Stop and smell the roses!
On my way home from grocery shopping this morning I decided to take a small detour and literally, stop and smell the roses. I couldn't stay long because of the frozen foods in my grocery bag, but I could sit for a few minutes and enjoy the flowers around me. There were only a few other people in the garden this morning and I flowers and peace and quiet in this beautiful urban oasis only two blocks from home. Yes, I did this when I was working, but not as often as I have done for the last five years since my retirement.
On the last day of May, 2013 I formally retired from working full-time. I didn't anticipate retiring and expected to keep working full-time for much longer. But circumstances -- neurosurgery for a spinal cord tumor in 2012 -- helped make my decision for me. I don't regret a relatively early retirement, though from time to time I ponder what it might have meant financially to keep working. But I didn't keep working and instead focus on what these five years have meant to me. Time and lots of it to stop and smell the roses, literally and figuratively. My working years were hectic and highly scheduled and while I am grateful for working in challenging positions, I am equally grateful for few daily events not of my own choice. I enjoy the flexibility of my daily life more than I ever anticipated.
I took a writing seminar this week and one of the comments the moderator made was that retirement was boring and only boring people retired. I was both amused and offended by his remark, but more the former. I look upon these years as one of the greatest gifts of my life. I haven't spent one day that I would describe as boring. Instead, I've been given the gift of time to explore, to walk, to travel, to read and to smell the roses. For those who have also retired, what is your greatest gift of retirement?
Another view of the West Side Community Garden
I'm happy to join with my friends at Pink Saturday for some weekend fun. Hope you're enjoying your weekend, too.
As ever, thanks for visiting and wishes for a great week.
3 comments
We agree with you...retirement affords you the time to do the things you enjoy. And perhaps to learn something new. We enjoy smelling the roses- in our case we enjoy smelling the sea air!
Carol, you have a good perspective! More money can’t by you the peace and joy you experience!
I haven't for one day regretted retiring at 62, ten years ago. I too had a medical issue that made me stop and realize that life is short. Only boring people are bored in retirement. What a doofus. I probably would have gotten up and walked out after that comment.
Post a Comment