MIDLIFE HAS BROUGHT ME PEACE
Midlife has brought me many blessings, and I have ten years of blog posts to confirm that. One of the most delightful is the sense of peace, and calm, and quiet happiness that pervades my life every day. It's like a little secret joy that I hug to myself when I notice it settling around my shoulders.
For so many years I was focused on pushing forward and keeping all the balls in the air, I didn't have a lot of time for "me". I'd never had huge expectations or big dreams, but I also didn't have the mental space to know whether that was because I didn't want them, or because I was too busy to find time for them. Retirement has given me the time to figure all that out...
FINDING MY SWEET SPOT
I chose Equanimity as my Word of the Year in 2024 to focus in on that centeredness that I was so drawn to. I loved the idea of not being so buffeted by the noise of the world around me - to be grounded in who I was and what was important to me, and to let the rest float on by. I love that it brought me to a place where I didn't feel the need to react to the constant stream of news that pervades the online world.
Centering down and making my world smaller has brought with it a sense of calm that I never experienced as a younger woman. It's allowed me to figure out what's important for my soul, and to make that my priority while I let the rest go through to the keeper. I'm not interested in the big picture stuff anymore - I like my village mentality.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPINESS FEELS LIKE FOR ME…
A little while ago I saw a really cute little set of pictures that described quiet happiness. I pinned it because it warmed my heart and described perfectly that little warm hug of happiness that slips into my world at unexpected moments. These are the words that went with the pictures:
It wasn’t a big moment.
Just a quiet one while tea was steeping.
No big thoughts
No flash of insight.
Just a soft, full feeling in my chest.
I looked around, and everything just…
Felt okay. Not perfect.
And right in the middle of it
I realized –
I’m really grateful to be here.
ANOTHER TIMELY REMINDER
I saw another quote not long after that said:
Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.
I feel like happiness snuck in the door I left open when it was time to let in some fresh air. It came when I had the emotional space to allow it some room, it came when I freed myself up to breathe and just be happy, it came when I realized I had all I needed to live my life in contentment. I feel blessed every day when I wake to a new 24 hours of living life on my own terms, it might not be exciting, or earth-shaking, or the envy of others, but it's perfect for me.....it's full of small joys, and it makes me happy - and you can't ask for more than that can you?
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Do you have moments when happiness sneaks in through the door of your heart? Have you found your sweet spot where life feels like it's centered and balanced? If it's not that way all the time, then I hope there's still those small, sweet spots where you can relax and breathe and find gratitude.
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That was a quiet and kindly gentle post Leanne. I am so glad for you to be at this space in your life right now. Nothing better! Take care Denyse x
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Denyse - I've been realizing how nice it is to be content with life and how it doesn't take much to feel peaceful and happy if we pause a moment to think about it. I find the evenings are the perfect time to look back at the day and to be grateful for all it held. x
DeleteHi Leanne, I feel the same way. Retirement has allowed me to focus on what’s important to me and the rest slips away nicely. I feel grateful to be able to choose how I spend my time these days and who with. Feeling blessed, Chrissie x
ReplyDeleteHi Chrissie - it took me a while to adjust to the slower and calmer pace of life that comes with retirement, but now I'm sooooo grateful for it. I feel a deep sense of calmness that I never had when I was busy juggling all those balls in my earlier days. I love that every day is quiet pleasure - and I'm glad you're finding that too. :)
DeleteHI Leanne, I was smiling as I read this. I too feel the sense of calm and ease you describe, and it’s something I appreciate so much. Thank you for putting it into words.
ReplyDeleteHi Sue - sometimes I think it's good to just pause and acknowledge how content we are - to say "me too" when we read something that reflects our happiness. I'm so glad you feel it too - it's such a blessing. x
DeleteLeanne, it feels good to say 'I'm happy' and fully mean it. We are healthy, we have friends to spend time with, family to love and be loved by, a comfortable home, and plans for the future. Our days are peaceful. I'm happy that you have also found that place to simply BE.
ReplyDeleteHi Suzanne - it's definitely about "be"-ing isn't it? Not comparing and competing, not "do"-ing like crazy....just appreciating what we have and being grateful for it. I'll take a quiet sense of happiness over frantic busy-ness any day. :)
DeleteAs you write, the simple happy moments can be felt by me. Thank you for giving me access to your space.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure Judith - it's so nice to feel settled and content, and just quietly happy in this lovely stage of life. I'm so happy to just be happy, and it's nice to be able to have a place to share that with others. x
DeleteHi Leanne. We are also living a calmer, quieter lifestyle. We're still traveling, but now it's less frequent, and in our own car. We're on a roadtrip, right now, to the mountains of North Carolina, to view the fall foliage. The leaves are just turning colors. It's lovely. ♥️ Christina Daggett
ReplyDeleteHi Christina - how lovely for you both, and it's so good that you're happy back in the States again. Spring is slowly creeping in here and I'm just loving the sunshine and warmth in the air - it makes my heart happy. x
DeleteJust lovely... x
ReplyDeleteThat sums up my life in two words Jo :D xx
DeleteHi Leanne - I have heard this saying: "Happiness doesn't come from anywhere. It's already around you. You just have to discover it." Of course, one has to discover it by making the necessary efforts.
ReplyDeleteIt's about five months since I am into my post-retirement phase of life. Definitely I am a lot more relaxed. I have more time for myself. That is giving me a lot of contentment and happiness.
(My latest post: From office deadlines to travel timelines)
Hi Pradeep - I think (once you get over the adjustment phase) retirement really lends itself to quiet happiness. There's so much more headspace and room to breathe, and time to discover what we enjoy and to give our energy to that. I just love this stage of life so much - absolute contentment!
DeleteI love those gentle moments of happiness that just quietly envelope you, Leanne. I have more and more of those lately, and I am deeply grateful for them.
ReplyDeleteThey're just lovely aren't they Christie? I'm so grateful when my heart and mind are calm and there's just a peaceful happiness around me - definitely one of the many joys of retirement. x
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