Sometimes there is just so much running through my head that it seems impossible to make a single choice about what to write. So, today’s post may seem a little like free writing. A term that means someone is just writing whatever comes to mind. If it feels a little overwhelming to read…welcome to my brain! Here we go…
It is June second which means school is out, at least for Brevard County, Florida and we are now in the summer season. It is important to remember to watch for children while you are out and about driving as there will be more kids on the roads walking, riding all manner of scooters, bikes, and skateboards. They don’t always look for cars, so drivers please watch out for our precious children. It is also a time when you walk out your front door and into a humidity filled blast furnace. It is HOT! Please remember to hydrate and wear lots of sunscreen. And if you have leather seats, keep a towel in your car or wear pants.
This is also the season where people do a lot of traveling. Be patient and kind with those who are in your area and are from out of town. They do not know the rhythm of your town, city, or state. If you are the one traveling, please be respectful of the culture and laws of the town, city, state, or country you find yourself. Enjoy your trips to wherever you go as you also remember that you are a guest. Leave no trace of your being there.
This summer will be my first summer in retirement. I am looking forward to the plans we have made. I am also looking forward to my time being my own. Any agenda on my calendar will have been put there by me. I will be getting back into some of my hobbies I put on hold. I will be working to rehab and older house. That one is a bucket list item! I will be doing lots of gardening, reading, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
I have finished my Spiritual Direction certification, and now I will begin to set up my practice. I will be designing and making business cards, a brochure, website and all the other fun things that go with setting up a business. I am looking forward to all of it! And by the way…you do know, retirement doesn’t mean we should be put out to pasture and become no longer relevant! Find something meaningful to do. Mentor a teenager. Get involved in doing justice work. Volunteer for a charity. They need your help. Organize a community event with your friends. Do something and trust me, you will have fun in the process. Staying active is good for your overall well-being too.
I think doing something different is healthy. So, try something new. Make a recipe from ingredients you have never eaten before. Or if you prefer, go to a restaurant you have never been to before and serves a cuisine you have never tried. Learn a new language. Meditate. Take a class. There are colleges that offer auditing of some of their classes…take one. Go somewhere you have never been before. Learn a new craft. But do something that challenges your brain to think differently.
Don’t grow old. We may age and our knees may not work as well as we like but keep a young at heart attitude. Laugh. Sing. Dance. I can’t dance. I have two left feet. But I still dance. It makes me happy. Find your happy.
I think the greatest challenge we have in life is to truly live. It is too easy to get caught up in all the chaos that is in our world today. But every generation has had some chaos to navigate through. And just as our ancestors survived, we will too.
May your life be filled with all the wonders and delights this world has to offer.
Peace,
Beth
Beth's Blog 