Life’s Journeys

Santa Fe, New Mexico

The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.

Robert Frost

Life has taken another turn. My husband’s retirement marks a significant milestone in our lives, and we’re excited to embark on a trip to Santa Fe to celebrate. He worked several years beyond my own retirement, and I knew he would decide when the time had come for him to stop working. Now, we’re entering a new dimension of our lives, filled with possibilities and new adventures. Our days are no longer dictated by work schedules but by our shared aspirations. As we explore what this new period of our lives will look like together, we’re excited to embrace the everyday moments that come with this newfound freedom.

This recent milestone has prompted me to reflect on the profound impact of our current mindset on life’s evolution. We possess the conscious ability to choose our reactions to any situation, which can have a transformative effect on our outlook on life. This reminds me of the Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr quote, “You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses.” Every life situation presents multiple perspectives, but these perspectives can be overshadowed by negativity—the choice is ours.

Retirement should be a positive experience, a time for relaxation and enjoyment after years of hard work. However, most of what I’ve read on the subject suggests a “woe is me” attitude rather than a “this is a good thing” mindset. It’s important to embrace the freedom retirement offers rather than dwelling on what one might miss from the nine-to-five grind. By finding fulfillment in hobbies and exploring new interests, this phase of life can become one of life’s most rewarding experiences, if only we choose to focus on the positives.

Peace be with you.