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Someone asked not long ago if I had any updates to a post when I retired in 2018. In fact I do. I learned some things. After many years of being focused on taking care of my company and my employees, and being strictly confidential about every single business detail spoken, I was finally able to focus on me. Meโฆwho was I? That took quite a while to get comfortable looking inside myself and determining the safety or not of being open and honest with myself. Here is the condensed version of my learnings.
I learned that some days Iโm the windshield and some days Iโm the bug.
I learned that people I thought were friends, were only in the relationship for what I might be able to do for them while employed.
I learned that I love being at the ocean in my 5th wheel, but I donโt love โcampingโ or towing that 37 foot beauty, or emptying the black tanks, or RV toilet paper.
I learned that although my mind says go for it, my body has a brake pedal.
I learned I enjoy rather than need a glass of fine red wine.
I learned that the ocean cures many things for me, but it does not mend a heart thatโs been shattered by loss.
I learned that young, healthy, vibrant, wonderfully giving people can die and life guarantees us nothing.
I learned that every day I wake up is a gift and I will continue to unwrap it in all its splendor and savor every moment.
I learned Iโm human; I still have failings; I have successes too albeit a bit different than at work, such as towing the 5th wheel seven hours to Port Aransas without a single unkind word spoken.
People I meet will comment, isnโt retirement grand? Truthfully, dealing with the isolation of Covid, the tanking of my retirement portfolio, and some days utter boredom, I canโt say retirement is grand. I can say life is grand and Iโm very happy being on top of the ground and not under it.
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