Once you stop working, you can’t help but wonder how many things, moments, observations, and events you missed because they just whizzed by and either you didn’t have time to appreciate them once you experienced them, or worse, you just didn’t notice them at all.
Today was different. As I have said before, leaving the workplace after years and years of being away from home every single day of the week, frees you to soak up everything around you because you are not swirling in a vortex all the time. And what was so special about today?
First of all, it is unseasonably warm and sunny today. In the Midwest when it is nearly December, this is a WONDERFUL thing. So that deserves notice and appreciation.
Second, I had the absolute joy of spending the day with my granddaughter who wore the white, furry, adorable bunny shoes you see in the picture. They were even cuter in person. She is just styling’ already. The matching black and white socks were the icing on the cake.
Third, with the sun shining in my windows and the house as quiet as can be, I am loving just sitting here writing whatever comes to my mind. It is an opportunity I never thought I would have. Sharing my thoughts with (as yet) a very small audience does not discourage me nor make me want to give up. Starting a blog is a crapshoot for sure. Maybe you find a following, and maybe you don’t. But if I have learned one thing it MEtirement, it is this. If you don’t try new things and stretch yourself as you have never stretched before, you will not get another chance.
So my new healthy lifestyle (yoga, mindful eating–“What the heck is that thing you just put in your mouth? Put it down. Don’t eat it”), thousands of steps a day, eating a healthy protein- filled breakfast (except on Friday which is Chocolate Chip muffin day, as you might recall), my delight in reading what I want whenever I want, my time with the dog at home in clothes that don’t have to be dry cleaned (!)–translation– yoga pants and slippers (!), and, in general, my overall sunny outlook even when it isn’t sunny out makes me unbelievable grateful and appreciative to be in this phase of my life.
I hope all of you who get the opportunity to slow down at some point–whether temporarily or once and for all in MEtirement– will take a deep breath every morning, look around you and see how great life can be when you have choices to do things you really enjoy or embark on new adventures.
Stop. Think. Appreciate. You would be surprised at how little effort it takes to just take a snapshot of your life in the moment and enjoy what you have. Because unfortunately, MEtirement is not a never-ending journey and the appreciation of that fact alone makes every day just that much more special.
I hope those little furry shoes made everyone smile today! Stop. Think. Appreciate. Even the small things……………