavement. It can push those who are experiencing the loss to go on deep journeys of self-discovery. French writer/director Christophe Honores family tragedyWinter Boy, originally titledLe Lycen, follows the 17-year-old protagonist through all the stages of grieving. When the father dies in a sudden accident, stripping the family of its happiness and stability, the teenage son reacts with instinctive denial, followed by anger, rage, and overwhelming sadness, the disintegration of his own life, the picking up of the pieces and finally a form of acceptance, coming to terms with the finality of the loss.

Acclaimed auteur Christophe Honore, the heir to the Nouvelle Vague film movement, known for his filmsLove Songs,Sorry Angel, andInside Paris, is renowned for his complex narrative techniques, intricate psychological examination, and influential filmmaking. Honores 14th feature filmWinter Boy, dedicated to his father, is a self-reflexive enunciation of his own life as a queer teenager whose world turns upside down when an unexpected loss disrupts his anchored life. The film, which tackles the heaviest of themes, affects the anatomy of grief and documents the process of adapting to the losses in our lives.@TIFF 2022

Lucas (Paul Kircher) is the autobiographical hero of this coming-of-age drama who is trying to figure out his own life and identity. When the film commences, Lucas tells his own story as it unfolds, trying to make sense of what happened in his life. Interspersed with Lucas thinking out aloud, telling his internal thoughts, and showing how the events transpired, it provides a fragmented yet delicate and touching account of an unbearable personal tragedy.

Set in the depths of Winter, an alluring Lucas is traipsing through his last year of boarding school, gleefully passing the time with his boyfriend Oscar (Adrien Casse), looking forward to following his older brother Quentin (Vincent Lacoste), an emerging artist, to Paris. However, the startling passing of his father (played by Honore), a Vallee Village prosthodontist, shattered his taken-for-granted life journey and made him view his life as a wild animal in need of taming.

The film probes Lucass struggle with the anguish, sadness, and torment that descends over him like fog after his fathers demise. He is struggling in double measure as he had a forewarning that something devastating would happen. While taking Lucas to school that morning, his father unwittingly admits that he regretted his life choices and yearned to live his life differently. Minutes later, when they narrowly survived a near-death experience, Lucas realized it was an omen for the future in shambles. And when he is informed of his fathers accident, he is dubious and uncertain whether it was an accidental death or a suicide due to his disappointment with his life.

The film examines how a shocking life-changing event affects Lucas in detail with tenderness and sympathy. All the five stages of grief are reflected clearly in the details of Lucass everyday life. Initially, when Lucas is informed of his fathers passing, he refuses to react, feeling numb and sort of anesthetized. His calm composure shows signs of denial, a defense mechanism to cope with the loss. But, out of nowhere, he explodes at the confines of his room and feels everything shattering within him, his lungs burning up and finding it difficult to breathe. He is filled with anger and despair that his teenage self cant begin to articulate. His mother, Isabelle (Juliette Binoche), reeling in the pain of bereavement, finds herself helpless in the efforts to console him. He expresses his rage by lashing out at his brother, but later, he pulls himself together.

To recuperate from the new challenges posed by death and to get grips with his life, Lucas heads to the city to spend a week with Quentin and his flatmate Lilio (Erwan Kepoa Fale). There, he embarks on an exploration of his sexuality, hooking up with strangers, and goes almost to the extent of prostituting himself to an older man. When Quentin intervenes and sends him back home, he feels bottomless sadness. The incomprehensibility of his fathers death makes him renounce his life and engage in self-destructive behavior. Finally, with the help of his mother and those who care for him, he comes to terms with the inevitability of death and comes to a place of acceptance.

One of Honores finest films, Winter Boy returns to exploring his favorite themes of family, mortality, sexuality, and resurrection. The film is a dark portrait of an individual in mourning who is fumbling through the conflicting emotions and thoughts following the death of someone important. He looks for consolation and reassurance in all the wrong places, misguided by his confusing assumptions and regrets. This poignant experience leads to the maturation of Lucas as he reaches the cusp of adulthood, fighting to rediscover hope and love.

The subject of Le Lyceenis a thoroughly traversed thematic with significant precedents like Nanni MorettisThe Sons Room(2001), Hirokazu KoreedasMaborosi(1995), and Kenneth LonergansManchester by the Sea(2016). But what makesWinter Boyunique and distinctive is the narrative strategy employed by Honore to relay Lucass experience and his identity as a queer teenager encountering loss. As Honore confronts his own history through this character-driven narrative, it is observed with empathy, care, and affection. We witness a scintillating honesty and warmth that drives every scene as he reimagines himself as Lucas.

