Today I am minimum retirement age old. This is the birthday I have been waiting for. It’s pretty amazing to me how easily it got here. All that teeth gnashing and groaning about still being at work, all for nothing really.
I can remember four years ago being absolutely certain that I would be retiring on this date. Well, here I am, but I’m not retiring yet!
Thankfully, my job is more enjoyable and satisfying and, of course, that counts for a lot. And, well, it’s a job that I’m not worried about losing. As I read stories in the paper about people who are having anxiety attacks and losing sleep over just worrying about losing their jobs, I feel extremely fortunate.
I feel fortunate not only because I have a job that pays well and that I enjoy, but I also feel fortunate because I crossed a threshold a couple of years ago where I became fully aware that I create my own reality.
Today, if I really hated my job, I could leave it. I’ve reached this milestone where with my employer’s rules of retirement I could walk away with a small pension and health insurance for the rest of my life. Today, I’m choosing not to do that.
There is nothing more empowering than knowing that I am truly the captain of my own ship. I call the shots and I know that the decisions I make are my own. I am not a victim.
I’m also aware that if I watched television for 8 to 10 hours a day as most people do, I might be having needless anxiety attacks about losing my job or about being attacked by a terrorist or fill in the blanks. It’s bad enough reading the newspaper for a couple of minutes every day.
Doesn’t anyone besides me wonder about all the amazingly wonderful things happening to people every day that are not reported in the news? A couple of days ago the Seattle Times was filled to the brim with news of multiple killings. What about killing someone makes it newsworthy?
I’m afraid I’m about to go off on even more of a tangent. A couple of weeks ago I was at the gym. There are TVs in the locker room. There was surprise, surprise, a killing that morning. The TV reporter actually said something to the effect of, “well, it’s been a busy morning, we have lots to report, stay tuned.” Yikes!!!!
Ok, stepping off my tangent because I’ve given this too much air time already, life is a wakeful dream and it’s everything I continue to make it every single minute of every single day. I’m not always wildly happy because, well, I’m human, but I am aware. And that is so very wonderful.
Happy birthday to me!!
2 responses so far ↓
1 Lis Sowerbutts // Apr 17, 2009 at 1:45 am
Happy birthday to you to! We are both aries – mine was on the 4th – yours is the same date as my father’s was – weird!
You’re right I remember the day I realised I didn’t need a job emotionally anymore – they are quite handy financially still – but I’m looking at a bumper online income month this month so its all good! I thought you might like the link I’ve linked to above – an overnight sensation at 47 – its never too late
Lis Sowerbuttss last blog post..Scottish Singer Invited on Oprah
2 Cheryl // Apr 17, 2009 at 10:49 pm
Hey Lis, congratulations on your online income this month – it is all good. I watched Susan Boyle’s performance on Britain’s Got Talent (after reading about her in the newspaper). She’s almost 10 years younger than me, so it had better never be too late.
. What a beautiful woman!