Today's post is a snap-shot of what it's been like since I spoke the word I didn't think I'd ever speak. "Retirement."I seriously thought I would have to be hauled away (while in the middle of doing someones hair), on an EMS gurney, stretcher, cot...whatever that thing is called they put dead bodies on. But, it didn't quite work out that way.
Now, some 7 months later...
I can feel myself waning; my strength not as it once was. I suppose that is natural, yet when I see women who never seem to tire, I want to know their secret. But if it's spending a couple of hours in a gym, I'm not interested. I know I won't bring myself that much discipline when it comes to lifting weights or running on a tread mill. To be fair, I don't see that many people these days. This retirement thing has stolen my "want to" and I fear I am becoming a bit lazy, a bit hermit-ty...occasionally.
Knowing this would happen at some point, I was hoping it wouldn't be this soon. My 79th birthday is about 6 months away, so maybe it's time. Something I have noticed, however, is that if I'm excited about something, my body, mind, and spirit seem to kick into a unified force that supports each other as the task(s) are tackled. They don't tire until the mission is accomplished. But...if disillusion creeps in on any front...well...I might as well stop whatever it is I'm doing because the rest of the day doesn't go so well. Then all I want to do is hide away with no interference, propped up on my bed watching anything on TV that will make me laugh.
The questions come fast and furious, now: Am I turning into a cranky old woman? A snippy, out-of-touch individual? A spreader of dark clouds? Will my children's children want to come see me ever again? Or will it be a constant, "Do we HAVE to go see Grams?" And lastly, but certainly not least, complaining is getting so much easier to do. UGH!!! Nobody likes being around a complainer...not even me.
I knew taking an early retirement (yes, 78 years old is early for me) would prove to be possibly the biggest challenge I would face in my lifetime. And 7 months into it, I've found that to be very true. Adjusting has been interesting. Days ticking off with no makeup on my face (that's kinda nice, actually), hair never coifed (just brushed), and my poor brain allowed to become inactive...mostly, while sitting in front of a monitor screen. Oh, it's searched for information to pick apart. It's searched for why I should believe something to be true, or not true. And...it's learning new things about gardening. Or maybe it's just refreshing itself, much like when you tap that circling arrow at the top of this page, to do a refresh. But, mostly it searches for challenges within its grasp to overcome, a bit more quickly than adjusting to retirement has been.
We'll get there. By hook or by crook. What does that even mean? Guess I could play along and do a deep dive...I do have the time. 😑 Maybe I should start the mundane action of putting away allllllll the Christmas decorations that took me a full week to get up. Beautiful as they may be, the main event they ushered in is now in our rear-view mirror and it won't return until next December.
Focus, Mary. Focus! Time for a New Year's Resolution. *wink *wink. But, where to start? We must know where we are, to get to where we want to be. So....
Here's what we know:
1) Doing the same thing over and over, yet expecting different results, is the definition of insanity. Right?
2) Not willing to change the circumstances causing the boredom, is accepting a defeated spirit. Not a pretty sight.
3) If we continue on this path, it will destroy us, causing death of mind, body, and spirit. Not necessarily death, death. But certainly a decaying process must take place. If we don't use it...we lose it. Agreed?
Things I know I MUST do:
1) Get back on track with taking my daily walks. Those ALWAYS refresh me.
2) Begin my daily exercises...again. These really do help me twist (and sometimes shout), bringing my body into subjection as it limbers up. Rigor mortis is not the way to go. Believe me...
3) ALWAYS start my day with God...reading from the Word, studying the Word, sitting quietly, allowing the Word to penetrate my heart. Therein is guidance. I know this to be true.
4) Fight the urge to do nothing. Yes, rest when needed. Just don't get in the habit of doing nothing all day long!
So....
My To Do List for the first half of 2026. For those who care, but mostly for me...
1) Begin the task of decluttering. I promised myself I would do this the moment I retired. Didn't happen. My plan is to go room by room, hopefully with little to no, distraction. One at a time. Focus will be needed, since I usually start in one room and find myself in another, moving things around to aid what I began.
2) DISCIPLINE! As long as my body allows, MOVE IT! Daily walks. Daily exercise. Daily meals (as healthy as possible). Oh man! This is going to take a lot of planning!
3) Meal planning for the week. Possibly the month. Having only two to cook for, this shouldn't be hard. But it always has been for me.
4) Make solid decisions on what to do with left-over salon related items. That era has been completed.
5) Always look for the good in things. Even when life throws the sour stuff my way. I know I'll fail at this on occasion, but I don't give up easily. Unless it has to do with that awful word "retirement".
I think 5 is enough. The number of grace. I'm gonna need it.
As you can see, God's still working on me, here...in Mary's World.
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