First Baptist Church of Herndon

Just Because

Linda Soller | May 23, 2022

Adjusting to the open style schedule of my retirement has already been interesting. It’s only been a brief time, but not having a set schedule feels odd. I’d always heard of how people lost track of what day it was. Silly, I thought, but I did it in my first week. The structure of our individual world is often tied to and managed by our responsibilities. For so many years my structure was tied to work. Now I find I can do something just because. There is no calendar or person driving my day. It’s freeing and disconcerting at the same time. 

May has been a rather heavily scheduled month. A trip to a graduation, a week watching two of the grandchildren, another trip for a special birthday, and yikes where did the month go? Early on I must admit I felt overwhelmed at the prospects of the logistics needed to make everything happen according to plan.  Then I woke one morning, at my usual time, and thought what is on my schedule today? I had already packed, bills had been paid, gas in the car, and it hit me. I was ready. I could do anything I wanted with my day. Yes, I did run through the “to do list” in my mind about three times to be sure, but I really was ready. I could do something constructive, or be lazy, or creative, just because I could. But that was also the problem. I had to decide.

I don’t want to lose track of all the things waiting to be done just because there is no one prodding me to move, no one asking me to help. It may involve sometimes missing my favorite show, or driving an extra few miles out of my way, or even stepping out of my comfort zone from time to time. It will require remembering all the things I promised myself I would do one day. I’ll need to work to be the person I always thought I could be if I had the time. My hope, no my goal, is to make the most of my newfound free time, just because I can.

Be the love in the world  :o)