Left my office for the last time this week. And I was looking forward to my first good night’s sleep in years. I still have work responsibilities but they are largely left now to others.
Much to my surprise, this is not starting out exactly as I imagined. Up all night! How can this be? I thought that not having to set an alarm clock would finally cure my lifelong insomnia. WRONG!
Another thing to work on now that I am not tethered to my desk. Finding a way to go to sleep early and not wake up in the middle of the night.
So this morning I get up all snoozy and foggy and take a shower. And instead of putting on my work clothes (all organized the night before -of course -with just the right shoes), I PUT ON MY YOGA PANTS AND A LOOSE T SHIRT! So far, so good. I even combed my hair because I don’t want to start this retirement thing off on the wrong foot. I am going to make a real effort not to morph into a slob. I can absolutely see how that could happen since the only “person” I am going to see all day is the dog. Ok. So here I am sitting in my kitchen on retirement day one so I can start blogging about my very first day of retirement.
Uh, now what? Let me think. Do I have to drive to work and deal with road rage (not mine)? Nope. Do I feel a conference call coming on? Nope. Do I have to draft ten emails on various subjects to all different people and wait for responses? Nope. Do I have to plan a lunch appointment to talk about a project? Nope. Do I have to listen to a million problems and find solutions? Nope.
Wait. I get it now. The day, the time, and my life all belong to me now. Let me take a deep breath and enjoy this feeling. I am going no where except where I want to go. I am only going to do what I want to do. And no one is going to ask me for anything. How great is this? I am going to bake something wonderful and before I eat all of it, I will go to the gym. Most of all, I will be grateful today and always for having lived long enough to enjoy the fruits of my labors by just being ME in retirement.