Almost a year of physical therapy comes to an end and it feels jarring.
Word comes down that one of my income streams may be short-lived.
The new-ish landlord wants more money.
At 62, I’m researching the pros and cons of collecting Social Security.
My 50s ended in a pandemic lockdown and therefore my 60th birthday was unceremonious.
The doctor I respect and appreciate – primary care and gynecologist rolled into one – is leaving the practice.
An editor I like working with blows through a boundary so hard I am left speechless.
And then that bracelet appears again in my social media feeds – the one that says, “Remember who the f♥ck you are.”
Hahaha. Yes. You get me, random jewelry company. Bring it.
The bracelet arrived in the mail yesterday and it made me smile. Sometimes the occasional talisman is just what I need. It gives me pause. It gives me breath. It’s acknowledging. I’m lighter.
Life is pretty good right now. I mostly do what I want. Could use a few tweaks, but overall I created a good deal here on planet Earth.
A high school classmate noted on Facebook that this week 45 years ago we graduated. My immediate thought was that I’m not where I expected to be. In most ways, I’m better than expected. As a young Italian-American girl, the family expectation was that I get married, have kids, live in the ’burbs, not go to college.
We can see how that went. Something in me knew that wasn’t the path for me.
I enjoy flipping perspectives. Sometimes it takes a while, but eventually I come around to how most things that happen are serving me in some way. Plus, I’m at a perfect age to ask – what else? What do you still want to do? And then to challenge myself to make it happen.
The physical therapy came to an end because I’ve done quite well healing from two knee replacements and I feel like a new person.
If the income stream goes away, it’s because something else terrific needs space to come in.
I live in a coveted place, so landlords are always going to want more money.
Being 62 gives me financial options.
Having been through a global pandemic, I’m acutely aware of how precious time is. And, frankly, I gained a realization of my own strength.
I’ll do the work to find a great new doctor while also wishing my current one well in her new venture – a concierge practice.
I worked through warranted anger and passed the test on setting an important boundary thanks to the testy editor. Bonus: Do you know how often I work with life coaching clients on boundary setting? I had to be true for them, too.
The next time you see me, I’ll probably be rocking that bracelet, and yes, remembering who the f♥ck I am.♥
[Editorial Note: This is my 17th installment in a series I began in order to give my writing some flow after being in a healing phase from knee surgeries for a year (2023-24).]