Paul Kircher offers a brilliant performance by giving life to Lucas, an attractive and delicate youth who finds it difficult to express his pain, let alone release it. He puts on a facade not to let others see his vulnerable and defenseless self but collapses when he is overburdened with loneliness and depression. We cheer for him to find his way back to himself when we get a glimpse at the scared kid hiding beneath his adult body. Juliette Binoche is equally outstanding as Isabella as she adds a human touch and depth to the film by reflecting the emotions of a caring mother.

Winter Boyis a deeply personal film for Honore as it has the unmistakable stamp of the directors life as he played the part of his fathers ghost. With sublime performances and dynamic filmmaking, Honore reaches out and touches us with his moving meditation on grief. This psychologically and sensitively mature film is made with scrupulous sincerity and frankness. It points out the need to overcome difficult and tough-to-handle situations and recognize death as the ultimate truth in life.

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Winter Boy [2022] TIFF Review: An Affecting And Personal Meditation On Loss & Grief - High on Films

Many people feel the stress of the work season becoming more intense in September. Incorporating mindfulness and meditation into your workday can help you be more productive, manage stress, and keep your cool when the tasks pile up.

Spiritual practices are one of the best ways to recharge your batteries. Instead of checking your phone or hitting the candy machine, make time for a few breaks in your day to stretch or take deep breaths. Even on busy days, you can sneak in eight minutes of mindfulness. When you find yourself sitting at your desk for hours on end, stand up or walk around. This will help with circulation, which allows you to feel alert and take care of your mental health.

Meditation is a great way to incorporate mindfulness into your day-to-day life, with many types that suit your needs and lifestyle. You might be wondering how you can fit it in when you're already busy with your work and home life. But a daily practice of just 20 minutes a day can lower your levels of anxiety and depression, and even improve your quality of sleep. During your lunch hour, you can watch a guided meditation video on YouTube and tap into your zen. Itll give you extra energy and peace as you head into the second part of your day.

As you practice mindfulness over time, you can learn to regulate your emotions and thoughts by accepting them as they are without judgment or criticism. This will lead to an increase in productivity because it will allow you to focus on the task at hand without getting distracted by negative thoughts or feelings.

Do you manage an office or team? Incorporating mindfulness and meditation into the workplace will improve the overall well-being of your employees. If you are looking to start an ongoing wellness program or have a mindfulness event, schedule a free discovery call.

Many people feel the stress of the work season becoming more intense in September. Incorporating mindfulness and meditation into your workday can help you be more productive, manage stress, and keep your cool when the tasks pile up.

Spiritual practices are one of the best ways to recharge your batteries. Instead of checking your phone or hitting the candy machine, make time for a few breaks in your day to stretch or take deep breaths. Even on busy days, you can sneak in eight minutes of mindfulness. When you find yourself sitting at your desk for hours on end, stand up or walk around. This will help with circulation, which allows you to feel alert and take care of your mental health.

Meditation is a great way to incorporate mindfulness into your day-to-day life, with many types that suit your needs and lifestyle. You might be wondering how you can fit it in when you're already busy with your work and home life. But a daily practice of just 20 minutes a day can lower your levels of anxiety and depression, and even improve your quality of sleep. During your lunch hour, you can watch a guided meditation video on YouTube and tap into your zen. Itll give you extra energy and peace as you head into the second part of your day.

As you practice mindfulness over time, you can learn to regulate your emotions and thoughts by accepting them as they are without judgment or criticism. This will lead to an increase in productivity because it will allow you to focus on the task at hand without getting distracted by negative thoughts or feelings.

Do you manage an office or team? Incorporating mindfulness and meditation into the workplace will improve the overall well-being of your employees. If you are looking to start an ongoing wellness program or have a mindfulness event, schedule a free discovery call.

This press release was produced by North Essex Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed here are the authors own.

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North Essex Chamber Of Commerce: Finding Zen At The Office - Patch

U.S. workers are more afraid of running out of money in retirement and more intimidated by financial matters, such as long-term financial planning, than workers in Europe areyet Americans rate their financial well-being higher than do their counterparts across the pond, according to Alight research.

