Keeping the Love Alive

 

"Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun's love
In the spring becomes the rose..."

I captured this photo last night as we returned home at around 11, because I marvel at the tenacity and beauty of this rose, still hanging in there despite the chill. You go, girl!

I think that rose is like a lot of us, still hanging in there, still staying strong despite the cold closing in. Still surviving. 

Today I took a day off from work, which meant I had a four day week. Next week, with Thanksgiving, I will work three days. And the week after, the week of a milestone birthday, I will only work three days again. 

I kind of see this as a trial run for the next chapter of my life. 

The other day, I was in Boston, overseeing a satellite media tour. I wasn't planning to. I haven't overseen one since I took the new job three years ago. But the person on my team who was supposed to took ill on Monday and my team is working so hard right now I didn't feel right dumping it on someone else. So, I took it over. 

It did mean waking up at 5:30 for a 6:30 call. I wanted to prepare to make sure everything would run smoothly. The plus side was I got to stay in Boston overnight. The down side was I always have trouble sleeping in hotels, and woke up at one in the morning, because I had set the temp high. 

Anyway, after it was all done, I went to lunch with one of our spokespeople, a very nice lady I had just met who is a financial consultant from Nebraska. And we are eating lunch and chatting, and suddenly, out of nowhere, she asks, "Why aren't you retired yet?" 

Hmmm. Why aren't I? 

I always said, I didn't want to do anything I'm not passionate about once I turn sixty. And I would probably be able to swing it. And it wouldn't be retiring, really, it would be helping Corb to make his business grow and working on my writing projects. So why aren't I...?

Light bulb moment.

So, I am using today (and maybe the next few) to explore the possibility. To imagine what life would be like. To see myself in this new role. And also, to ignore the stream of stuff happening with work and let them feel what it will be like without me. 

Today is perhaps the start of a new chapter. But maybe, every day should be approached like that. Possibilities abound. Like that rose, I am going to thrive.