Making Your Own Happy!

It’s been more than a year since I’ve held an actual position. I’ve been out of work since June of last year. Meanwhile, I’ve sold my house, relocated to NC and am sharing a house with my Dad. I always felt like I wanted to settle in North Carolina, but I never thought that it would be this soon. My Dad and I had a short conversation about what I could do. I felt like I was being encouraged, so I decided in April that if I did not have a job, that I was going to make this dramatic change. December rolled around and before I knew it, so did January, February and March, and before I knew it, April was on the calendar. On April 1st, the decision was made. I just needed to follow through. The house went live on the market and the same day, no four hours later, there was a full cash offer on the table. She provided proof of funds the same day! If this wasn’t a sign, then I don’t know what is! I knew that I was making the right decision to relocate.

On May 10th, I considered myself an official North Carolinian! I changed my tags, applied for a NC driver’s license and submitted my change of address. Truthfully, it takes a lot of getting used to. Things are much quieter and there is less stimulation here. I awake each morning and my Dad and I take the pup for our early morning walk. We come back, have our morning drink, and we start the days with the news or CNBC. I’ll settle into the day and will usually end up in my office, checking emails or putting my thoughts on paper. I enjoy the slow ease into my day.

I can’t say that I am fully retired because I haven’t settled into it yet. I still have the urge to do something productive every day; whether its cleaning out the refrigerator or clearing the pantry, I’m gonna do something! Retirement is a new feeling, one that takes some getting used to. I feel good, I feel scared, I feel like I’m rewarding myself for years of hard work and yet I’m still unsettled. I’m not sure if it’s because I don’t have a job to report to, or if it’s because I have hold myself responsible for making each moment, each hour and each day count. I feel like I definitely need to make this latter part of life count for something. I feel like I need to also make this last quarter mean more to me than any of the priors. I feel like I have to wake each morning with a purpose. I need to do everything to avoid any regret for making my decisions in life; not just the ones I’m currently contemplating but even the ones I’ve made before my life change.

I’ve made a pact with myself that I will not look back on any of my intentional days, the ones that God gave me and have any level of disappointment or regret. I will enter each day with a prayer and a smile, and I am going to find My Happy in Life. As for whatever I’ve done in the past, everything isn’t always fixable, but it can be forgiven, especially if it’s something I’ve done to hinder myself. Not only will I live well and on purpose, but from here on out, I will work and strive to make each day memorable!