Category: life

I always wanted more children. I have two daughters but God knew what was in my future.

When I became a nanny in the autumn of 2016 there was one boy, A, and he was 16 months old. It was love at first site. I knew God had brought me to this town to love and care for this child. The following autumn another boy, O joined the family in September. And in January 2021, a beautiful daughter came along.

I knew time raising my daughters had gone quickly, but for some unknown reason I had the idea time would move more slowly now. I was in for a rude awakening. Time had sped up, not slowed down.

My bonus grandchildren are now almost 10, 7.5 and 4. I swear they were just babies. I had several years before I was to be 65, lots of time ahead of me. Time does not cooperate and slow down during the good times or speed up in the bad times.

So here I am with no more babies, bonus grandchildren and grandchildren growing so quickly right before my eyes.

It’s a joy to watch them grow and learn, but it leaves a yearning in my heart for times that have past.

I arrived in Texas 40 years ago on April 1st. It was a full circle moment for me as I was born in Texas 25 years prior to arriving. I was young, had an 11 month old and a husband who had completed training to become an AA pilot.

His pay was $1500 a month, a big increase from the $800 a month we had been living on. Then three months later the pay was raised to $1800 a month, we received a $900 retroactive check. I knew we had landed in the promised land.

In fact it was a miracle we even were in Texas. Every class of new pilots before my husband’s class and every class after were sent to New York City as a base. It can only have been God for this single class to have been sent to Dallas-Fort Worth.

I reared two incredible daughters here. We made lots of wonderful memories together. A fork in the road appeared some 28 years later and now I am no longer married. 30 years married and 12.5 years divorced.

Texas has taken me on a journey. The road hasn’t been easy or smooth but it is filled full of happy memories.

As the climate of our country has changed, I’m seriously considering leaving the US and finding someplace more closely aligned with my values. Until then I’ll continue to walk this path that God put me on.

It’s been quite a few years since I’ve really laughed. I’m not sad or depressed, but I couldn’t laugh. I think everything I had been through put the mute button on laughter.

I’ve had a moment here or there in the last 10 years when I’ve laughed but it used to come easier. I remember sitting outside with my ex and his family. An unexpected pun caused a great deal of laughter and years later we still laughed at that memory.

It is said Laughter is the best medicine. I’m more inclined to believe unconditional love is the best medicine but laughter can turn an ordinary day into a day you’ll always remember.

How did I find it again? I laugh when I think about it. The 2 year old I watch told me to laugh. She had done something and wanted me to laugh so I fulfilled her request. Thinking I’d fake it as best I could, I started with my best fake laugh. And then it occurred to me, I had just followed the orders of a 2 year old and my laughter grew. The more I laughed, the funnier I thought it was.

Going forward in the future I’m going to laugh even if I don’t feel like because laughter, even if it’s your own, is contagious.

Decided I needed some extra help to move out of this depression and apathy so I hired a therapist. Now I’ve had lots of therapists over the years and only one I believe really helped me. Tonight was my second session with the new therapist so it’s a wait and see for now.

I did go to a meet up last Saturday. It was to practice speaking French. My ex husband used to make fun of me for trying to learn French so I’ve never had a lot of confidence in myself. The two ladies were nice. None of us are fluent so the intimidation factor was non existent. I am going again this Saturday.

I’m increasingly tired. Clearly this is something I need to address with my doctor but my doctor moved away. So another challenge in finding someone with whom I am comfortable.

Time to continue this journey one step at a time.

Yesterday I listed things I used to do. Today I’ll add a few new interests some for enjoyment and one because it’s needed.

1. My health must become my number one priority.

2. Photography. I am not a photographer but I’d like to learn to be better at it.

3. New experiences

These are some new doors I’d like to open and explore.

I find I move forward best when I have a plan. Where do I begin to make a plan for the rest of my life? I decided first I should make an outline and group ideas together before I created specific steps to move forward.

One aspect that of the last nine years is forgetting what brought me joy. I’m specifically referring to activities I did which made me happy. The first step is my journey is to remember what I did. It hasn’t been easy. Sometimes we bury memories deep but for now this is what I’ve identified.

1. Sewing

2. Baking

3. Reading

4. Writing

5. Travel

6. Entertaining in my home.

7. Learning French

My next step is to recall why I loved these activities, why I stopped them and what is blocking me from beginning again.

Summer 2022 began with a surprise. I broke my arm. Not a normal break between the elbow and wrist, but a proximal humerus break. Where is that? Its right where your arm meets your shoulder. I have never felt that kind of pain. It was intense. Due to location of the break a cast was not possible. No one came to help me. I was on my own. Groceries were delivered. A shower wasn’t possible for over a week. Not a good time.

During this forced idleness, it occurred to me, wasting time had become my way of life. Due to unexpected life changes over 9 years ago, I removed myself from truly living a full life. Now I must work 10 hours a day then I come home to a microwavable dinner and TV. The weekend are chores and nothing more. All the time I was recuperating, I was frustrated because I couldn’t do more and then light bulb moment, I realized this was what I had been doing for over 9 years. Nothing! I have had a few highlights in those 9 years which have given me wonderful memories. For the most part though, I’ve given up those things that I love.