The 2022 Alight International Workforce and Wellbeing Mindset report found that 53% of U.S. workers rate their financial well-being highly, compared with 46% in the Netherlands, 44% in Germany, 40% in the U.K. and 35% in France. Overall, 44% of respondents rate their well-being as high.

The findings are from a series of research reports by Alight and Business Group on Health, according to a press release.

Workers worldwide found that COVID-19 intensified challenges to wellbeing, Alight CEO Stephan Scholl said in the release. As a result, they sometimes face difficulties in showing up to work as their best selves, which ultimately affects companies bottom line. At the same time, caring about employee wellbeing is critical to recruiting and retaining talent.

Among American workers, 43% said they experienced the most stress about long-term financial planning, though financial priorities differed for workers in other countries. Still, fully 47% of U.S. employees said they felt in control of their financial future, compared with 35% among their European counterparts.

The research shows that overall, 24% of respondents said they are intimidated by financial matters and 38% are afraid of running out of money in retirement. For U.S workers, 36% said they are intimidated by financial matters and 47% fear running out of money in retirement.

And yet, 47% of U.S. workers said they felt in control of their financial future, compared with 35% of their European counterparts, the report shows.

Among U.K. workers, 25% are intimidated by financial matters and 39% fear running out of money in retirement, whereas 16% of French workers said they are intimidated by financial matters and 42% fear running out of money in retirement. In Germany, the figures were 20% and 41%, respectively, and in the Netherlands, they were 24% for each.

Among all workers, 73% reported high or moderate levels of stress and 34% reported suffering symptoms of burnout, yet 34% of respondents feel their employer cares about their well-being, the research found.

For workers in the U.S. and the U.K., 15% of employees reported being aware of employer-sponsored stress management programs. Of those aware of the benefit, 23% have used it, although 32% wanted their employer to provide more mental health resources.

These sentiments demonstrate a disconnect in employees views of their workplace wellbeing benefits, as large employers have continued to make significant investments in workforce wellbeing benefits and programs, Ellen Kelsay, president and CEO of Business Group on Health, said in a statement.

The survey also identified areas where employers can better prioritize the well-being of their workforce and increase employee awareness and use of available well-being programs.

Employers can use this valuable survey data to refine how employees learn about and experience wellbeing initiatives, as well as how to better meet the specific needs of employees, said Kelsay. Many employers have invested considerably in wellbeing resources in recent years, and a key takeaway from these findings is that there is more they can do to ensure employees are aware of and utilizing those offerings.

The report recommends considering raising awareness of available mental health programs by creating engaging and personalized programs through a combination of technology and communication. It also recommends supporting employees long-term financial goals and understanding their short-term demands, as many employees need assistance with reducing debt levels, sticking to a budget, saving for more immediate financial needs and having longer-term savings goals. According to the report, balanced financial well-being programs that provide concrete steps for employees to take can help boost overall financial well-being and reduce related stress.

In addition, the report emphasizes the importance of providing balance and flexibility, asthe pandemic has demonstrated that workers value flexibility and being able to work remotely at least some of the time. More than half of employees (54%) said a flexible work environment differentiated one employer from another, and 59% said being able to work remotely had a positive effect on theirwell-being.

Kantar conducted the research, surveying more than 10,000 employees from February to March in the U.S. (2,000), U.K. (2,002), Germany (2,001), France (2,000) and the Netherlands (2,001). This marked the first time the study included countries outside the U.S.

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US Workers Fear Exhausting Savings in Retirement | PLANSPONSOR - PLANSPONSOR

Grant Sabatier, creator of finance website Millennial Money and author of "Financial Freedom," technically isn't retired. But he could be. He has enough money in his portfolio to live on without ever needing to work again. And that's sort of the point.

Sabatier is one of the leading voices in the so-called FIRE movement short for financial independence, retire early. Adherents to this philosophy aim to save and invest large portions of their income in their early earning years in order to have enough money to retire decades before they reach their mid-60s.

By 2015, at age 30, Sabatier had saved $1.25 million, enough to ensure that he'd never have to work again. But instead of kicking back on a beach, he has embarked on a new career teaching others how to achieve financial independence.

Over the last seven years, Sabatier has seen his share of FIRE success stories, as well as common pitfalls early retirees run into. If you're considering embarking on a FIRE journey, here are two potential problem areas to understand now so you don't run into them down the line, Sabatier says.

Planning for an early retirement requires you to have an idea of what life after work will look like, which can be difficult in a society where people are often defined by their work.

