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Packing things into life


At my gym if you can't make it to your regular class you are allowed to make up for missed sessions by joining another group. As a rule, if I couldn't attend, I just missed. Well, they have a December attendance challenge, and I am suddenly more committed. One day due to an appointment, I decided to join a group with much younger participants. I have always been impressed with how friendly everyone is that attends this gym. The first person that I chatted with was a delight. She shared that she was retired from the military, she was 44 and she didn't know what she was going to do with her life. I said to her, "I worked at my career longer than you have been alive". It's that profound information. Clearly, her retirement and mine are two very different things. During our conversation she said she used to be the 4:30 AM gym person and now she is the 9:00 AM person. She said she still gets up really early because she wants to get as much out of her day as she can. I shared with her that my friend always says, "when I wake up early, I just get up. We don't know how many more days we have to get up so I might as well enjoy them". I have always believed that you are put in the right place to hear what you need to hear. That morning, I was in the right place to be reminded that I need to appreciate getting up early and to embrace that time as a gift. That brief conversation left a huge impact on me.     

I was watching "Survivor" and one of the contestants said that being on the show has taught her to "not pack so much in her life". I vividly remember when every waking minute of my life was accounted for. Plans were circling in my head non-stop. I can still do that if it is necessary which is so rare. I have to program relaxing into my life, it doesn't happen naturally for me. If I designate a day for relaxing, it is often Sunday. Believe me when I say, "I am not going to do a thing today", that is exactly what I do. One day is good for me and by the end of it I am restless. When someone says to me, "sit down and relax", I'm often questioning what the other option would be.  

I had a long conversation with an old friend recently. She had just gotten back from a 3-week holiday abroad and already had another one planned. She shared her busy schedule of entertaining, going to hockey games, volunteering and so much more. She was certainly packing things into her life. She said she didn't like it when her calendar wasn't full. I admire her energy and desire to be that busy. She simply can't imagine not going and doing, whereas I am okay with not going and doing. 

It seems if we are extremely busy, we wish for a quieter time. When we are not busy, we wish for something to add to our lives. It is our purpose in life to not be content. Winter is here with a vengeance. If you are like me and are going to tough it out in the prairies, it could mean for long days. But, with that said, there is nothing like a puzzle or a good book or a knitting project to add to the day. I am not sure where people sit in retirement. So many people say that they are so busy in retirement. I do know in retirement; it takes very little to have a busy day. Maybe we are done packing things into life, and we are at the point to appreciate the things we have in our lives. It is a google fact that having something to look forward to creates happiness. I am okay with not having things to look forward to or having things to look forward to. The one thing I like is when the day ends, and I have a sense of accomplishment. That brings me happiness. 

December is the perfect month to pack things into our lives. People that live in the same community as their children and grandchildren are extremely busy. Right now, everyone is busy getting ready for Christmas and there are so many things that a person could attend if they cared to. I think by packing so much into our lives in December, it is preparation for the long unpredictable days in January of quietness.  

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