Where did December go? I won’t make this long but I can assure you more writing is on the way this next year with more frequency. When I retired in September I told myself I would give myself 4 months/through the holidays to just kick-back and “decompress” or acclimate and I did just that. I truly had to learn how to do nothing. It was not an easy adjustment but I got there and as part of it, I almost resented when there was something I had to do or somewhere I was expected to show up. I got to that relaxed state I wanted to be in, and now I’m ready to start planning things to do, but not in the frantic, stressed-out, high pressure way that I used to operate. This will be things I really want to do with no pressure of perfection. See—–Life Coaching is getting through to me. The striving for perfection and people-pleasing, well, I’ve learned the importance and value of letting that all go. After being that way for 60 years it’s not an easy change but I’m getting there and I think The Fisherman will appreciate that. A meditation coach suggested saying/thinking, “Up and out of my head” when those thoughts do, indeed, come in my head, and they still do from time to time, but I’m better now at fighting them off.
I was listening to the Mel Robbins podcast this morning (LOVE HER) and her latest episode is her encouraging everyone to do NOTHING today and the rest of this week, and the importance of learning to just do nothing. Hey, I’ve been working on that for the last 4 months since retiring, and it’s not easy, but yes, it IS a valuable skill to learn.
I will write a year-end blog later this week, I promise, but for today, Christmas, work at doing nothing except enjoying those around you. I’ll leave you with this photo for the holiday:
While we have multiple dogs, this boy, Urchin, has made a significant impact on us this last year, after joining our home in November of 2022. He is deaf, and we have learned SO much from him. The Fisherman and I both come from decades of showing dogs, and I’ve learned to treasure this dog for just who he is and his resilience. He cannot be shown because A) he is white and that’s not an accepted color in the Boxer breed standard, and B) he is deaf. He doesn’t have to measure up to anything and that’s a relief to me who used to stress over whether my dogs who were show dogs would be “good enough.” He simply gets to be our dog and he is so smart and devoted. His focus is amazing. Losing one of his senses heightens all his other senses, and he is one amazing creature to live with. In my focus on slowing down and enjoying life, he is my constant reminder to do that. He has no idea he is different from any other dog. He just deals with what comes his way. We are blessed to have him in our home and I love knowing he just gets to be himself.
Enjoy your holiday, and remember: Do Nothing. If you need the push to do that, go listen to the Mel Robbins podcast and the most-recent episode of it.
Observations on getting used to being one of those gray-haired retired people 