"So much of our identity is tied up to our work and the things that we do in our professional life," says Sabatier. "A lot of people spend all this time working and saving and investing in order to retire early, then they don't have an idea of what they want to do after."

That can make knowing how much money to save tricky given that retiring to a beach in Thailand, writing your novel at a caf or traveling the country in a van require different financial pictures to pull off.

One way to narrow things down is to focus on your core values. Interrogating which parts of your life bring you the most happiness can help you form a clearer idea of what you want, Jim Crider, a certified financial planner who specializes in clients seeking financial independence, recently told CNBC Make It.

"If you can be articulate about what's important to you, your vision is clear," he said. "You can spend money in the most efficient manner. You can make the things that are most important to you happen in a bigger, grander way."

Still, no matter how clear your retirement vision is, it may require some field testing, Sabatier says. If you've accumulated enough cash savings to cover a year or more of expenses, try a "mini retirement" to get a sense of how life away from the office actually feels, he suggests.

Or begin pursuing your passions on the side while you're still working. "This is one of the biggest reasons I recommend trying a side hustle, so you can start making money doing something that you enjoy. And actually then use that as a bridge to when you want to retire early."

None of your early retirement dreams are likely to come to fruition if you don't stash away enough money.

"I see a lot of people retiring with enough money to cover their annual expenses today, but they're not estimating what adding two kids or moving to a higher cost of living area could add to their expenses," Sabatier says.

The number that would-be early retirees are aiming for is known as their "FIRE number" the amount of money they need in their portfolio to live off of in perpetuity.

The calculation used to find it is based on the "4% rule," an investing concept borne of an influential 1998 financial study which posited that investors holding a mix of stocks and bonds could withdraw 4% of their portfolio's value per year.

To find your FIRE number, if you assume a 4% withdrawal rate, you'd multiply the annual income you expect to need in retirement by 25. Someone hoping to live on $50,000 annual withdrawals from their portfolio would need $1.25 million to retire.

People get themselves into trouble, Sabatier says, when they fail to account for how that equation can change for them over time.

You may have thought $50,000 was plenty to live on when you embarked on your FIRE journey in your 20s, but by the time you're 45, your needs may have changed drastically. You may need to adjust your number upward before you can have the retirement you were envisioning.

You may have to adjust your assumptions for how soon you could hit your number too, Sabatier adds. That's because safely drawing down your investments relies on the assumption that markets will consistently move upward. And while that has been the trend over long periods, the direction of your investments is far less predictable between now and when you're hoping to call it quits.

"We know we're living in increasingly uncertain times. I see a lot of people under-saving and overestimating the potential future performance of the stock market."

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The average American is saving less for retirement than you might think.

A recent GOBankingRates survey found that 38% of Americans think they will need less than $500,000 to retire a far cry from the traditionally recommended amount of $1 million. However, whether you have $500,000 or $5 million in your savings, the truth is that retirement is not one size fits all. Depending on your financial situation, where you want to retire and what your retirement goals are, the perfect number for you could be far lower or much higher.

Retirement at Any Age: Get Top Retirement Tips for Every Stage of LifeLearn:7 Surprisingly Easy Ways To Reach Your Retirement Goals

Keep reading to find out if you can afford to retire on less than $500,000, and what your retirement might look like living on these savings.

According to our survey, 38% of Americans think theyll need less than $500,000 to retire, 30% believe theyll need $500,001 to $1 million, 14% believe they will need $1 million to $1.5 million, 8% believe they will need $1.5 million to $2 million, 3% believe they will need $2 million to $2.5 million, 2% believe they will need $2.5 million to $3 million and 6% believe they will require more than $3 million.

The majority of the respondents who believe they will need less than $500,000 to retire were at or near retirement age, as 53% of the respondents in this category were over the age of 65. Only 28% of those ages 18 to 24 stated that they will need less than $500,000.

Additionally, women make up the majority of those respondents who said they will need less than $500,000 to retire, as 44% of women and 32% of men responded in this way.

If you are wondering whether $500,000 is enough money to retire on, the answer is it depends but you can use the safe withdrawal rate to do some quick calculations. The safe withdrawal rate is a general rule of thumb with it comes to retirement planning.

Jay Zigmont, Ph.D., CFP, founder ofChildfree Wealth,breaks it down like this: The general concept is that you can take 4% of your net worth out of your investments each year and not run out of money. On $500,000, that means your expenses will have to be below $20,000 per year, not including any taxes you may have to pay. If you are completely out of debt including your house it may be possible in some areas to live on $20,000, but in most areas, you will barely cover food and healthcare.

