It is a glorious Monday morning here in northwestern Pennsylvania, USA.  The sun has been shining, the birds singing their morning songs, and I have been a busy girl since first light.  I love early mornings.   It is during the morning hours that I feel most productive and ready to go!  After a great gym workout, I drove home reflecting on my weekend, and re-evaluating what I am doing day to day.

What will I do?

Over the past months I have pondered what it means to be “retired”.  I worked in healthcare for 30 years.  Everything I have done professionally, and educationally has been to build that career… to make me better at doing my job.  Each step along the way allowed me to grow somehow… to get closer to where I wanted to be.  

Where do I want to be?

I think the end goal for all of us in our professional life is to be able to establish a financial sense of stability that will allow us to break away from the every day routine of “work” and find a place where we can reclaim that time for our own use.  Retirement!  I am fortunate that my planning has allowed me to find that place a bit earlier than the U.S. standard.  But I still want to feel I am a contributing member of society, and feel a sense of self-worth.

I enjoyed my working life, and the satisfaction I felt in teaching… counseling… sharing with others.  I enjoy connecting with others.  While I ponder, I search for ways I can continue to feel those positive aspects of my professional life.  A part of that was earning my certification as a personal trainer.  My part time “job” (I use the term loosely as it does not feel like work) at the gym has been a great way to meet people and share my love of healthy living. 

How can I do more?

I will embark on a new leg of my journey this week.  I am reaching out beyond my comfort zone and sharing my thoughts with others by finding my spot in cyber space.  My blog will be my pathway for continuing to do what I love, and certainly has an ability to reach more people!

I know I am not too old to learn and grow.  My retirement is a new beginning… a new chapter. 

Will you join me?