~
Wow…
it can be kind of amazing
when one puts effort into a long term project…
and then it’s completed…
wow…
what an accomplishment!
My “accomplishment” happens to involve “retiring”
And, like any long term project,
one step at a time
step…after step…after step…
All of us are making so many shifts
each and every day
often unnoticed
but still important and valuable
~
But in this case…
my own personal life…
making that decision to shift
completing tons of the paper work
coordinating among agencies
organizing a classroom for a new teacher
getting everything ready for September
tossing old stuff
organizing tons of files
recognizing 40 years of wonderful progress
in so many children
saying goodbye to kids
saying goodbye to so many
~
Being willing to let go…
to just let go…
…and then…
…opening to…
exploring, possibilities, beginnings
…letting go…
…but also continuing…
It feels a bit like being 22 years old again…
…or maybe even…
…16…
Can you believe I put that song there???
It’s from a time….
….quite long ago…
when I was 16
young, and spirited and lively
And, in many ways, I still am….
And so…
for so many of us
who might be shifting and changing
perhaps letting go of jobs, houses, locations
old ways of looking at things
maybe even letting go of a few limiting beliefs about ourselves…
~
Perhaps, we can all notice the changes…
recognize the effort that we’ve been putting in
appreciate the courage and hard work it has taken
give ourselves credit
for so much that we’re accomplishing
Perhaps,
…get a bit playful here…
imagine a mirror in the center of the next “page”
look into that imaginary mirror,
think of some of those accomplishments
give yourself a big smile
and say to yourself….
“I did it…
I actually did it!
“I did it…
I actually did it!”
Pocket Perspectives 
yes you did! and I love that your celebrating retiring as an accomplishment and as the beginning of exciting days ahead. way to go.
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Isn’t letting go and shifting remarkable???…Changing….wow!
And Joss, “wow” to you, too…I was thinking of you and a number of other bloggers as I was writing this…for all of us to look in that mirror and say “wow!…I’m doing it!!!!”
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CONGRATULATIONS!!! I was grinning from ear to ear as I was reading your words next to the colorful balloons. đŸ™‚ đŸ™‚ đŸ™‚ With your creativity and enthusiasm you will have a wonderful new chapter in your life!
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Oh, thank you Marie…shifting and changing indeed! I sure hope I find a way to use some enthusiasm and creativity….time will tell….I’m going to try to be present, as much as I can, in creative moments of “now”….whoops…that’s in the future….change that to “I’m trying to be present in creative moments of “now”…. : )
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Congratulations!! Retirement is the start of something fantastic. I can tell you that from experience. đŸ™‚
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Oh, I hope so…I hope I’ll be able to continue to access positive energy, meaningful purpose and direction…I sure hope so!!!..thanks for your encouraging words! : )
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Congratulations and welcome to the wonderful world of retirees.:-)
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Thanks Judith…. your blog is full of ideas and is an inspiration to me for how to channel my energy!
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bows (~_~) humble
congrats……… woohooo!
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Thanks Art…some people need courage to continue to work…I needed tons of courage to let it go…and to transition into…??????….ummmm…not sure what! Hopefully using energy in a positive manner! as you write….woooooohoooooooo ! : ) thanks!
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Awesome awesome awesome!!! đŸ˜€ Happy Dance!! đŸ˜€
Thank you for sharing with us!
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Thanks Becca…. I love YOUR enthusiasm!…. new beginnings…happy dance indeed! đŸ˜€
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You are young at heart and that is the start of new adventures! Congratulations…
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thanks, Robin… hopefully lots of new adventures!… : )
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Yippee!! Congratulations!
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Thanks so much!…it’s quite an exciting time! đŸ˜€ …and I can even stay up LATE on Sundays and week nights!!! đŸ˜€
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God bless you as you follow a new path in your journey. Think of yourself as a babe in the woods again, starting life anew. A do-over of sorts.
What would you like to do, to see, to experience, to accomplish? But this time…you get to do it on your own time schedule. Full speed ahead when you like…on cruise control when relaxation is more your thing.
you go, girlfriend!!! đŸ™‚
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ohhhh, hugmamma….you have such an eloquent way with words….thank you so much for that encouragement…ummm….it’s already on the balloon background…can I add it to the bottom of the post…the encouragement in your words supports what I…and probably others…are trying to shift into…a babe in the woods…awww….such a nice new beginning…bonus time! đŸ˜€
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Yes, you did do it! Yay!!!! Your posts are always so uplifting, Kathy. I know that your retirement will be a new beginning for you, and you’ll probably surprise yourself time after time after time! Looking forward to hearing about your new adventures, which I know you will create!!
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Yay, I did do it!….it’s amazing that I made the decision to actually retire and got so much done and ready for the next teacher!
And ohhhhh….I do love surprises…so maybe I’ll be offering them to myself…wouldn’t that be amazing?!?!? I was just looking at the coolest little fold out tent camper…I used to take 2 and 3 week car trips to national parks and camp along the way but not recently… http://www.sylvansport.com/ …who knows…road trip ahead????
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Whatever it is, let us know, because it will definitely be surprising!
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Congratulations and yippeee to you too!!!!!! đŸ™‚ Awesome move. đŸ™‚
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Thanks…I really feel like I’m 22 again…isn’t that amazing???….
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Fantastic!
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Congratulations, Kathy!!! Enjoy your new found FREEDOM to explore infinite possibilities.
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Thanks Nancy….I’m excited and looking forward to exploring whatever some of those possibilities might be!!!!! Yahooooo!!!!!!!!!! The first week of freedom has been SPECTACULAR!…a whole different frame of mind!!!…WOWOWOWOW!!!!!
And Nancy…uh oh…I just found your comment…it had been sent to my spam files…oh no!! …I grabbed you out!
ps…I hope spam filters don’t look for enthusiasm, exclamatives or exclamation marks?!?!?!….I might get sent there too, if that’s the case?!?!?!
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