Interview Annelies Greney from April 29, 2019
I'm meeting Annelies Greney for a coffee to start this little interview. I have known Annelies personally for many years. Her commitment to volunteer work brought us together; we did neighborhood work together for several years, Annelies was reliable and she has a sense of humor, which made the often intensive collaboration very pleasant.
When did you retire?
Since September 2018.
Would you like to continue working?
I feel fit, I have a lot of work and life experience. I started looking around during my last few months at work. There are lots of opportunities for people who want to get involved. Voluntary and paid. I looked around at "dog-sitting", "Homeinstead" and many more, but then signed up for Seniors@Work.
What experiences have you had with Seniors@Work so far?
I have seen that my profile has been clicked on over 100 times and once I received an offer. But I turned it down.
Why did you turn down this offer?
The offer included a fixed number of hours per week for a long time, for months on end. But I was firmly integrated into working life for over 40 years. I no longer need such a tight corset. I'd rather have occasional, short-term assignments.
What happens now?
I'll wait and see if an offer comes along that fits my profile.
"I'm open to many things," says Annelies Greney and laughs her sympathetic laugh.
There are people who follow role models their whole lives. I have never done that. But in my life I have repeatedly "stumbled across" people who have made a big impression on me.
It happened again recently. Do you know Ruth Bader Ginsburg? I confess I knew nothing about her until I became aware of the Hollywood movie "on the basis of sex". Ruth Bader Ginsburg - or RBG - was born in Brooklyn in 1933 and has been an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court since 1993. She has spent a lifetime campaigning for equal rights for both women and men. I was already impressed by the above-mentioned movie. It was therefore only logical that I should also watch the documentary "RBG".
This incredibly interesting woman is still active as a judge and tirelessly on the road. She inspires generations, sensitizes young people to issues of equality and women's rights and is committed to issues such as abortion, the death penalty and homosexuality. A funny detail: RBG doesn't just wear the traditional judge's robe. No, she spices it up with jabots of various kinds, subtly introducing a feminine element into a domain that has long been incredibly defended by men.
Both films are currently still showing in theaters. Highly recommended!
Beatrice Isler
Source photo: Flickr
Have you been to the Picasso exhibition at the Beyeler Museum in Riehen? If you look at the pictures and remember how Picasso developed, you can see it clearly: he learned the craft and developed a reduction from the diversity of what he had learned. Some of his later drawings, for example, are incredibly reduced. The viewer's eye is not concerned with missing lines. It sees the object. With this reduction, the artist creates a new, essential detail.
Yes, what do these thoughts have to do with Seniors@Work?
At Seniors@Work, people come forward with a wealth of experience from their professional lives. They first had to learn their trade in detail. The learning effect was accompanied by a reduction to the essentials. The essence of experience in dealing with the profession was made visible. And new developments, new details came to light. And here they are, the seniors who are happy to pass on what they have learned.
A high level of professionalism and knowledge is now available to interested parties. It would be a shame not to make use of this know-how. So, dear reader: in keeping with the motto "Do good and talk about it", we would be delighted if you would spread the word about seniors@work!
Source photo: Flickr
