Morning Thoughts

I got up at 7 am and by 7:30 I was up at the health center having blood removed. So, soon I should know my cholestoral numbers again. I had forgotten the rush-to-work feeling of that time of day. Usually I drive that road later, much later in the day, and I was surprised at the busyness of the roads. The journey had me thinking that I have been a retired woman for seven years.

I found retirement very difficult at first. Not only did I not know whatt to do with my time, I also did not know who I was any more. For most of my life I was like a man in that I identified myself by my job. I was a teacher. That is how I thought of myself. Then, suddenly, I was no longer a teacher so, who was I? Of course, I was still a mother but my older son had been gone from my house for many years and round about this time, my younger son also headed out for his own life. It was a difficult time of my life and I eventually had to use both anti-depressants and talk-therapy to help me make my way through the difficulties.

So, if you ask me now who I am, I would say I am a person who gets excited at the thought of learning something new. I am Fred’s partner ready to share with him whatever we meet in our life. I am a person who is optimistic about the future. I am someone who has learned that to get what I want and need, I have to be proactive.

Most of all, I am a happy person.

Plans for today:

put the ingredients for another loaf in the breadmaker
go for a walk–I will have to take the iPod since I left the Shuffle on all last night and the battery is dead!
tutor Robin at 11 am
head out to the shops this afternoon to look for something {leggings? shorts?] suitable for wearing to a jazzercize class tomorrow night.

Until later…

Sunshine Wolf

May 3, 2005

I still don’t know who I am sometimes….sigh.

Little Runner

Let us know how your class goes tomorrow and if you like it. I think that being a mother you kind of always are a teacher, sometimes it’s really hard to let the kids learn something on their own. I think that you have a lot more to teach because I learn from you all the time. I don’t think you look at all your age. You look really good. I hope that it’s warm up there today and you have a grea

(sorry ran out of space) great day!

That’s a very interesting comment about men – I honestly don’t think I’ve ever identified myself by my job. Or perhaps that’s because I’ve never really been satisfied with any of my jobs. I don’t know. Hmmmm.

TheWoodsprite

I’m glad you have discovered who you are. You’re a wonderful person, one I’m glad to “know.” For many years I kept trying on labels and casting them off, realizing they didn’t really fit me. Now that I’ve just made up my own label, I’m very happy with it! 🙂 Here’s wishing you a lovely day. hugs, Weesprite

VeronicaCorningstone

You inspired me to ask for a shuffle for my graduation gift. 🙂 And I will have a breadmaker in my first real apartment . All this talk of bread has made me hungry.

Alchemind

This is a great entry. 🙂 I’ve found that an occupation, in todays society, is the defining social characteristic in helping to define a person, so when you’ve faced the conundrum of retirement “who am I?” is a very valid question. The great part is is that you’ve gotten through the rough patches and found meaning and justification of your character “learn something new” is a great way …

… to approach life. Especially given the notion the death, for all of us, is very real and will systematically destroy conciousness as we know it. What subject did you teach? I’m also interested in knowing if you know about Abraham Maslows hierarchy of human development and where you may fall into it. Peace, love and hedonism. — Mark

Chipparoo

I love your positive attitude. (I also love your bread maker–much better shape than the tall square kind I have)

Dangnabbit

Next time I am at my storage shed I’ll throw the flour bins in the back of my car. If the mental fog lifts this will be tomorrow. I am on vacation the next two weeks and a little trip out of town sounds good.

Lily47

Well another thing you are is AN INSPIRATION.

Shi

greeneyes&sunflowers

*huggs* : ) I will probably have a stroke when I have to retire. I have been working since I was 15 years old.

musiclover1414

As a teacher myself, you have just explained why I don’t plan to retire unless / until my health prevents me from doing a decent full-time job of it. If you ask, “Who are you?” my answer would be the same as yours was: I am a teacher. And, just like you, I wouldn’t know how to identify myself if that were no longer true.

MargUK

You are definitely someone who gets the most out of her life although it may not have been like that to start with. Good on you!