It’s my first day of “retirement.” Technically, it’s my first day of accumulated vacation until my official retirement on December 9th. But you get the idea. I’m at home in my pajama pants typing this column.
For the next few weeks, I’ll spend time determining what I want to do with the rest of my life. My shortlist includes getting in shape, training for a triathlon or maybe a marathon, learning to play the piano or the guitar, reading a thousand books, cooking fabulous meals, improving my nutritional knowledge, writing dozens of best-selling books, traveling the world as a professional speaker, and more!
That’s just this week! (Later today, I’ll shower and replace my pajama pants with shorts and a tee shirt. I might even shave in the next few days.)
I guess I’ll settle down and get realistic first. I’m still unpacking boxes and throwing away reams of paper and hundreds of pictures I convinced myself I would need someday. I didn’t. This, however, is an ongoing battle. So far, I have at least six thick files of pictures and other keepsakes awaiting the new scanner my kids gave me for a retirement gift.
I will reach the age of sixty-nine on Thanksgiving Day. That’s a strange time to ponder a new career, but that’s where I am. And, yes, some of my time, at least in the near future, will include stints as an Uber driver. A wise sage, familiar with my writing, advised me to use that time for “research.” After all, he said, “Your best stories seem to come from your experiences and conversations with your passengers.”
I’ll admit that I’ve enjoyed seeing life from every conceivable aspect by listening and conversing with more than 18,000 passengers in my car.
I know this week has been eventful for millions of people worldwide. A lot of folks will be starting over and dealing with anticipation and anxiety. And that’s just the LSU Tiger fans. No matter which side of last week’s contests you find yourself in, now is a great time to make a new start.
Some of my more memorable Uber conversations were with folks starting over in their lives. Most of them experienced life-changing situations. Divorce, a death in the family, business disasters, family conflict, addictions, and more challenges had taken away dreams and expectations. As with most situations, we find a second or third opportunity to change our lives once we pass the devastation.
All of us have faced some level of turnabout and turmoil. And if I am to be truthful, I’ve learned some powerful lessons from those setbacks. I’ll need those lessons as I “start” over for the hundredth time.
While I “exaggerated” some of my new life goals several paragraphs ago, I have some optimism about my future exploits.
I do need and want to get into shape physically. I have run two marathons, and while I don’t have a huge desire to do that again, I remember what it felt like to feel that fit. A friend challenged me to participate in a triathlon several years ago. The race date came quicker than I expected before I actually trained for the event. Nevertheless, I finished in the top 98% of competitors. (Yes, that means more than 97% finished before me.) He’s challenged me to compete again. I’m aiming for the top 80% this time.
And yes, I’ve always wanted to play a musical instrument. It’s not that I haven’t tried before. I still have flashbacks of playing a guitar duet on stage to the tune of “Beautiful Dreamer” in a recital. Maybe I’ll settle for banging on the side of those cajon box drums. Of course, I’m already on the bad side of our homeowner’s association for keeping my Alabama flag up longer than the allowable period.
I love reading. Maybe I’ll finally read all of the beautifully bound Harvard Classics I started collecting right after my marriage to my wonderful wife. I’ve kept those books all forty-three years of wedded bliss to prove a point. In my defense, I was tricked into getting the entire collection. The fine print I missed stated that after I received a few months of a book or two at a time, they would automatically send the remainder of the two or three dozen books and the total invoice. If I had realized I’d be this old before reading them, I would have ordered them in large print.
Every Thanksgiving, my family gushes about my Brussel sprouts in a sherry bacon cream sauce recipe. Maybe that’s why I have some fantasy about becoming an award-winning chef. Nonetheless, I’m willing to try this adventure. That, and listening to hours of nutritional podcasts about healthy cooking. That should be enough, right?
So, how about that writing thing? Well, I’m writing, and if you’ve gotten this far, you’re reading, so at least it’s a start. I have several ideas for books. I’ll keep you posted!
Finally, there is the speaking thing. At one point in my life, I began a serious effort as a professional speaker. A friend wrote a testimonial stating that I was “living my bliss!” I’d still like to finish that goal.
So, why did I title this column “Not a Political Column?” We’re living in a time that will allow everyone to start over, regardless of which candidate or group of ideas we support.
I’m just starting a new career. I loved my time at Little Sisters of the Poor. But it’s time to begin a new stage of life. You do have more control over your destiny than you might believe. That’s not political. That’s personal.
God Bless!
Tommy
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