3 Hard Lessons Being Retired Taught Me

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Retired Lessons

I’ve been retired now for about 2 1/2 years. I used to work at the North TX Veterans Hospital. I met some great people there and sometimes I really miss the camaraderie. I always used to think how wonderful everything would be when I retired and how life would finally open and shine on me!

Well, it didn’t exactly go that way.

Don’t get me wrong, being retired is a blessing, but it does take some adjustment. I just wanted to share with you some things I had to learn before I could really start enjoying retirement.

  1. How to put my own needs first. This is a big one. I raised a child as a single mother, so I got used to putting someone’s needs before my own. After 18 years of that, it’s amazing how hard it is to put that aside. I got married to my new husband in 2017 and he still has to remind me to do what I need to for myself. I’m always trying to make sure he is ok, but what about me? I’m blessed to have someone who cares about me and wants to see me happy!
  2. How to schedule my day. When I first retired, I found myself sleeping late, taking naps, and just basically waiting for something to happen (not sure what though!). But after doing too much of that, I began to feel defeated. I do suffer from depression, so this was something I had to change. I began by making small lists every day of things that I needed to get done. Even if it only had 3 items on it, at least when I completed them, I felt productive and satisfied.
  3. How to disconnect my WHO from my DO. If any of you listen to Joyce Meyer, that will sound familiar, because she is the one, I learned it from. People are always asking “so what do you do?” and now that I’m retired, sometimes I feel funny saying that. It’s like, do I really do anything important? Yes, I do! I take care of me and my family! I’m not LESS THAN because I don’t work outside of the home.

These are lessons I had to learn the hard way. You go through so many emotions after you retire. I never expected it to be so trying. I’m still adjusting, but I’ve come a long way. I thank God for this opportunity to find myself all over again!

What things did you struggle with when you first retired?

Need Help Defeating the Menopause Monster!!

photo by Pixlr

This post is for my Menopause Warriors!

(Guys, you won’t be interested…LOL)

This has been one rough week. I don’t know what is going on with my body temperature! It’s up and down all day and especially all night. I toss and turn so many times. It’s just tiring. I’m taking prescription Melatonin and muscle relaxers, but they don’t help.

I’m glad my husband is a sound sleeper, so I’m not keeping him up. I’m thinking I may try sleeping in the living room just to see if it makes a difference. We have a ceiling fan in the bedroom that stays on and I have a small desk fan that is on also and directed at me. And let’s not forget that the temperature is set at 73 degrees all night!

I had a partial hysterectomy back in 2010 and since then, I have had regular issues with hot flashes, but nothing like what is going on now. It’s like, I’m switching between sweating and freezing every 2 minutes! I have a doctor’s appointment in October, so I called today to see if I can get in sooner, but the best they could do was set me up for mid-September!

I’m not sure what she will suggest, so in the meantime I just have to deal with it.

Any suggestions?

ps. I forgot to say I’m also taking OTC Estroven for hot flashes.

What I Realize About Retirement

Ramel

Boredom is a real thing, especially in retirement. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE being retired, but there are days that I really don’t want to do anything but lay down or watch television. I tend to feel guilty about those days, but on the other days I really do try to be productive.

What I need to realize though is that it’s ok to do nothing for a day. Being retired IS my job now. I’m not “less than” because I don’t work outside of the home. I have a husband and dog that I take care of now! LOL

Cedric & Moki

My son Ramel has his own place and job, so the Mommy part of my life is quite different now. I’m so thankful that Ramel is self-sufficient and happy. When he was small, our life was nothing like it is now. We’ve been without a home, car and so many other things, but God has truly blessed us.

My retirement is one of those blessings! I was burnt out at work and my health (especially mental) was on a downward spiral. God has granted me the time to concentrate on myself and I refuse to feel guilty about resting when it’s necessary!

Do You Like My Painting?

Sunset Painting at the Summit

I had a fun time this morning at The Summit! I went to my first You Can Paint class. The title was Early Morning on Mustang Island. I’ve only painted once before, and it was watercolor. This one was oil and I really enjoyed myself. The class had about fifteen people and four of us were first timers. I met an awesome lady named Betty and we laughed through the whole class. The instructor Kristen was amazing! I’m thankful for her patience and knowledge.

I’m really blessed to have found The Summit. Many of the patrons come multiple times a week and I really enjoy the activities. They have Book Club tomorrow and I wouldn’t mind checking that out.

Don’t forget, if you’re fifty or older and looking for something fun, check out The Summit in Grand Prairie!