You can use the safe withdrawal rate to find an approximate number that you will need in order to afford retirement.

To do rough calculations with the safe withdrawal rate, take your annual expenses and multiply it by 25, Zigmont said. So if you have $40,000 a year in expenses, you will need $1 million to retire. That may seem like a lot of money, but keep in mind you are trying to make your money last the rest of your lifetime.

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After determining whether or not you can afford to retire on less than $500,000, another factor you might want to consider is what retirement might look like with these savings.

Is retiring on $500,000 possible? It absolutely is. Just know it will not be a luxurious or even a comfortable retirement, said Matthew Grishman, principal and wealth advisor at Gebhardt Group Inc. It will be basic subsistence to keep a roof over your head, food in your fridge, clothing on your back, and access to transportation, communication and health insurance. And thats about it.

If you are open to retiring outside of the U.S., you might find it much more accessible to retire luxuriously with smaller savings.

It is absolutely possible to retire on $500,000 or less, especially if you are open to the idea of retiring in a foreign country like Mexico, Panama, Colombia, Costa Rica or Portugal, Grishman said. U.S. expat communities have seen explosive growth in these countries as costs of living for retirees, especially healthcare, continue their rapid ascent upward here in the United States.

If an extravagant retirement on the beach is what youre looking for, you might want to start making some changes now in order to save enough for your ideal retirement.

If you want more in your retirement, you will need to save a lot more than $500,000, Grishman said. Perhaps looking closely at your spending now and eliminating discretionary expenses for a while to allow yourself the opportunity to save will be a worthwhile tradeoff for a more comfortable retirement. Ask for a raise or look for a new job that might have higher pay where you can take that additional income and save it, rather than simply absorbing it into buying a bigger lifestyle.

Consider adding any bonuses or tax refunds you receive into your savings and think about investing beyond your retirement savings account. To boost your savings, consider investing in real estate or cash-flow businesses to help you reach your retirement goals.

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Methodology: GOBankingRates surveyed 997 Americans ages 18 and older from across the country between Aug. 9 and Aug. 11, 2022, asking 16 different questions: (1) How much money do you currently have saved for retirement?; (2) How much money do you think youll need to retire?; (3) Realistically, at what age do you want to be retired?; (4) At what age did you start saving for retirement?; (5) What worries you financially about retirement? (Select all that apply.); (6) Do you plan to work in retirement?; (7) What assets do you have in your retirement portfolio? (Select all that apply.); (8) How has the current inflation impacted your retirement plans?; (9) How much of your retirement do you plan to fund with Social Security?; (10) How do you feel about the future of Social Security when you retire?; (11) What percentage of your salary are you currently investing for retirement?; (12) Are you planning to move after your retirement?; (13) Where is your ideal place to retire?; (14) What government programs do you plan to use for your retirement? (Select all that apply.); (15) Do you have a pension plan?; and (16) How much do you think the average American has saved at the time they retire? GOBankingRates used PureSpectrums survey platform to conduct the poll.

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38% of Americans Think You Need This Much To Retire -- Here's What Experts Say - GOBankingRates

Rev. Candace McKibben| Guest columnist

Even with climate change warming the earth globally and the routine heat of Florida summers bearing down on us locally, I can feel a slight change in the season as September advances.

I had been lamenting with my husband that we did not make a trip to beautiful St. George Island this summer and thought aloud we might go on a recent Tuesday. But as often happens in our relatively new retirement life, other matters were calling and it rained anyway, so we enjoyed the day at home.

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That is until my husband suggested late in the day that we go to our little house near the Wakulla River and spend the night so that we could have a jump start on a trip to St. George Island on Wednesday.

It was one of those moments that happens in retirement when it dawns on me how deeply fortunate I am to be healthy, active, and able to make spur of the moment decisions about how I will spend my time.

Much of my life is still structured around my church, community commitments I have made, and the family I love, but I have the freedom to go to a place I find so enjoyable midweek and with little advance notice if I so choose. What an amazing gift!

The day could not have been more perfect. The water on the bay as we approached the island was smooth as glass, sparkling like diamonds in the ample sunshine. When we entered the state park, we asked the ranger about the sea turtle population this season.

She reported 61 sea turtle nests for the season thus far and a number of nests that had already matured, their youngsters scrambling over the soft sand out to sea. I felt gratitude.

