Wednesday April 12 2017  RUTHLESSLY ELIMINATE RUSHING

I could care less about having a cell phone available at all times.  I rarely answer my phone and very rarely ever call out on it.  However, I do have a great benefit by owning my smart phone.  It is a tool I use frequently throughout the day.  One feature that I rely on is the timer.  The timer helps me to stay on task.  I use the voice activated timer to buzz me when I am supposed to do something. 

When I am engaged in a project time does not exist.  I simply become so engrossed in what I am doing that all care and concern for anything else just evaporates.  Every once in awhile I need a reality check; a reminder to check the food in the oven, to return a call at a certain time, get ready to leave for an appointment, to start dinner, or even close up shop and go to bed.  In essence, every day is different.  It seems no matter how disciplined I try to be the days have a wayward attitude.

When I was working in photography I literally lost my life.  That is not a comfortable place to be.  I was rushing and pushing myself to the extreme.  I was up early and tried to be in bed by 2:00 a.m.  I remember so wanting to stop at a garage sale on a Friday or Saturday but knew I didn’t have even one moment to get sidetracked because of all the deadlines that were piled up on my desk.  Photos to take, books to design, appointments to keep, location shots for which I needed to prep, calls to return, and the list went on and on.  I loved the shoots but the after work became tedious and time consuming, especially when I transferred from film shooting to digital cameras.

I remember that during those hectic days when I lost contact with all friends, and practically family, saying to myself that when I retired I promised myself I would do everything in my power to give up rushing.  I was always rushing and doing everything on the fly.  Even cooking and taking something to Prime Time Dinners was out of the question.  I resorted to Sam’s and Costco to supply their double rich chocolate fudge cake or the like.  My health went down the tubes, my weight sky rocketed, connection with friends was put on hold, and I lived in a world that was driven by the hands on the clock.  I was constantly attuned to the time.  I was very aware that it always escaped too rapidly.  I was always rushing!

Now, life is different.  And during the past few weeks I have purposely tried more consistently to nurture those differences.  Some of the “have to’s” and “want to’s” I’ve discussed in past blogs are even being denounced.  Instead I choose to be a bit more lenient on myself.  When commitments to others are involved, discipline becomes a necessity.  When the commitment is only to myself I now feel I have free choice to enjoy the freedoms I have so long looked forward to; the freedom of not beating myself up because I don’t reach unrealistic self imposed goals.  I now feel so much less pressure.  If truth be told I have decided not to put the demands on myself in the first place.

I have recently felt the tug of the Lord upon my heart encouraging me to un-busy myself so I can spend more time in God’s Word and communing with Him.  And that translates and underlines to me the need to ruthlessly eliminate rushing!  And so that is my new ploy as I go forward in discovering and experiencing fully the fine art of being retired.

Yes, there are still some situations that must be taken care of on a timely basis.  So I plan differently now that I have more time to call my own.  I am ready to walk out the door when my timer jingles to let me know I must leave for the dentist, or whatever the appointment is.  I plan ahead as to what we will eat so I know that when my timer interrupts my absorbtion on whatever project I am working on I still have time to fulfill my commitment to company or husband with a timely meal.  

Retirement does mean freedom in so many ways but it is how we handle that freedom that allows us even more freedom.  And my little Iphone helps tremendously.  I am learning to be prepared ahead of time so when the bell rings, I’m ready.  That alone gives me more freedom from being a clock watcher.  I tremendously enjoy whatever I am doing knowing I will be prompted when it is time for the next segment of my day.

Many times over I have discovered that the past does not have to define my future.  I gave up wearing a watch a long time ago!  A new horizon awaits me!

A NEW HORIZON AWAITS

Kathleen Martens

April 12, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

As I walk through this journey called life

I’ve shucked away sorrow, agony, and strife.

I want to be happy to be the best be I can be,

To be content in my skin because then I am free.

I must release shackles that have bound my past

Which caused me to rush and work so fast.

I’m in a new world because now I’m retired.

New horizons to explore and for which to re-fire.

I want to ruthlessly eliminate all forms of rushing

And remove expectations that appear to be crushing.

Life never stops as long as I have breath

And with the Lord in my life there is life after death.

So I’ve nothing to fear, and no baggage to name,

My past is behind me, new horizons I claim.

I am both parent and child, all rolled into one,

The parent now lenient, the child will have fun!

Lord, thank You for being patient with me and teaching me new insights in my old age that I probably should have learned many years ago.

Thank You God for never giving up on me.

Thank You for the gift of life that comes from You.

Thank You that I have lived to enjoy retirement.

MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU THIS DAY!