On With The Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life

On With The Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life by Heidi Herman, is a delightful book.  It’s a quick, easy and inspiring read about how to enjoy one’s retirement and live each day to the fullest. As an Awesome Adult who’s staring down retirement, this book spoke to me.

Full disclosure – I was sent a copy of On With the Butter! by Heidi Herman in exchange for an honest review.

About the book

“On with the butter” is an Icelandic expression that means “carry on”, “forge ahead” or “keep moving”.  In the context of this book, it means “Keep Moving, Keep Doing, Keep Living”.  As my own personal mantra is “Just Keep Swimming” (which I stole from Dory in Finding Nemo), I could really relate to this message. The book was inspired by the author’s mother, who embraced life with exuberance, and did so well into her nineties. Here was a woman who was intent on living her best life.

Unlike most other books about retirement, On With the Butter! is not about money, finances or wills and estates.  This book is about enjoying every day – going new places, having new adventures and even trying new foods.  This book exclaims that just because you are retired, your life is not over, it’s just entering a new phase. And that phase is a rich and rewarding as you want to make it. Basically, this book is about doing what makes you happy and finding new things that make you happy.

On With the Butter! is a guide book to seeking new adventures, accepting new challenges, taking the scenic route instead of the highway and stopping to enjoy it all. There are so many ideas for adding zest to your life that everyone will be able to find one (or a dozen) that appeal to them.  Most retirees are not going to jump out of an airplane.  But many would enjoy watching an air show.  Take the suggestions and apply them to what works for you. A Checklist Challenge, included at the end of each chapter, summarizes the possible activities put forth in that chapter. Pick a few and try them out.

Even during the Pandemic

On With the Butter! was written before the pandemic hit, so a number of the suggested activities would not do right now.  But the pandemic won’t last forever. And there are still many that can be enjoyed in the time of Covid.  Watch a sunset. Take a drive down a road you’ve never traveled before. Explore a small town. Play online games with others. Interact with nature. Try a new recipe related to your cultural heritage. Start an herb garden. The point is get out there, try something new. Keep learning.  Keep living.

An entertaining and informative read, I truly enjoyed On With the Butter! by Heidi Herman. Tales of her mother’s adventures give the book warmth and humor. Its vibrant, engaging and just plain fun to read.  I must admit I am in awe of Heidi Herman’s mother and some of the things she did.  She was fearless.  And she is inspiring.  I’m not retired yet, but reading about her adventures makes me want to start planning now for the adventures I’ll have once I am retired.  Thank you, On With the Butter  for providing me with such an extensive list of suggestions and ideas to live my retirement to the fullest, and enjoy every minute.