I’m Finding Less Is Definitely More

This past June I made a difficult decision to stop working at a job I loved doing for 17 years. I was turning 50 that month and with my mother now almost 91 I felt I wanted to have more simplicity and calmness in my life.

It was a very difficult decision. I heard everything from you shouldn’t do this, your going to be bored, your going to get depressed, your going to clash with Mom along with my personal favorite your going to gain weight!! You name it, I heard it.

My husband was very supportive of my decision. He would never in a million years deprive me of anything, but I myself realized I would have sacrifices to make. I’m a huge believer that we cannot have everything in life. Sometimes we must lose in order to gain. All those manicures, pedicures and odds and end dress barn purchases may have to be slowed down a bit as well as cutting corners on our monthly expenses.

I am blessed that we have always lived in affordable places. Our apartment is small and at times crowded. Would I love another bathroom, well of course I would but the one I have works just fine and we have what we need. I refer to my apartment as friendly messy. It is clean as a whistle but good housekeeping will never park outside our door begging for an interview on how grand things are.

My husband and I decided when my son was born to always live in a place that would only require one income. This decision became a blessing because we never had to worry about mortgages, or filling up huge rooms with expensive stuff and the rent has always been paid fine thanks to his very hard work.

I can honestly sit and write this post a little less than three months after making my “retirement” decision and say, I love my life! Things here are so much calmer. I am the only relative my mother has living in this State. I have my wonderful sister and her family but they live 800 miles away.

While I was working Mom basically slept all day long. Now we sit out, we talk, play cards, cook together, have our 3:00 coffee and watch television shows. My husband actually commented that things are so organized and calm now. We eat better meals…I could go on and on.

I’m blessed that I keep in touch with my old boss and we were chatting the other day and she said you sound great, I just wish you could go on more vacations.

First of all, we caregivers find the treats in small get aways. We know we do not have to go on huge trips to get a vacation. I told her we go on more trips now than ever before. We do occasional weekends, overnights, but just a walk in the park holding hands to me these days is a vacation.

I know there are many people out there who cant just quit their outside jobs. I totally know that I am a very blessed person having been able to do this. This was something that I thank God for every day.

Ive been asked well, whats going to happen to your life when your Mother dies? You’re already 50, your son is grown!!! My reply is tomorrow is not more important than today. God has lead me all my life and if a paying job is in my role in the future he will lead me to that as well. Sacrificing and wanting less worked for me.

I still go to dressbarn for a new sweater, or get a manicure and pedicure but they are now treats. I no longer consider them as important as I once did. I love being home and spending quality time with my mother and my weekend mini “vacations” with my husband.

Having less for me in my life today is definitely so much better!

If anyone out there is turning 50 and is scared don’t be!! Its great up here!

For those of you who are working outside the home as well as dealing with the caregiving role I applaud you! You are in many ways better people than I for working two full time jobs is very difficult. My words today are not to offend but to uplift anyone out there reading this who may feel sad having only this job to do.

I always thought my job defined me. In a very short time I learned how untrue that was. And just so you know…I weigh less now than I did in June for all those people who said I was going to gain weight lol…keep smiling…and remember less can definitely turn out giving you more than you ever dreamed of. Here is to a week filled with MORE for all of you.