I visited Hamilton Lake again this morning, not for a walk
this time but simply to sit, enjoy my surroundings, and do a bit of thinking.
There were a lot of people out and about – mothers with
pushchairs, old couples walking hand in hand, men in suits deep in conversation,
runners with sweat pouring off them, dogs dragging their humans along the path –
for a people-watcher like myself it was certainly interesting!
I spent some time considering my lifestyle. I am still adjusting to being single and not
entirely sure what my role in life is anymore.
There have been a couple of retirement-planning programmes
on lately, and, although they were aimed mainly at couples, they certainly gave
me something to think about.
One thing that really struck me was how important it was to
have routines. Going through a life
change often means that we need to re-set our habits, to redesign the things we
do without thinking (like getting up at a certain time) so that they better
reflect our new lifestyle.
Apart from my household chores, I have really had no set
routines in my life lately. Unless there
is something on, like an appointment, the day can easily be spent fluffing
around doing nothing in particular but always seeming to be busy.
What if I am going to live for another thirty years
(possible with my long-life family genes)?
I would be really old LOL, but I don’t want to look back then and see a
long line of wasted years.
It has certainly got me thinking 😊
Margaret.
If it is of any comfort to you I have a friend who say that being alone has allowed him more time to devote to research and he barely has a moment to spare! He certainly is never lacking for challenges and boredom is a word that is not found in his vocabulary.
ReplyDeleteLucky man! They say having a passion for something is a great way to keep you young-at-heart. My issue is finding that passion :))
DeleteMust have been something in the air yesterday, Margaret. I had a similar 'sit and think' session but not in as pretty a location as you did. I've had another fall and am having to think about giving up one of my regular activities. Did you reach any conclusions? I didn't, I've put it in the Too Hard basket for now.
ReplyDeleteOh no, I hope you are alright. Falls are so frightening to have.
DeleteI have a few ideas, but nothing definite yet. It's all been in that Too Hard basket for quite a while now, but I am learning to let things just happen in their own time and things are starting to move. I just need patience!
Take care - no more falls! xx
Do what ever makes you happy! :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, that opens up the options quite a lot :))
DeleteSeems the last 12 months have been a time for a lot of people to examine their thoughts. F writes a diary (not full of emotion, usually a record of some stuff that happened each day (seeds planted, food harvested, sun shone or rain fell,...) Anyway a year of so ago she stumbled on a trash journal (blank book essentially with a short instruction on each page meant to inspire you to some piece of creativity - 'take this book for a walk' sort of thing. She decided that for each page of her diary she would stick in something that had inspired her - a pattern, some person doing amazing stuff (often with very little or in challenging circumstances), some report on an interesting piece of research - anything that felt inspiring. he objective was to go back when the diary was full and see what all that inspiration seemed to pointing to - what we might be doing in her retirement. We have reviewed it recently - and we've decided to blog some of the pieces of inspiration (mainly because it has been a tough time finding new and quirky things to blog about).
ReplyDeleteAll I was going to say was - look for inspiration everywhere pile up all the stuff that inspires and sift it again in a few weeks, you might be surprised at what you discover about yourself. xxx Mr T
I tell myself it is fun to find new things!
DeleteComing up to 3 years since I was widowed and I remember thinking that I'd never survive another 20 years alone and what would I do or achieve alone but its been OK.
ReplyDeleteNow moving house has livened things up a bit!
I thought I wouldn't survive either, but that three years seems to have slipped by quite fast and it feels like it's time now to move on. Good luck with your house move :)
DeleteThat's alot of thinking to do, we stopped and had a look at our lifestyle a few years ago, when I retired and neither of us worked. The one thing I am glad I did not do, was fill my day,I decided to wait 6 months before joining any clubs, giving me time to settle into my new life style. Enjoy your time, be happy and do just what you want.
ReplyDeleteGood advice. There is one group I am thinking of joining, but I want to find out a bit more about them first.
DeleteI get up at the same time every workday, do my trainings, read a lot, go outside, I´m never bored.
ReplyDeleteIf Corinna wasn´t around I´d maybe do some courses, like sewing or painting or such, but strangle I don´t miss people.
LOL some people I don't miss! But I like to have some social contact as well as time by myself. It is finding the balance in the middle :)
DeleteEspero que encuentres algo que te haga feliz, viendo esos paisajes bonitos, seguro que lo fuiste ( feliz ) Besos.
ReplyDeleteThank-you Teresa. Yes, we are lucky to have such beautiful landscapes to look at :)
DeleteHere's a couple Blogs you might like...
ReplyDeleteBoth in New Zealand...
http://mythreadbearlife.blogspot.com/
http://poppyq.blogspot.com/
"Life is like cooking..All the ingredients
are there..you just hope it all comes out
o.k."
Thanks Willie. I've enjoyed checking both of the blogs out.
