Re”tire”ment
When I was younger, my mind turned on a dime.
I did what I had to do in very little time.
But now that I am older, things don’t go so fast.
I’m not “spur-of-the-momentish” as I was in the past.
I don’t throw big parties as I did in former days,
for dealing with the details just puts me in a haze.
I can’t do many things at once without getting confused.
Now I simply write my blog while once I danced and boozed!
At first I felt ashamed of how my life is slowing down,
hating that I do not seek the company of town.
But then I noted patterns in nature around me
and saw that this is simply how our lives are meant to be.
Each thing in its season and each thing in its time
is how our lives are ordered—to accept this is sublime.
Why do I need to live my youth and middle age again?
Why not just accept that this is how my life has been
and go on to the next stage without sadness or regret—
going on to see just how much better life can get?
Yes, it is the pits to get arthritic, slow and hazy;
but we are compensated by excuses to be lazy!
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “The Heat is On.” Do you thrive under pressure or crumble at the thought of it? Does your best stuff surface as the deadline approaches or do you need to iterate, day after day to achieve something you’re proud of? Tell us how you work best.
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
I can relate to this. I am slowing down a lot, though not retired yet. There are definitely advantages, like not having to throw those big parties any more. Great post.
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Nicely put. There are many positives to growing older. For one, people accept the worn out phrase, “I didn’t know” more readily than they did when I was 25.
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It’s funny, really. Garry and I had this very conversation — without the poetry of course — last night. That we have more invitations to go places than we have any interest in going. We want to spend time with friends, but only with specific friends that we really care about. We aren’t interested in company just for the sake of “being around people.” We’ve noticed most of the other people in our age group are the same. A little activity, a little “getting together’ goes a long way. You’re right. Things in their own time. This is the time for slowing down and enjoying NOT being in a hurry!!
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I thought you’d say that! Yes, I read your comments on other blogs as well. Ha.
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I guess I’m a bit of an older soul as I agree with your sentiments haha. I do appreciate getting out and enjoying others’ company, but I definitely appreciate quiet time at home as well. I don’t really like the idea of going out just to be out and about. But, I do appreciate quality time and conversations and doing some fun things. Thank you for your post and poem!
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I can totally relate to it. I think today we both have expressed the similar emotions.
http://soulnspiritblog.com/2015/07/18/now-i-take-it-easy/
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This is an eye opener for me. We live such a high-paced life until we realize that that’s not how life was meant to be lived.
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I agree. We should accept life in a positive way and move on . Such a pretty poem!
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Judy, this is a great essay as you enjoying the retirement lifestyle.
Yet, many others fight against a more settled lifestyle in retirement.
I, like you see myself as a refined adult appreciating the wisdom and knowledge of maturity to accept the retirement lifestyle.
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Reblogged this on An Aspiring Writer and commented:
Great words of maturity and wisdom
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This is great. You rhyme so naturally.
I used to work obsessively, from the moment I got up in the morning to when I reluctantly dragged myself to bed, and I’ve only recently come to terms with slowing down. At first it made me feel guilty, but now I enjoy it.
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Bravo Judy! Slowing down is NOT losing out. It is appreciating life more. People these days associate wrinkles and aging with missing out on life. But as you said do you really want to be 35 or 50-ish again. Botox and Viagra can only do so much. You have to accept yourself from the inside and not worry about the cosmetic wonders science offers a person each day. An enjoyable artivce. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
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LOL… I’m going to have to take your poem to heart! Great job.
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A lovely poem and very apt for me as I also turn down more invitations than I accept now, which gives me the time to do what I love..Happy Days with the ones you love 🙂 Am I really saying this the one who was the original dancing diva according to my friends..lol 🙂
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I agree. I want to spend more time doing fewer things.
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