Welcome to my Retirement Blog

Retirement is a very interesting concept.  Google search has a pretty simple explanation.  Their meaning of retirement goes something like this: the time of life when one chooses to leave the workforce behind.  For me the implementation of retirement is where the complexity comes in. I was working at two occupations so I retired in two stages.  Stage one happened in December 2019, when I retired from the Nursing Department at the University.  I had made a promise to myself, when it was time to leave nursing, I sensed I would know and I would retire.  I did recognize my nursing career was over and that chapter of my life was over.  I wanted to leave with warm and fuzzy thoughts of my long career.  The decision seemed relatively easy and went very smoothly.  Little did I know that within 3 months the world would be in a pandemic like none other.  I feel someone more powerful than I had guided me make the decision to retire.  I would not have been able to work through the Covid restrictions while caring for patients.  

I had developed a "Healing" business several years ago.  Once I was done at the University I planned to promote the business.  By May of 2020, restrictions denied people to work in an environment like I did. For the first time since 1976, I didn't work for 3 months.  I thought I have to make good use of my time and I would complete jobs I had neglected. I did a long list of things but mainly purged, cleaned, donated, knit, all those things that everyone else was doing. Once restrictions lifted and I was able to work again I made another decision to only work every other week.  That was yet another new experience having 10 days off between work weeks. I had promised myself that once I was 65 I would fully retired.  I believe it is essential that you keep a promise to yourself and I did.  Stage two arrived in November 2021.  Being able to retire with your health at 65 is a true blessing.  It was hard to say goodbye to my large clientele but the time for "me" had come.  I was now fully retired.  I was blessed with parties for my 65th birthday and it was near Christmas so retirement was exciting.  Many people asked me what I was going to do in retirement.  My reply was always "I don't know, all I know is work".  As I settled into the new life of retirement, I have to admit I was a bit lost at times.  I  shared that feeling with many and they agreed they had the same feeling.  Everyone said the same thing "it takes some getting used to it".  Clearly, what I had envisioned as a retirement life, takes time.  

One thing I had planned for my retirement was to start a blog.  Although, it takes me a very long time to write my thoughts, I have always loved journaling.  I felt a blog would be a good spot to share some of my unique life experiences, my beliefs, recipes, alternative medicine guidance and the list goes on. Random topics that pop into my head may be an appropriate way to describe the posts.   

I hope you enjoy my blog and can relate to my thoughts.  I want to thank each and everyone that takes the time to read my posts and comment if you care to.  You, my friends and family have always been there for me through many of the stories in the posts.  I appreciate your support and unconditional love in this project.  My hope is that as you read, you will be nodding your head with understanding, maybe have a chuckle or have a tear hit your eyes. It is meant to make you feel and think about my words. Thanks for being part of this journey. 💖