DeleteLike your saying at the end - it's so true :)
I think it nice to have options...I am never bored. But a lot of my life revolves around the little things I have to do for Roger and not sure how I would be if he were not here. I wonder if I would be interested in the same things.
ReplyDeleteBeing a carer takes up a lot of your time. I did it for nearly seven years, and hadn't realized how much my life revolved around it. I don't regret it, but it is time for a change now.
DeleteThat’s a good place to start, Margaret. I so agree about routine. It becomes the reason to get going every day, predictable. Whatever you decide, I hope you leave room for the spontaneous too. It will add a bit of interest every now and then.
ReplyDeleteI have a 93 year old uncle who thrives on routine! He is a great example, and always has time for doing something unexpected.
DeleteBeautiful scenery and I LOVE you header photo!
ReplyDeleteI agree routine is a good thing. Sounds like you have the right attitude and you will figure out what the right thing is for you to do.
Glad you like the header photo. I love getting out on those back country roads, especially up in the hills like that. I probably should do more of it :)
DeleteVery true, Margaret. Routines do matter, I feel, as otherwise our life can slip away into nothingness. Morning and evening routines are like my anchors for daily life.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago I used to have set routines and then lost them. Working on new ones now :)
DeleteI hope you find some answers to your quest for some new aims in your life. I can see that becoming widowed would pull the rug out from under your feet. Now to find new purpose. I'm very much an introvert and a stay-at-home person, quite happy on my own. My DH needs more socializing and finds that in his volunteering. I think of volunteering with mild horror (can one have mild horror?)
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you. XXGM
Mild Horror is in my vocabulary too - especially when it comes to volunteering! I admire people who do it, but it gives me the heeby-jeebys just to think about doing it :))
DeleteI retired from a very busy 40 year career to look after my elderly mother full time and now over a year later I still find the lack of routine disconcerting:)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. We take routines for granted until suddenly they no longer exist.
DeleteStunning photos Margaret! A great spot to sit and ponder. I hear what you are saying, and there are days that I too just fluff around, and accomplish nothing very much very energetically, especially now I don't have a garden.
ReplyDeleteThankfully I have my card making that keeps me going, as I have a customer needs cards regularly, to keep up with, as well as some other commitments, and also my embroidery..
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine
Your cards are really beautiful so I hope you keep on making them - they must give a lot of pleasure to other people as well :)
DeleteI did not realize that you were newly widowed...
ReplyDeleteTaking the time to contemplate such things, is the first step. And a wonderful step. Let's you fully realize that you want a new routine in your life. And listening to your self, will help you find it.
Best of luck.
📕 📗 📚 📙 📘
It is nearly three years now. I lost my home at the same time so there has been an awful lot of adjusting to do. Having married at a young age, I have never really been 'single' before, so it is taking a bit of sorting out :)
DeleteIt was a lovely place you had to sit and think. I think there are different stages when life changes. You have probably needed the time you have had until now. And now you may be ready to move on and find new things that mean something for you to do. Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteThank-you Marit. And, yes, it is lovely down beside that Lake.
DeleteWhat a pretty setting to ponder the universe. You know when I moved here to Saudi Arabia at age 56, it changed my life in so many ways. I had to reinvent myself, and it gave me purpose. A large part of that was blogging, which I hadn't ever done before. I think you are doing the best you can - and you are loved. xoxox Btw - That water shot with the reflection is stunning.
ReplyDeleteBlogging has helped me a lot to feel connected to other people, and is something that I want to continue. I imagine you would have had a lot of reinventing to do, with such a change in cultures etc., and I find it encouraging to know it can be done :) xx
DeleteI find it amusing sometimes to people watch, it's funny what people do when they think no one is watching, as for fluffing around sometimes it's also nice to do that too, can't stand rushing around.
ReplyDeleteHamilton is like Auckland and everyone always seems to be rushing around.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteLovely views of the lake, beautiful photos. I am amazed at how fast the days go by, even if I am not busy. I am never bored, I am happy finding a good book, putting a puzzle together or riding my exercise bike. House chores and cooking keep me busy too. Take care, enjoy your new week!
Sounds like a great lifestyle to me :)
DeleteYour photographs are so beautiful - I really think you should consider finding a path in photography!
ReplyDeleteThank-you Gillibeth, that is a really nice compliment :)
DeleteIt is good to think about yourself and you have to take one step at a time ... you are sure to be ready for the next step ... look for things that are good for you, that you could enjoy. I am learning z. B. a new language in a group and I always enjoy making things myself with my hands ... and the PC is often helpful. You can learn a lot of new things via YouTube videos ... and it's great on the blog too communicate like you already do.
ReplyDeleteYou have found a nice place to relax and be happy. Hug and thanks for the beautiful pictures.
Thank you Viola. Learning a new language is one of the things on my consideration list. Mx
Delete