I've learned a few things by being retired. Here's one.
Life has been hectic lately. I'm sure some people wonder how a retiree's life can get hectic since we don't work and don't have kids at home, but it is. For one thing we move more slowly than we used to. Another thing is we have different priorities.
I remember being a "Just Do It Mom." I Had to do so many things in a certain length of time. Sometimes, instead of enjoying my kids, I drove them. By "drove" I mean, "Make up your bed," "Do your homework," "Don't chew with your mouth open," "Practice your piano," "Sit down, stand up," blah-blah-blah. (Isn't that the way Charlie Brown's mom sounds?) Even when I taught school and my daughter and grandson lived with us, I did the same thing. I feel like I spent most of my life hurrying from one thing to another.
So here I am at 72 and I'm doing it again. Monday night writer's class--I have to rewrite my Copper Penny synopsis for the twentieth time. It's easier to write an entire novel than to write a synopsis. I still don't know exactly how to do it right, but if I plan to send something to an agent, I have to get it right.
Continue editing "Copper Penny." I have a lot more of that to do than I thought.
Continue writing "Plugged Nickel." When I finally finish that, then I'll have to write another dreaded synopsis about it!!!
Read the minor prophet for tonight's small group meeting.
Do my five day lesson for Esther class before Thursday night meeting.
Meet friends for lunch today. Meet friends for breakfast at 8:30 Friday morning. (Don't ever let the socializing go!)
Go to Book Discussion Group Thursday morning. It's a pancake breakfast before we discuss the book, "Cold Sassy Tree," which was really a good one.
Read the two books I'm reading now. Knit the baby blanket for Care Net.
Prepare the house, shop for groceries at Smith's, Whole Foods and Costco before Saturday when we have the preacher and his entire family coming to stay during their spring break.
Exercise every day. Try to stay on my diet. Watch our favorite TV shows: American Idol and Dancing With the Stars because if we don't watch some of them and just keep taping we'll run out of room on our DVR and get nothing. (These are some of our priorities)
Last night I couldn't go to sleep quickly thinking about all we need to do in the next two weeks. This morning I got a revelation. Relax and let life happen. I can go through life relaxed and enjoy it, or I can rush through it all stressed out. After all, life is going to happen no matter what I do. Since that's the case, I'd rather do it relaxed.
That's what being retired has taught me.
For a brief 3 month window, I'm retired through the summer. I know there are more productive ways to spend my time.
ReplyDeleteI could seek higher education. . . I could get a job to improve my resume and our financial standing. . . I could research more grants for our business. . . and more.
There's so much I could do with that time as so many have pointed out but instead I choose to get off the fast track of life and enjoy my husband, my kids, and my friends.
Words can't even descibe how much that time means to me.