This is sad, but I am using so many photos from last year. It must have been a year ago today that I took this photo. I was outside, walking. Recovering still from my first marathon. I saw this from across the street and loved the dead foliage, the yellow tomatoes, and the blue pot.
When I was in high school, I was required to memorize this line... I have no idea why. But it has stuck with me all these years.
Two men look out through the same bars, one sees the mud and one the stars. - Frederick Langbridge
When I got sober, I had to learn to look at the stars instead of the mud. I am a great mud-looker. In fact, I made an early career out of it. I was great at insurance - I could figure out what could go wrong with everything. I still can drive down the road and visualize every single mishap that could happen. It makes for a long drive.
I am looking at another fork in my career right now. It looks like there may be an opportunity in my future. Maybe not too. I am very hopeful that this opportunity will come to fruition and I can jump into another chapter in my life. I am also thinking that it may not and I can see plenty of reasons to stay right where I am. I am trying to focus on the positive in both alternatives.
My life has not gone along smoothly like many people I have worked with who have retired at 50 or 55. I am almost 60 and looking at another ten years of work before I can retire. But the truth is, I do not want to retire. In those early years while everyone else was working and saving money, I was not working and I was not saving money.
I am grateful I am in good health and fairly vigorous. I am grateful my mind is good. I am grateful I like to work and don't consider this a death sentence.
I am grateful for Alcoholics Anonymous and this way of life. I am grateful that I found early-on that I could make what I want to of most every situation. I am grateful I learned about living in the will of God, not mine.
I think I will stay sober today and I hope you all do too.
6 comments:
I am glad that you like what you do. And I hope that the opportunity presents itself so you and your HP can work it out. I have worked since I was a Sophomore in High School. It feels good to still do some work but not at the intensity of what I used to do. Another chapter for both of us, MC.
I'm glad you pointed out that those are yellow tomatoes. I thought it was a pumpkin tree.
Keep trudging. Some roads have many forks and other utensils.
Like Syd I have been working since I was 16 years old. And I don't mind it really, but it is nice to cut back.
You just ran a marathon in Acadia, but you are only "fairly" vigorous. LOL
I like that word 'vigorous' also. but you are SO much more, Mary. Keep it going until 70 is great goal.
I'm grateful to have work to do and a way to put bread on the table. By nature I'm optimistic but learned as a child to expect the worst, and the drinking darkened my outlook on life. Good to be able to get a clearer perspective now --
I want to keep working, I just wish it was 4 days instead of 5. I really don't know why I have it in my head that this would be fabulous.
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