Am I?

Am I finally making progress with moving on after a lengthy career?

Learning how to relax and not have expectations on every minute?

Chilling on my porch, learning something new?

Thinking about getting a dog?

Paying for a 2 week November vacation?

Coming up with some new ways to make money while having fun?

Planning for future goals?

Who knows. Could be a fluke of the day or the start of a new mindset. When I woke up today, I made a pact with myself. I wouldn’t use “should” or “should not” in any of my decisions. I would just do whatever I felt like whenever I felt like it. Here’s how that worked out so far:

Stayed in bed until I felt like getting up. Fixed breakfast and ate on the porch. Watched Neagley on Prime on my iPad. Chatted with neighbors as they passed by. Wrote for my Substack. Chimed in on my friends back in NY who were together for happy hour. Messaged other friends sporadically. Didn’t feel pressured to do anything. Not one thing. Now I’m writing this, knowing I’ll watch a baseball game tonight, eat whatever I feel like having for dinner (leaning towards homemade garlic bread and whatever else sounds good. I’ll go to bed when I’m tired.

No expectations of anyone else. No having to take care of anyone else’s needs. 30 years of being at everyone’s beck and call; I’m over it. I know it sounds selfish but in the grand scheme of things, I think I’ve earned it. Now it’s time to try to enjoy it.