Sprinkling of Courage

Published in Island Gals, 2012 Volume 2, isssue 3

Sprinkling of Courage!            

Dona Anderson

I remember years ago on TV, I think it was Dr Phil, saying something about if you were your own personal manager, you’d fire yourself.  Luckily, those words have stayed with me and they seem even more important to me now as my life is a book of many pages and I want to fill what’s left with lots of good things. 

When I was working full time I had my stand-by list of excuses;  too tired, not well, too far, wrong day, stressed out etc., so it was easy to stay in my shell and I missed out on a lot of things over the years. I don’t want to miss out on things anymore, so I have to value this time and let it reflect what I want to do, learn, and experience. 

There are so many opportunities, and no, I can’t get too lazy, shop till I drop, pig out, or stop exercising, but I do get to spend most of my time guilt free doing what supports me.   I don’t always get it right so my down times remind me of what I like, miss, need, and want to get back to.  While retirement allows a more relaxed schedule, I still have to decide what I need and want to do.

This is my new affirmation:

I value and am worthy of whatever

I want and need to do to feed my soul,

and be happy and healthy!

My imaginary book is doing well.  The pages have stories of new passions and experiences, personal changes, music, relaxation, yoga, travelling, nature, puppies, family and friends, my book and blog, and much more!  One day a friend who’s ten years younger asked if she could follow me to see what I’m doing as I age, I said of course as I also have a couple of older friends that I watch for inspiration.

This past winter, I started guitar lessons, went to a couple of courses at our Elder College, and I also taught for them a gentle beginner yoga class.  I was thrilled to be with so many wonderful people.  It seems age also gives us more to say, share, and comment on than what I remember from my earlier school days.  It was such a unique and fun experience!  One lady also told me that age makes us speed up new relationships as we don’t know how much time we have.

During these last few years I’ve met many interesting people who like me are valuing this time to expand their interests, while also learning to let go of fears, guilt, and excuses.  And, like me many are adding into the mix their own personal sprinkling of courage.  They are exciting to talk to, be with, learn from, and are mentors for others. 

My ”manager” often reminds me that I spend too much time writing when other things are being ignored, so I reply …

“This is my day to rest!”

I'm the new manager of me!

Published in Island Gals, 2012 Volume 2, issue 2

I’m the new Manager of Me!           

Dona Anderson

In the last issue of Island Gals, I shared about how my retirement to do list needed changing.  During that first year I found out that some things were wonderful and others not so great.  I loved being able to meet new friends, sit over a long lunch, or go for a walk on the beach on what would have been work time.  But, I still didn’t want to do more housework or other things I wasn’t fond of and I would catch myself saying, “I didn’t quit my paying job to stay home and do this”. 

And, being very fortunate to be getting older and fancy cooking is not all that good for me anymore, those thoughts of spending afternoons baking or having a lot of dinner parties wasn’t really going to happen very often either.

Many of us come to retirement in different ways.  For me it was early and planned but it still seemed a bit scary and took some time to smooth the edges.  I soon discovered that I was the new manager of me and this time for however long it lasts, and it was my job to find out what I wanted and needed to do that would feed my soul, and make my life happy and healthy. 

It used to be easy to sign the kids up for extra activities but not me, and now I get to attend things during the Day and sometimes even sit in the front.  I used to take the bus to work every day and now I drive.  When I slowly started to find a few new things for me to do or at least try out, my life slowly opened up to wonderful new experiences, challenges, and opportunities.  As an older adult, I found out I could go to things by myself and be fine, and I found out how lucky I am to be part of and support other peoples work and passions.  All this has also allowed me to learn lots, bring new things and people into my life, go to different places, and most of all it added a freshness and excitement to my days.

It’s so nice to see what others are doing and I sometimes get my courage from watching them.  Whether they’re spending time with family and friends, golfing, walking, travelling, writing, painting, teaching, exercising, helping others, doing yoga, volunteering, or maybe it’s going to the spa, making a quilt, gardening, reading, taking courses, being part of clubs, or making a huge pot of soup for a sick friend, etc., it’s all their special way to now reward themselves, be healthy, happy, and give support to others.  

So far it has been a very unique time of fun, personal growth, and discovery.  Sometimes it’s busy and confusing, but whenever I want I can give myself permission to rest or do nothing while knowing that is perfectly OK!

What's really waiting For Us?

Published in Island Gals, 2012 Volume 2 Issue 1

What’s really waiting for us?                  

 

Dona Anderson
 

Early retirement was dreamed of as a time to do fun things while I was still young enough, and since I’m not overly energetic, it would be partnered with the easy button!

The retirement to do list had started at least 10 years before, and every time I was overly stressed or it was a beautiful day, I would think to myself, just wait…its coming!  

My list even included those dreaded things I was very good at putting off, but were always on my mind.  Then a few months before retirement, I put yoga teacher on my list. I didn’t really know what I’d do with it, but I thought it would be great for my health and provide lifetime learning.  I had started yoga the year before because my aches and pains, IBS, and premenopausal symptoms were taking over every part of me, and it was definitely helping.

When my retirement did begin over nine years ago, I hadn’t anticipated that moving to a new place and house all at once would be stressful when it had been planned years in advance.  Then I also discovered that my retirement list was full of things I didn’t want to do anymore, except for yoga, so I found a class that suited me, and later started teacher training.  I found lots of other new things to do as well when I started looking, like drumming, choir, workshops, Elder College, a forest nearby, and morning walks on the beach.  I’ve even learned Reflexology and Reiki.

Yoga introduced me to the rest of my life, and from it I’ve gone to places where I’m still wondering what the heck am I doing.  Like when I started writing guided relaxations to use for my yoga classes, I discovered I loved how the words went together, and how good it felt to share them with others. 

I chuckle at myself now because I’ve also had to face and work with the other list, my personal flaws and challenges.  I always had low self confidence, problems reading, speaking to others, etc., so I put limitations on what I thought I could do that kept me from reaching forward and outward. 

Yoga teaches me to take my time, try other ways, be patient, and to enjoy and accept what I can do that day.  Each time I do, I gain a bit more awareness, inner strength, courage, confidence, and excitement for other things I can and could do.    

When I made space for surprises, I was able to find out what was really waiting for me, and I’m so grateful my lists and passions now also involve supporting others. 

I journeyed to a place

where I could listen to my heart …

it spoke, I listened!

The Whole Set

Simply and Pals!

Dona Anderson

 

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Dona's Dream - help others and send wellness out into the world.  This became her book Simply, One Breath At a Time which invites you to experience gentle guided Relaxation, Breath, and Meditation practices. 

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A few of my Favorite Posts so far!

I enjoyed spending a bit of time looking back over past blog posts and picking out a few that I both enjoyed writing and rereading. 

They seem to continue to inspire me in many ways to be aware of the simple pleasures of life, work with what you have,  and how it doesn't take much to make us happy. 

Anyway these are the ones:

2012
Anniversary of You, Mar 10
What is a Garden, Oct 25

2011
A Time to Laugh, August 11 - Winner!
Awareness, Oct 27
Good Tidings to You, Dec 18

2010
Waking up to Silence, Dec 10

And my winner is......come back to this post in a couple of weeks to find out!

Feb 4, Well, it was hard and I changed my mind many times. Today my pick is  - A Time to Laugh!
This one reminded me of some important things and that it is OK to laugh at myself when I need to, something I seem to forget.  What's yours?