“I still say, ‘Shoot for the moon, you might get there.'” Buzz Aldrin
After working for 30+ years, my job ended on January 1, 2016 – my last day in the office was 12/22.
I worked at the same job for 27 years (and ten days, no I wasn’t counting). As I worked in advertising, there are always lay-offs when a large account is lost. So, when we lost our largest account in 2015 our office was closed in Atlanta, which was shocking (after being open more than 30 years) A handful of people stayed on to work virtually. I. WAS. NOT. CHOSEN!! At first, my feelings were hurt because after 27 years of good reviews, awards, etc. I WAS NOT CHOSEN TO STAY!
STOP!!!!!! REWIND REWIND. At the beginning of 2016 I did something I’ve never done before. I had a ceremony saying goodbye to 2015. I reflected on the year, looked at what dreams came true, what I learned during the year, and how I felt about the year. In doing so, I found I felt mostly stressed and tired from the year. I was READY to move on. I AM READY TO MOVE ON!
Here is a list of some of the things I have done and haven’t done over the past month.
-
I have read three books. This isn’t remarkable, what is remarkable is I didn’t buy a single one of them! I’ve rediscovered my library!
- I have reconnected with people. In fact, I have met more people for lunch in the past month than I did for the past six months.
- I have been to two plays.
-
I fell in love with a dress at the High Museum of Art .
- I started taking yoga
- I am taking an experimental drawing class
- I began posting my images on Facebook with quotes.
- I cleaned all the wooden blinds in the house, as well as the baseboards
- I cleaned out the kitchen
- I plotted out a 4′ x 10′ garden area to plant a vegetable garden. I also signed up for a workshop on growing vegetables.
- I am taking a nutrition class at the local library
- I signed up for a book club called Pub Fiction, which meets every other month at a local restaurant (I was unable to attend before as I couldn’t get there from work in time).
- I am cooking more, trying new recipes and eating out less.
- I have gone to a couple of art openings (again, I can now get to them on time)
- I took three bags of clothes to a thrift shop
- I did a three month editorial schedule for upcoming blogs to write (I used sticky notes so I can change them around).
- I have meditated, but I’m still not on a regular schedule
- I have started my morning pages again.
- I hosted a book club with members of the Women’s Caucus for Art of Georgia
- I’ve spent more time with my mother
- I have played the piano, starting over with the boring Hanon exercises. The ukulele, not so much yet. (BTW, the sculpture on the left was done by Annette Conison, my mother in law)
- I have NOT yet established a regular exercise schedule.
- I have not driven in rush hour traffic (I was spending the equivalent to a full work day in the car on a weekly basis).
- I’m not listening to NPR as much lately, I’m not in the car as much. I will have to work out a schedule for this.
- I have painted
- I have set my alarm only once, to see if it was working! I’m not a late sleeper anyway.
- I picked out a word of the year – MINDFULNESS
So, as you can see, I’ve been busy, but I’m still working on a schedule. I really don’t know how I had the time to work! Actually, I’m not as productive now that I’m not working – I no longer have to schedule everything I want to do into the weekend.But I am more MINDFUL of how I spend my time and am enjoying what I’m doing without rushing through life as I had been doing for most of my adult life.
It is trading the stress of work for the stress of paying your bills. I’ll take the 2nd stress any day! I’m not “retiring” you see, I’m changing paths. Down the road I will probably seek out freelance jobs, pursue coaching (I have two life coach certificates) and maybe take up walking dogs! After my decompression is complete, I feel I’m going to start living the life I was meant to live.