It is time to change. While I can’t regain those lost years, I can make a plan, a flexible plan to reengage with life. To rediscover the activities I love. The first step is to blog again and document my progress, so in a year, 5 years, and more I can look back and see my progress.

So come with me, inspire me and find joy with me.

Did you know the average American moves 11 times in their lifetime. I’ve moved 18 times with 5 of those being in the last 8 years. Those five moves happened because of divorce. I am now living in a town I’d never have chosen but due to finances I can not leave.

I believe every place has something to offer but after five years of living here, I’ve been unable to figure out what this place offers beyond a job and cheap living. I came here originally because my daughter and her husband lived here. But they moved 1,636 miles to the east with their son. My other daughter was already living 1,410 miles to the west.

I ask myself now where do I belong. It’s definitely not here but where?Neither of my daughters commit to staying where they are which is understandable considering Americans don’t stay in one place.

Having no family nearby and nearing retirement (hopefully in 3 years), I’ve begun asking myself what will I do? Where will I go? Since my divorce I have felt homeless. Not in the sense that I haven’t had a place to live, but in the sense I have no longer have roots, a community.

So what do I do? I have no idea. I keep praying I’ll have an epiphany and know. Until then I’ll remain restless wondering if I’ll find a place where I will feel at home.

I just finished watching Your Fantastic Mind on PBS. It was eye opening. It was all about preventing dementia.

And upon watching this show I realized that post divorce I’ve allowed myself to fall into some bad habits all which increase my risk for dementia.

The two biggest for me are:

Being physically inactive

Being socially isolated

Those two things I have complete control over. Which I think is good news!

Doing things you love are also supposed to help and I’ve been bad about engaging in some favorite hobbies using all sorts of excuses. Again the good news is I have control over whether I start again.

Also good news is learning a new skill or language, helps prevent and slow down dementia. I’ve spent years working on my French and now I’m using Duolingo to learn Norwegian.

So while many will feel this might be bad news, I don’t agree. I’m excited I can make the changes in my life so I can continue to enjoy it to the fullest.

Recently I heard the song from Rent, Seasons of Love and this time I really listened to the words. There is a line which says “525,000 journeys to plan”. Something clicked and I asked myself do I or have I ever planned my life journey on a daily basis.

I have of course planned days and weeks and my life but more in the to do list sense. Married check, buy a house check, have kids check, be a good mom etc. But planning my life with ideas of how to broaden and enhance it rarely made it on the list.

I can’t say I’ve ever been in touch with my “authentic self”. In fact I’ve never really even understood that term. However I do believe I sold myself short for most of my life, never really believing in my abilities.

When I divorced I was devastated but thanks to God because he has given me a 2nd chance to rewrite my story. As I write this post, I am sitting outside with the children I keep 50 plus hours a week. Why is that significant? Because I feared I’d have no purpose and joy after the big D and here I am very happy and very loved.

I’ve begun planning my journeys which doesn’t mean trips. It means exploring myself, the world and people around me and always learn new things.

Here are a few journeys I put on my list:

1. Practice French more often

2. Learn a language other than French. (Currently it’s Norwegian).

3. Stop self criticizing what I do and how I look.

Recently I heard the song from Rent, Seasons of Love and this time I really listened to the words. There is a line which says “525,000 journeys to plan”. Something clicked and I asked myself do I or have I ever planned my life journey on a daily basis.

I have of course planned days and weeks and my life but more in the to do list sense. Married check, buy a house check, have kids check, be a good mom etc. But planning my life with ideas of how to broaden and enhance it rarely made it on the list.

I can’t say I’ve ever been in touch with my “authentic self”. In fact I’ve never really even understood that term. However I do believe I sold myself short for most of my life, never really believing in my abilities.

When I divorced I was devastated but I thank God, because he has given me a 2nd chance to rewrite my story. As I write this post, I am sitting outside with the children I keep 50 plus hours a week. Why is that significant? Because I feared I’d have no purpose and joy after the big D and here I am very happy and very loved.

I’ve begun planning my journeys which doesn’t mean trips. It means exploring myself, the world and people around me and always learn new things.

Here are a few journeys I put on my list:

1. Practice French more often

2. Learn a language other than French. (Currently it’s Norwegian).

3. Stop self criticizing what I do and how I look.

4. I’ve always practiced gratitude but this time it will be focused on whatever can’t be bought.

So here’s to this first 525600 minute journey.

I know many of you, most of you are tired of being stuck at home with your family. Maybe it’s just you and your partner, you and your kids, or maybe you even have extended family who lives with you. You must feel the walls closing in.

But for many of us, we live alone. There is no one there to get into your space, annoy you, make demands on you or hold you. Being alone all the time isn’t healthy. Humans are made for companionship. We need hugs. We need closeness. And there is no one there.

It’s beginning to wear on me. While I still work during the day, so I have contact with some people, I have no family. Not a single one of my family lives nearby. The closest one lives 1,243 miles away. Being far apart is difficult enough and add a pandemic on top it sucks!

So the next time someone you love is annoying you, remember it’s a blessing!

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