7. Retirement and final thoughts

Articles

Everyday Is Saturday - Almost (March 2008)

This article describes changing life attitudes and values during retirement. It also emphasizes the importance of personal goals and striving as a part of retirement. The goals are of one's own choosing but generally mean a greater emphasis on service, relationships and family connection.

Dr. Farmer Expresses His Appreciation Of Rural Life (June 2011)

This article contains athoughts and feelings about the quality of life availale in rural communities.

DR. FARMER REFLECTS ON HIS YEARS OF COLUMN WRITING

I can’t believe I am doing this. I am writing my last column. Since January 1984, I have had this obligation to write for the public every week.

What are my feelings about ending a weekly column that has been an ingrained part of my life for 28 years? It is hard to say what it will be like to not have something until you don’t have it. I will probably know better two months from now than I will today. But I can guess.

DR. FARMER'S LAST ADVICE: PROTECT THE FAMILY

How are we going to protect our children from the increasing influences of a society that no longer seems grounded in fundamental values? How can our families be sanctuaries for our children and beacons of light for others as society continues its relentless decline in morality and standards of conduct?

I want to leave you with what I consider to be essential in finding happiness and security for ourselves, our families and for our future generations.

DR. FARMER INTRODUCES HIS SUCCESSOR

I couldn’t have hoped for a better successor. Dr. Mike Rosmann and I have been running in a parallel universes, each of us doing our part to help a clientele we feel deeply about. His academic bonafides are much stronger than mine and his work is known widely in professional psychology circles. There is no one in this field I respect more.

DR. FARMER, DR. ROSMANN; TWO PEAS IN A POD

I have known Mike mostly by reputation as a mover and shaker in the field of what I was used to calling “rural mental health” and what he was calling “agricultural behavioral health”. We were like two peas in a pod, though we had come to this spot through different paths and lifestyles.

DR. FARMER’S NEW PASTURE

We are prepared to leave behind the column, my consulting and mediation work, seven children, their spouses, and our 23 grandchildren to do something else. This something else is demanding and strenuous.

Beginning the middle of May, we are going to serve as missionaries in Mongolia for 23 months. If indeed we are going out to pasture, this is the biggest pasture there is.

APPRECIATION FOR THE YEARS OF CONNECTION

My career in a helping profession and journalism is fast approaching an ending. It brings perspective into sharp focus, kind of like a diagnosis of a terminal illness.

The moment is magnified. Time is suddenly more precious. I have been given a gift from trusting editors and publishers - a wonderful audience of good-hearted people in the heartland of America and Canada. What do I want to say to you? The reality is that this opportunity will never come again.

DR. FARMER TO END COLUMN

It’s true. The time has come to quit. The time is right. It has been 28 years since I wrote my first column in January 1984 for the Rapid City Journal. I didn’t know what kind of journey I was on or where it would take me. But I began with a sense of mission and that sense of mission has sustained me.

Dr. Farmer says ...Thank you! (December 1992)

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	Val Farmer 35 Years of Counseling General Topics V. Personal Columns 7. Retirement and final thoughts Login Articles Everyday Is Saturday - Almost (March 2008) This article describes changing life attitudes and values during retirement. It also emphasizes the importance of personal goals and striving as a part of retirement. The goals are of one's own choosing but generally mean a greater emphasis on service, relationships and family connection. Dr. Farmer Expresses His Appreciation Of Rural Life (June 2011) This article contains athoughts and feelings about the quality of life availale in rural communities. DR. FARMER REFLECTS ON HIS YEARS OF COLUMN WRITING I can’t believe I am doing this. I am writing my last column. Since January 1984, I have had this obligation to write for the public every week. What are my feelings about ending a weekly column that has been an ingrained part of my life for 28 years? It is hard to say what it will be like to not have something until you don’t have it. I will probably know better two months from now than I will today. But I can guess. DR. FARMER'S LAST ADVICE: PROTECT THE FAMILY How are we going to protect our children from the increasing influences of a society that no longer seems grounded in fundamental values? How can our families be sanctuaries for our children and beacons of light for others as society continues its relentless decline in morality and standards of conduct? I want to leave you with what I consider to be essential in finding happiness and security for ourselves, our families and for our future generations. DR. FARMER INTRODUCES HIS SUCCESSOR I couldn’t have hoped for a better successor. Dr. Mike Rosmann and I have been running in a parallel universes, each of us doing our part to help a clientele we feel deeply about. His academic bonafides are much stronger than mine and his work is known widely in professional psychology circles. There is no one in this field I respect more. DR. FARMER, DR. ROSMANN; TWO PEAS IN A POD I have known Mike mostly by reputation as a mover and shaker in the field of what I was used to calling “rural mental health” and what he was calling “agricultural behavioral health”. We were like two peas in a pod, though we had come to this spot through different paths and lifestyles. DR. FARMER’S NEW PASTURE We are prepared to leave behind the column, my consulting and mediation work, seven children, their spouses, and our 23 grandchildren to do something else. This something else is demanding and strenuous. Beginning the middle of May, we are going to serve as missionaries in Mongolia for 23 months. If indeed we are going out to pasture, this is the biggest pasture there is. APPRECIATION FOR THE YEARS OF CONNECTION My career in a helping profession and journalism is fast approaching an ending. It brings perspective into sharp focus, kind of like a diagnosis of a terminal illness. The moment is magnified. Time is suddenly more precious. I have been given a gift from trusting editors and publishers - a wonderful audience of good-hearted people in the heartland of America and Canada. What do I want to say to you? The reality is that this opportunity will never come again. DR. FARMER TO END COLUMN It’s true. The time has come to quit. The time is right. It has been 28 years since I wrote my first column in January 1984 for the Rapid City Journal. I didn’t know what kind of journey I was on or where it would take me. But I began with a sense of mission and that sense of mission has sustained me. Dr. Farmer says ...Thank you! (December 1992)