THE SECOND HALF OF LIFE GIVES US SO MUCH
Last year I wrote about Ullie-Kaye, a poet whose work resonated with me on
many levels. There were so many of her poems
that spoke to my heart, I follow her Facebook page and her poems regularly appear in my feed.
Recently a new one called "Wonder Road" popped up that was all about what life gifts us, but for me it perfectly described what the second half of life (especially retirement) has brought into my world.
I just had to share it here today with a few
words of my own....
THE BEAUTY OF SLOWING DOWN
I've been a huge advocate of living at
a slower and more intentional pace
since I retired. The worship of busyness and always being in a hurry seems
so pointless to me. As we slow our pace a little and take time to figure out
what's truly important, it allows us to focus on becoming who we were truly
meant to be.
FINDING WORTH, LOVE, RECONNECTION AND GRACE
Once we stop defining ourselves by what we do for a living, it opens the
door to
finding our worth
in other more authentic ways. We learn to love ourselves and others with
less judgement, we connect on a deeper level and
we extend grace
when and where it's most needed.
OPEN DOORS, OPEN HANDS, OPEN HEARTS
Since I've retired I've discovered how little I need to live well. It has
taken away the need to feel like I'm in control of every little thing, and
it's opened my hands and heart to be more
generous with myself
and
with others. It's also opened my eyes to the fact that life is short and we need to live in the moment - not the past and not the future - just the "now".
RELEASING, LEARNING, BREAKING CYCLES
Letting go and learning boundaries has been a huge growth area for me.
Not repeating mistakes from my past,
learning new ways
to deal with other people's issues, and freeing myself from some of my
"oldest child" tendencies has been so liberating.
SMALL MOMENTS, SMALL CHANCES
When your life becomes smaller, you start appreciating all the little
joys. I'm not juggling all those balls of busyness anymore and I have time
to breathe, to see the little things,
to discover glimmers
every day, and to follow further if something catches my attention.
BUSY ONE MOMENT, QUIET THE NEXT
I can definitely relate to being busy one moment and quiet the next. I
love that this brings balance - some days I feel like I have large chunks
of time scheduled, but then I get a Do-Nothing day to balance that out. I love being at home, I love solitude and peace, I
love being able to fill my timetable on my own terms - no more rushing,
no more over-commitments, just 'enough'.
REARRANGING US INTO SOMETHING BETTER
If there's one big thing that retirement has brought me, it's been
the time and space to find "me"
and to find a better "me". I love the "me" I am these days - the "me" I
discovered when I stopped running around trying to be all things to all
people. Now it's my time - there's still room for others, but there's also
so much room for me and who I'm becoming. That's the Wonder Road of retirement for me....
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Do any of these aspects spark a light in you? Can you feel yourself
growing and becoming a better version of yourself? Are you giving yourself
time and room to grow?
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Hi Leanne, I'm much happier with the person I am now and wouldn't trade places with my younger self. I have found what makes me fulfilled, what I enjoy and life is good. Have a lovely week. x
ReplyDeleteHi Sue - I feel exactly the same way. It took me until I was 50 to even begin to understand who I was and what fulfilled me. Now life is sweet and I wouldn't go back to younger me either. x
DeleteHi, Leanne - I have enjoyed each decade as it has unfolded. But as Sue said above, I wouldn't trade my life now for any other point in time. Thank you for another thought-provoking post!
ReplyDeleteHi Donna - I look back and the decades up until 50 were all about others - and they needed to be. From my mid 50's there's been more time to figure out who I am outside all those relationships and responsibilities and to know my deeper self. I just love this second half of life and it's been such a joyful surprise as to how lovely it is.
DeleteHi Leanne, a thought provoking post that sums up what us midlife bloggers like to write about - finding ourselves and the processes we've been through to get to where we are now. So much wisdom here!
ReplyDeleteHi Deb - it certainly is what we all write about - I think for most of us it was such a pleasant surprise to find this stage of life so fulfilling and engaging - and to have met lovely people in the process x
DeleteHi Leanne, our bodies and minds are beautifully designed to adapt and thrive through the challenges of each decade of life. I love where I am right now, (grounded within myself) but I don't want to 'narrow' too fast and to the point that my world becomes too small. I have seen that happen and it is the saddest thing imaginable. I want to exercise every muscle and keep challenging my brain for as long as possible. Those are choices I make for myself, and not because of outward pressures. I think it all begins with self-love and acceptance, which you seem to have accomplished. Thanks for sharing your contentment and for acknowledging that getting older does have its advantages.
ReplyDeleteHi Suzanne - you're right about each decade having it's own beauty and challenges - I think for me, it was such a surprise to discover a whole new "me" and a whole new approach to life in this second half. And I know what you mean about not allowing ourselves to draw inwards so much that we lose our ability to discover new interests and to continue to flourish (another WOTY I consider regularly). I just love that it's all on my terms these days and I get to march to the beat of my own drum. :)
DeleteHi Leanne - I can indeed relate to this post. I have myself begun to slow down in the last few years. I lead a less hectic life now. I try to live from moment to moment. I used to get stressed out thinking of the long to-do list. But that is no longer the case. If I am unable to do something, so be it. Thanks for sharing those little nuggets of wisdom.
ReplyDeleteHi Pradeep - I think that's the joy of slower living - you're not doing "nothing", you're just doing life at your own pace and prioritising differently. Life really is good and it's a joy to be able to live it with our own agenda more as we get older.
DeleteThanks Leanne, helpful to keep living lightly and enjoying every moment
ReplyDeleteYes to living lightly! And to enjoyment and peace and contentment - all gifts that come with discovering who we are and how we want to live life. :)
DeleteAs I have started to untether myself from my job title and being a busy mum of four children, and an income coming in, I have had to do a lot of soul searching. I don't think I'm quite at the end of figuring it all out yet. But I am happy to report, that like you, I like myself and even love myself - without it being attached to what I do or achieve. xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Mika - it takes time to adjust to a new way of thinking and living - I even went back to my old career for a while, but eventually you find your new normal and settle in. I think it was probably a year before it started to feel right and then another couple of years before I was truly at home in this new stage of life. Time is on your side and I love how your creating a new path and being so generous with sharing it with others. x
DeleteHi Leanne, a great post! Writing a blog post is so good when we get to share our thoughts and have others read and respond! I was looking at 57 yo me, with my post about my parents, and knowing how underneath I was incredibly stressed by work and Mum being very unwell and nice. Now, at 74 I can get a bit anxious at “less time ahead now” thoughts which I try to ignore, because I am the most at ease with my life than I have been ever! Denyse
ReplyDeleteHi Denyse - you're so right about looking back and seeing things in yourself. I took a pic of myself at work for a blog post and thought it was nice - then I looked back at it and could see the strain in my eyes and the stress in all of me. Leaving that job, adjusting to a new way of life, leaving the pressure to perform behind - it's been an eye opener. I'm grateful every day for this 3rd third of life and I'm glad you are too.x
DeleteI love that poem, Leanne. There is so much there to absorb, and the final words about the stars dancing even when we can't see them are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHi Christie - I just saw so many little snippets in it that reflected the joy of life if you choose to look for it. I think I have more time these days to appreciate all those little glimmers and moments and to be grateful for each of them. x
DeleteI'm increasingly on this journey as I approach 50. Even though I have a full-time job and many career-related goals, my kids are still young (7 & 14), etc. I'm much better at shedding everything unnecessary and just staying still, observing, examining, and learning to be "slower and more intentional.
ReplyDeleteHi Stella - it's a great stage of life and you're going to love it when you arrive (and when those kids of yours are a little bit older and less demanding on your time and energy). :)
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