Springtime is upon us and though we have another predicted cold snap, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Oh, how I long for warm weather, long days of sunlight, and the newness that arrives with Spring. At the end of every winter, I realize how much I love spring but after each blazingly-hot Kansas summer, I await fall with the same enthusiasm. Honestly, I’m thankful for all four seasons we Kansans see so vividly, and cannot imagine living in a ho-hum existence where temps remain the same. Change is good! Right?
But change is not always welcomed. Some people approach any change kicking and screaming. I learned to embrace change during my childhood living in several different states throughout the Midwest. Our family moved a lot. I can’t say I loved moving because I hated the ‘goodbyes’ but I knew – even then – God was with us and had plans for us as a family. Plus…it was a new beginning and I could easily reinvent myself. Adventure lurk in changes.
Retirement came with that same sense of adventure. After years of working for “the other guy” I would reinvent myself, knowing God still had plans for me. I stepped out in faith with a boldness I hardly recognized and I intentionally ‘stuffed’ my introvert in my back pocket. I could trust God with whatever was ahead and I even told Him I would walk through any door He opened.
Looking back is mind-blowing because I knew that introvert and I also knew her limitations. I would have been perfectly content with a ho-hum existence in my retirement, but that wasn’t in God’s plan. Adventure awaited, and since 2019, I have…
Written and published six books.
Spoken to a variety of audiences both near and far.
Partnered with a global Christian grandparenting organization.
Been honored with writing awards for doing what I love.
Ghostwritten two memoirs that are being translated into Greek and Norwegian.
Gained a worldwide network of amazing friends and colleagues.
In early 2019, an author and dear friend asked to pray for me. She prayed with such confidence and intensity, and used the word SOAR as she prayed for my writing career which hadn’t yet started. Soar? To fly aloft? To hover at a great height? To rise dramatically? To ascend to an exalted level? Me? Soar?
Numb, and even humbled by her words spoken to our Savior, I sat in her home lacking the confidence to believe I could soar, yet God heard and answered her prayers, again and again.
Since childhood, I have trusted God with each new adventure. Retirement is no different. My life is His to orchestrate and He knows the plans He has for me so I continue to embrace every change He offers.
And, let me tell you – thanks to God – my retirement is anything BUT ho-hum!
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:11-13 (KJV)
I still remember your reading to me an essay you had written. I think it was called, “Hit the Dirt”. It was when one of those low flying planes flew over and scared Travis, a toddler, so badly. I thought at the time that you could have been a published writer, and you went ahead and did it. I relate to your experiences, having done a mid-life career change to adult education first as a stop gap because I couldn’t find anything in my original field where Jerry got his first administrative job. Then I realized it was what I was always meant to do, and I loved it. More recently, I have become a yoga teacher. I have been doing yoga for a long time. Jerry got into it because it is good for his mobility issues. Someone suggested to me that since I enjoyed yoga so much, I should take teacher training to learn more. I did so only to make our practices between classes more effective. At the conclusion of the classes, the teacher asked me if I would like to teacher in an assisted living facility. I was blown away as I had never expected to use it for anyone except Jerry and me. Then I thought that since I had always enjoyed teaching, why not. The first facility backed out because someone spread the rumor that yoga was a cult. it isn’t. It is a system of gentle stretching and strengthening. Some people think it is a religion. I more or less turned to that completely after ruining both of my knees doing high impact aerobics. I love teaching in the facility because I know how much good keeping active can do a person. Then another facility got in touch with our director. The class is always happy when I come. They look forward to something different. Also, old people can relate to me. I hope that they are thinking that if I can do it, they can do it. Anyway, it is very rewarding. Sometimes we are surprised by where life takes us.
Awww Carol. It’s always good to hear your thoughts. Thank you for commenting. And, yes….you have definitely kept soaring in life. I’m impressed and inspired by you! Keep living life to the fullest. Blessings to you and Jerry! Love ya! E & J & kids