The park was not crowded, and we parked as only the second car at the first pavilion. We carried our sea kayak to the waters edge and with little effort on the calm waters were a football fields length offshore in no time.

That is when I spotted her, floating atop the water, playing, it seemed. I saw first her flippers and then her head as she lifted it for a gulp of air before returning beneath the waters obscurity. I was thrilled! I wondered if she might be one of the mother sea turtles awaiting moonlight to lay her last clutch of eggs for the season, though it would be late.

Her presence was an omen of the delight we had in store. As we paddled first one way and then another, following the creatures who greeted us, we saw six dolphins, two sea turtles, a good number of Southern stingrays, even more moon jellyfish elegantly dancing by, and a nice red fish that any fisherman would have been proud to catch.

We enjoyed a walk on the beach where we saw marked sea turtle nests still awaiting delivery. The dunes were gorgeous and the sea oats healthy. The shore birds were few but as intriguing as always. Watching his short little legs marching swiftly and precisely along the waters edge as the sandpiper nabbed a late breakfast or early lunch with precision, was a delightful sight.

The sand was squeaky as it encountered our bare feet, and the shore was free of any wrack or dried seaweed lines. What a perfectly magical day.

The coming of fall is not the only seasonal change I have felt recently. My grandson entered high school in a town that is new to him after his recent move to Georgia.

Visiting him recently, I felt how different he had become in the few months since he left Tallahassee. My oldest granddaughter will be 20 this week, no longer a teenager.

And of the 15 siblings that my parents shared between them, the one remaining, my funny and loving Uncle John, is nearing death. The Afghan family with whom my husband and I feel deeply connected welcomed their first child, Nivan.

Saddened that she was born while we were out of town in Mississippi visiting my dear uncle, Nivans young father reminded me wisely in a sweet, profound text, This is life, one day we are a newborn baby and one day old, weak, and ready to leave this world. Life is very short.

Retirement, for those of us fortunate enough to experience it, affords us the freedom to respond to the lure of natural beauty and the calls of our heart to see those we love at pivotal moments.

It is about paying careful attention to yourself and being intentional about how you spend your remaining days. I hear that some people prefer not to retire. Work for them is meaningful and how they want to spend their time.

I also understand anecdotally that there are those who fail retirement and end up returning to the work force, not because it is what they want, but because it is what they know. It is certainly a transition that requires some attention, adjustment, and persistence. Retirement itself is a seasonal shift, but can be, as I am experiencing it, a profoundly rich season.

September is National Healthy Aging Month and focuses on the positive aspects of growing older. Targeting the nearly 70 million Baby Boomers and 65 million Generation Xers, the goal of the month-long focus is to encourage staying active and vital, both physically and mentally, as we age.

I am reminded of a funny remark I once heard from an elderly lady who said if she had known she was going to get so old, she would have taken better care of herself.

My sweet Uncle John is 91 years old and under hospice care at home. Just across the country road is his childhood home where he lived with six siblings before becoming a dashing young marine, as my mother described her younger brother. I was touched that he called me by name on my recent visit and seemed as pleased to see me as I was him.

Bedbound, he was quiet as his daughter rehearsed the many medical mountains he had overcome in the years since last we had seen each other.

Suddenly, Zip-a-dee-doo-dah Uncle John sang in a weak voice that was almost undiscernible. Zip-a-dee-ay, I sang in glad response. And we continued the call and response pattern till the songs end. It felt like grace.

What a poignant reminder of the importance of focusing on the sunshine heading our way as we all seek to make the most of the time we have left to us, retired or not.

The Rev. Candace McKibben is an ordained minister and pastor of Tallahassee Fellowship.

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Paying attention to parade of life is one of the riches of retirement | Candace McKibben - Tallahassee Democrat

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Gen Z Americans who put a good chunk of their incomes toward retirement plan to end their careers ahead of the traditional retirement age.

A new survey from the financial firm Principal found that these super savers those who put 15 percent or more of their income toward retirement savings aimto retire around age 57.

The survey showedthat thegeneration born in the mid to late 90s expects to achieve this goal by sticking to the basics andmany plan to save more than $1 million before retirement. Around 39 percent are aiming for $3 million.

Only about a quarter of Gen Z super savers are counting on Social Security as retirement income.

Super savers in each generation surveyed said they are sticking with their savings plan despite inflation, although around a third listed it among their top concerns. More than 80 percent of respondents said they are in good shape to endure a recession.

