~and so I had to start somewhere~
~and so I had to start somewhere~
The days on the calendar that reflect the month of April, even in the times of staying safely at home, are still flying by at record speed. If they are moving by this quickly while staying away from school, I can only imagine how fast they would be moving if I were with my 5th graders. Between remaining connected with my students "virtually" as we work through continuous learning and keeping up with things at home, one thing is for sure.
I've not been bored.
There just hasn't been enough time for that.
Except for a few moments that I have waivered back and forth about the decision to retire from education, I am finding myself in the acceptance phase right now and that's a really good place to be. I suppose that it's only human to once in a while feel sadness and long for that which is familiar and certain. It will get better. My career isn't going to end like I always pictured that it would, but you know what?
I'll survive.
Yesterday I started thinking about things.
About myself.
About life.
And what I was going to do with the years remain for me here on earth.
It ended up being so much to think about, that I just felt like I should take a nap, and guess what? That's exactly what I did.
I've been part of the workforce since I was 11 years old, barely tall enough to see over the counter to take orders at my folks' restaurant back home in Haven, Kansas. From age 11 until my early 20's, I worked there on weekends, sometimes in the evenings, and in the summertime. From there I went on to being a teacher and later adding in a second career of being a CNA in long term health care facilities back in Hutchinson. Now in the year of my 65th birthday, I'm finally saying that it's ok to stop. After having worked full time for well past half of a century, my body is saying it would like me to take a break and consider something a little less taxing. I know that I will want to help sub next year if all goes well, but it will be nice for me to be able to make the choice of whether I will or won't go on any given day.
After 40 years, I have earned the right to do so.
When I awoke after my 2 hour nap yesterday afternoon, I started going through some books that I have collected over the years and placing a selection of them into a bookcase that Mike and I bought a few days ago here in Newkirk. It's an antique one with only two shelves available for books so I had to choose carefully those that I wanted to put there. I have a huge collection of daily devotionals, inspirational texts, and sets of works by my two favorite authors that I have barely had the chance to use. I settled them in the new bookcase with the sincere intent of beginning to utilize them in the days of retirement. It was such a peaceful feeling to look at them all arranged and ready for my use. I cannot wait to get started with my own kind of schedule for a change once school is finished. My plan is to make daily reading and self reflection an important part of each day.
I always smile when I look at the life expectancy chart for women who are turning 65 this year, just as I am. The probability factor for me is another 20 years of life on this earth. Little do they know that I am thinking I could live to be 100 years old, easily allowing me to sneak in an extra 15 years or so. And since that final decision will be made by one who is far more wiser than you or I, well the only thing we can do is to live until we can no longer do so.
So if you are wondering what I might be doing in the months that lie ahead, don't bother looking for me to be sitting in front of the tv all afternoon long or going back and forth in a rocking chair. You might find me in a classroom once in a while, working in my flower garden, helping Mike with an outdoor project, taking an early morning walk down the streets of Newkirk, or traveling to see my children and grandchildren. I might be at my desk working on the computer as I attempt to write a book about what life has been like for me as a teacher or researching my ancestry and filling in my family tree. You could perhaps even find me doing any one of a thousand things that I haven't even thought of doing yet.
Yesterday's goal of getting those books in a usable order was the first step for me in leaning into the acceptance of retirement. Many more ideas will follow, I'm sure. It was the smallest of steps but a necessary one that will pave the way for other things to happen.
~you have to start somewhere, you know?~
The days on the calendar that reflect the month of April, even in the times of staying safely at home, are still flying by at record speed. If they are moving by this quickly while staying away from school, I can only imagine how fast they would be moving if I were with my 5th graders. Between remaining connected with my students "virtually" as we work through continuous learning and keeping up with things at home, one thing is for sure.
I've not been bored.
There just hasn't been enough time for that.
Except for a few moments that I have waivered back and forth about the decision to retire from education, I am finding myself in the acceptance phase right now and that's a really good place to be. I suppose that it's only human to once in a while feel sadness and long for that which is familiar and certain. It will get better. My career isn't going to end like I always pictured that it would, but you know what?
I'll survive.
Yesterday I started thinking about things.
About myself.
About life.
And what I was going to do with the years remain for me here on earth.
It ended up being so much to think about, that I just felt like I should take a nap, and guess what? That's exactly what I did.
I've been part of the workforce since I was 11 years old, barely tall enough to see over the counter to take orders at my folks' restaurant back home in Haven, Kansas. From age 11 until my early 20's, I worked there on weekends, sometimes in the evenings, and in the summertime. From there I went on to being a teacher and later adding in a second career of being a CNA in long term health care facilities back in Hutchinson. Now in the year of my 65th birthday, I'm finally saying that it's ok to stop. After having worked full time for well past half of a century, my body is saying it would like me to take a break and consider something a little less taxing. I know that I will want to help sub next year if all goes well, but it will be nice for me to be able to make the choice of whether I will or won't go on any given day.
After 40 years, I have earned the right to do so.
When I awoke after my 2 hour nap yesterday afternoon, I started going through some books that I have collected over the years and placing a selection of them into a bookcase that Mike and I bought a few days ago here in Newkirk. It's an antique one with only two shelves available for books so I had to choose carefully those that I wanted to put there. I have a huge collection of daily devotionals, inspirational texts, and sets of works by my two favorite authors that I have barely had the chance to use. I settled them in the new bookcase with the sincere intent of beginning to utilize them in the days of retirement. It was such a peaceful feeling to look at them all arranged and ready for my use. I cannot wait to get started with my own kind of schedule for a change once school is finished. My plan is to make daily reading and self reflection an important part of each day.
I always smile when I look at the life expectancy chart for women who are turning 65 this year, just as I am. The probability factor for me is another 20 years of life on this earth. Little do they know that I am thinking I could live to be 100 years old, easily allowing me to sneak in an extra 15 years or so. And since that final decision will be made by one who is far more wiser than you or I, well the only thing we can do is to live until we can no longer do so.
So if you are wondering what I might be doing in the months that lie ahead, don't bother looking for me to be sitting in front of the tv all afternoon long or going back and forth in a rocking chair. You might find me in a classroom once in a while, working in my flower garden, helping Mike with an outdoor project, taking an early morning walk down the streets of Newkirk, or traveling to see my children and grandchildren. I might be at my desk working on the computer as I attempt to write a book about what life has been like for me as a teacher or researching my ancestry and filling in my family tree. You could perhaps even find me doing any one of a thousand things that I haven't even thought of doing yet.
Yesterday's goal of getting those books in a usable order was the first step for me in leaning into the acceptance of retirement. Many more ideas will follow, I'm sure. It was the smallest of steps but a necessary one that will pave the way for other things to happen.
~you have to start somewhere, you know?~
Mike has been working so hard to make our yard look nice. We intend to spend as much time as possible in the great outdoors. I'm thankful for him! I have been blessed in this life.
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