Movin’ On

~ humoringthegoddess

Life is always turning, turning, turning.

Yesterday at 7 a.m. I was struggling to get my act together to get to work on time. Snow and cold had put their marks on the Midwest, always making the trip to work a slow go.

Yesterday at 2:30 p.m. I was carrying out one lone box of ‘stuff’ to show for 18 years of employment.

Due to company restructuring, they had decided to let a number of us go. 

I understand the decision; I just never thought I’d be on the receiving end of the down side of it. 

Don’t feel bad for me — I was planning on retiring December 20th anyway. I am near the end of getting my ducks in a row and planning for the busy second part of my life. I feel bad for those who are 15, 20 years younger than me. They most likely are still looking for their ducks.

The world sends conflicting messages all the time. Plan for the future. Live in the now. Worry about retirement at age 30. Don’t retire until you’re 70. The economy is booming. Unemployment rates are low. Yet companies are downsizing. Profits are quirky.

Where does one fit in all this confusion? After all, there are conflicting messages there, too.

Everything passes. Life goes on in waves. Ride the high ones, hold on in the low ones. Don’t take anything for granted. Find a reason to be happy outside your job. Be your job.

I know how lucky I am to be on the up side of the down side of restructuring. It is nothing more than timing. This could have happened ten years ago, too. It just so happened it didn’t.

I wanted to be a writer for my company, and I did a fairly good job of it.

Now it’s time to pursue that career in the next half of my life. But on more of my schedule than the man’s. 

So do I have a solution for yet another chapter of grief and redemption in this world?

No — except to pay attention to where you are, look around you now and then for future endeavors, and still live each day like it was your last. Live in the moment, realizing each moment is merely a drop in the big pool of the future, which quickly turns into the past.

And you can’t change the past.

 

 

Published by humoringthegoddess

I am a writer of fantasy fiction that often surrounds middle-aged women. I am a married mother of two and granny to three, a BoHo Chic kinda gal. I am recently retired and busier than when I worked 9-5. But writing and blogging is my main game.

15 thoughts on “Movin’ On”

  2. It is the same over here, dumping people cos they are “too expensive” and the “lucky” ones who may stay get a workload they can’t handle, they get a burnout, get fired, and someone younger gets the job, I call it modern slavery !! Enjoy yourself girl and do what YOU want to do !!

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  6. I love what you shared. I know there is so much more to life than working 9-5 five days a week. It’s a shame that is the way the world, the economy, is. That we have to wait until we’re older until we can really make the most of doing what we love. Nevertheless, here we are. And I do plan to make the most of it.

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  7. It will be. I plan on really working on the writing/editing/proofing part of my life, things I really enjoy doing. That — and sleeping in, playing with my grandkids more, taking some free classes at the university — so much to do!

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  8. I am sure you are right. My company has been losing people for over a year and not replacing any of them, yet hiring more and more management. I knew something big was bound to happen, but just didn’t know when. Am so glad I was at the end of my time “working for the man”. Now I can work for the “woman”!

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  9. I will go find that song and listen to it. I think I am finally feeling that it’s alright to get excited about the second part of my life. Can’t change it, can’t fight it, and it holds so much promise. Thank you so much for your kind comment.

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  12. Well said Claudia, or well written! I’m into music, always have been. There is a really good song that is running through my head right now. The song is simply called “Millworker”, by James Taylor. Kind of a bittersweet song but done so well. Take care my friend.

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  13. So you are starting your retirement a bit earlier than expected, I wish you a very succesful and happy retirement, enjoy !!! As for your collegues, young people don’t have the more stable time that we had, I don’t know about the situation in the US but here a lot of companies move their jobs to low-pay countries and then there is the automatisation, the machines who take away a lot of jobs cos it is cheaper….I think the biggest problem are the shareholders who want more profit every year, more more MORE !!!!

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  15. It is perfect timing. I was about a year out of retirement when my health took a hit (better now), but because of its severity, I took a year of medical leave. Luckily I had independent disability insurance that compensated me, I had a lot of sick leave, and finally the union contract helped – 100 days of half pay. I made what I made on disability, etc. Health improved. The year provided “practice” for retirement and a sense of freedom. When I finally decided to retirement, I did it 2 months earlier than planned without any hits financially. Pension and Social Security put me in a good space.

    Like you, I am happy to be where I am, fortunate to be financially sound, and able to pursue what I like. At times, the freedom of time is overwhelming, and the sense of needing to produce – make things, do things – can lead to guilt. Letting things go – just happen – is a bit hard – but also allows for some fun times.

    Altogether, retirement is a life-changing period of time. It’s great – and daunting! Enjoy it – I am sure you will – and let it lead you into a new adventure.

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