From continuing to save through an inflationary period to establishing long-term financial goals, Super Savers embody some of the best practices for retirement saving that gives them the mental and emotional strength to stick with their plans even during times of market uncertainty,Sri Reddy, senior vice president, Retirement & Income Solutions at Principal, said in a media release.

Their savings habits go to show you can tuck away for the long-term while living in the moment today, Reddy added.

Still, younger savers are putting off major purchases and delaying homeownership given market conditions. Around 18 percent of Gen Z survey respondents said they were homeowners, while more than two-thirds said home prices were too high.

Despite a cooler housing market, 30-year fixed mortgage rates rose above 6 percent the highest rate since the 2008 housing crisis.

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Principal conducted its online survey of 1,120 retirement plan participants, 9 percent of whom are members of Gen Z,from June 24 to July 5.

An earlier survey from the investment management company BlackRock found that more than two-thirds of Gen Z workers believe they are saving adequately for retirement. But a third of respondents said they think $250,000 would be sufficient to retire.

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Heres when Gen Z super savers plan to retire - The Hill

New Haven, CT (WTNH) Retirement can be an amazing, new chapter of life, but like with anything new, it can come with some growing pains. Retirement Planning experts Laura and Michael Lehrhaupt, owners of Strategies for Wealth Management in Shelton, joined CT Style Host Natasha Lubczenko in the studio to discuss the challenges people face when planning for retirement and their tips for ensuring a successful outcome.

Michael spoke about the common obstacles that most people face when planning for or entering retirement, and he reminded people that he considers retirement not a sprint, but a marathon. And in a marathon, there are bound to be obstacles. These include taxes, income stream creation, inflation risk, longevity risk, and unexpected health care costs. But the biggest risk, he says, is Market risk. Michael noted that many people suffered and lost a lot of money in 2008 when the Market deflated, and they want to help people avoid this problem in the future.

Watch this interview and learn how Strategies for Wealth Management works with clients to navigate all of these challenges. They discuss their services, planning steps and answer these questions:

Laura and Michael Lehrhaupt produce their own TV program called Rock Your Retirement that can be seen on WTNH News 8 on Sunday nights at 11:30pm.

For more information, or to inquire about their book, visit http://www.strategies4wm.com.

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Strategies for Wealth Management: The 5 Obstacles People Face in Retirement - WTNH.com

Retirement plan investors are struggling with turbulent markets and record-setting inflation. Many of them also face another challenge: managing their accounts online.

Thats according to a new J.D. Power survey of investors, which found that retirement plan providers are falling short when it comes to providing easy-to-use digital interfaces and tools.

Retirement investors are under a great deal of financial stress right now and they are looking to their plans websites and apps for information and guidance, said Mike Foy, head of wealth intelligence at J.D. Power. Unfortunately, many are not finding what they need and end up having to call customer service for help.

The survey comes at a difficult moment for retirement plan participants seeking to build nest eggs for their golden years. Markets have tumbled this year and inflation has soared. A majority of retirement plan investors (53%) now report that their savings are financially unhealthy, according to the J.D. Power survey.

A recent Federal Reserve report underscores the point: Total U.S. household net worth decreased by $6.1 trillion in the second quarter, primarily driven by a drop in stock prices. At the same time, household debt grew at an annual pace of 7.4%, according to the Federal Reserve.

The J.D. Power survey said that during the past year, the percentage of retirement investors classified as financially healthy has dropped to 47% from 60%. More than a quarter of investors now fall into the financially vulnerable category, according to the survey. At the same time, overall satisfaction with their retirement plans digital experience declined.

J.D. Powers survey also said that plan providers are missing the mark on digital account management. Just over a third of investors say they can manage their accounts digitally without contacting customer service. And only 22% say retirement plan websites and apps offer proactive guidance and help, according to the survey.

This is a moment-of-truth opportunity for plan providers, Foy said. When they get the digital experience right, they see a very significant lift in the likelihood of growing and retaining participant assets long after they have left their current employer.

When they get it wrong, however, retirement plan participants are more likely to take their assets elsewhere. Average job tenure for millennials and members of Gen Z is less than three years, according to J.D. Power.

J.D. Power polled 7,069 retirement plan participants for its survey, which was conducted in May and June.

Write to Andrew Welsch at andrew.welsch@barrons.com

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Retirement Plan Providers Are Missing the Digital Mark - Barron's