Wednesday, June 10, 2026
It’s time for another edition of Hodgepodge with Joyce today…
1. How would you define ‘the good life’?
I would define the good life as a good balance of time and money. You need money to live, and you need time to enjoy the people that make life worth living. You need a sense of purpose to your life, as well. Having the time to take in the sunrise and beautiful nature seems like the good life to me. Having enough money so that you aren’t kept up at night worrying is part of the good life. You need deep relationships and people you can count on.
2. What’s the most used app on your phone (and are you proud of that)?
The texting app/feature, the phone call app/feature, the camera, and my blog app are my most used. Yes, I feel those align with my values of connection with people.
3. ‘Every rose has it’s thorn’, ‘everything’s coming up roses’, ‘looking through rose-colored glasses’, ‘it’s no bed of roses’ or ‘stop and smell the roses’…which rose idiom best relates to something in your life currently. Explain.
“Stop and smell the roses” would still relate to my life currently in my first year of retirement. I have time to enjoy the birds in my yard and I feed them. I have noticed more this year, taken more photos this year, and really slowed down. I was wound up really tightly each school year with the stress of doing it all and the pressure to be organized to be able to do it all.
4. How do you feel about floral flavorings in food or drink (rose, hibiscus, elderflower, lavender)?
Not great! I do love St. Germain elderflower liqueur and a Hugo Spritz or a St. Germain Spritz. I was big into those two summers ago. Oh, and I do love putting a hibiscus flower in prosecco or champagne.
5. Over the course of your life what have you probably spent more time pondering than anything else?
People. I have tried to figure out people. I have always had strong opinions on how people should act and this has caused me heartache. Tom says that I am going to be continually let down when I have these expectations. The Mel Robbins “Let Them” advice is good but leaves a lot to be desired for me because I can “let them” but that doesn’t mean I won’t still ponder why someone did what they did, said what they said, acted the way they did.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I have a very good memory. This is not a good thing when it relates to number 5 above. I remember everything that a person said or did. I can forgive but I can’t forget and that sounds so bad, I do realize.
Have you heard the Rita Mae Brown quote, “One of the keys to happiness is a bad memory.” I constantly work on trying to go easier on people, if that makes sense. I have definitely come a long way. I will think “so and so hasn’t checked on me for a bit” and I am the one who last made contact so it’s their turn. Then, I stop myself and realize we aren’t keeping score and I can always be the one to reach out. I am the one who has more time right now.
Wow, Joyce, we went deep today!
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I can relate to a lot of you wrote for 5 and 6. I think it’s common to have a good memory of how people have treated us and when we’ve felt wronged. People can “let them” all they want but that doesn’t do anything about memory like you said. I’ve so re-appreciated not working! I’ve not worked full time for years; I’ve had the “gift” of time for most of the past twenty four years. But then when I’ve had stints of full time work, it’s like, “Whoa, what is this?? I want my time back!!”
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You’re right. I do try to remember the good just as much, too!
I know this summer is even sweeter for you after that stint. It really does feel like a gift now.
You stay very busy and productive, though.
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I wrote a whole comment and then hit the blue box and it vanished saying it couldn’t be published. Grrr. I don’t know why that happens sometimes. Anyway….I think it’s often hard to forget someone’s bad behavior or unkind words, especially if they were a close or long time friend. Time and distance help, but some things are just really hard to forget. Forgiveness is good and a gift we give ourselves most of all. We’re all a work in progress. I’m a thinker (or maybe overthinker) when it comes to people. Yes we accidentally went deep today : )
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Awww, I’m sorry. It happens to me, too.
It really is. I have two friends who have really let me down this year. I really work hard on forgiving and taking people as they are. Enjoying the good and not dwelling on the bad is helping me. I certainly am, too! We did!
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Fantastic answer for question 1! Having enough is living the good life. That is good you are enjoying your retirement and have had the chance to slow down. I spend a lot of time trying to figure out why people do what they do and it isn’t a good thing when you have a good memory. I am the same, I will forgive but not forget.
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Thank you! I actually think having too much is not a good life. Right? People really confuse me sometimes.
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Our answers to the floral flavoring is the exact same today- ha! Love your answer to #1- Amen 🙂
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Ha! Good answer, then! Heading to read it now!
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I loved all of your answers! I definitely sensed a theme in yours- people. I love that you love to connect with people, and I think you’re such a great friend. I have struggled at times in my life with being the friend who was always the one to reach out. Now I feel like it’s the opposite, though, and I don’t feel like as good a friend as I used to be. I do realize that there are times of life when this kind of thing ebbs and flows…and right now I’m on the lesser side of that personally. I’ve never heard that Rita Mae Brown quote, but it’s a good one. I’m glad I have a bad memory!
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Thank you! You are right! I hope I’m a great friend, but sometimes I put my needs or my hurt feelings in front of that. There are times in life when one has more energy or time to be the asker!
I have too good of a memory sometimes.
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I have a really bad memory, and maybe that helps me in life! I loved your thoughts about the Let Them theory, and I often overthink people’s behavior. Have you listened to the Mel Robbins podcast? It is a long one, so I only listen occasionally. But there have been some great episodes that I can relate to. Life definitely slows in “retirement.” Even though I have been staying at home for a long time, it shifted when the kids went away to college. Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!
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I tend to be a looking through rose colored glasses kinda person, but that’s been challenged a lot lately. I also have a long memory and have a hard time with the forgetting though I’m much better at the forgiving. My biggest ponder is why am I here…what’s my purpose? Still haven’t figured that one out yet.
https://marshainthemiddle.com
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There have been times where I felt that way with people. Learned behavior from my mom. I have a memory like a steel trap as well. I always remember the one who did me wrong, faster than the one who was the most kind.
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I could not think of “what I ponder,” but as I am reading everyone’s thoughts . . .I am pondering haha! I do ponder over “things I’ve said” – did I talk to much? did I talk enough? were my words kind? etc. etc.
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These were deep questions today! I love those last 2 answers.
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Gosh, I used to be so “with it”, sharp as a tack and could remember so much. But widow’s brain is a THING. I have learned to use my phones camera to help me remember things for later. Might as well use it as the tool it is!
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