Happy Thanksgiving

May the day be filled with happiness and fun!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

It's National Hiking Day!

Did you know there is a day to celebrate hiking?  Well, neither did I until now.  I tried to use it as a way to motivate my husband to get out and hike with me.  No can do.  He "doesn't like to hike".  But hiking is great exercise - and there are some beautiful sights to be seen along the way.   And it's good for the soul.

So come along with me on a few hikes I've been on!

Who wants to Hire an Old Lady?

I was working for Head Start in 2007 and was told if I didn't get my degree, I'd lose my job.  So what did I do, I enrolled in a University to complete the BA I had started 30 years ago.

Then in 2010, I lost my job anyway.  Budget cuts.  Since I was so close to completion, I just kept going, racking up those student loans with the idea that I would be able to get a job that was good enough to pay them back.  I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Studies, a minor in Early Childhood Education and an undergrad certificate in Conflict Resolution and Mediation in 2013; and a 4.0 GPA.

I was advised to keep going - get my Master's degree.  I would be able to find so many opportunities, and so I did.  In 2015 I received an MA in Interdisciplinary studies with a concentration on Leadership and Organizational Communication (with a 3.85 GPA - I got one A-).  

What? Three Months??

I really need to be more diligent in my postings!! It's been three months??  No Way!

Yes way - Well - here is what my life has been -

Work - crazy busy at work!! Budgets, Huge fundraising event, USDA renewals, hiring, losing and hiring again.... and the list goes on!

Home - I got sick with the flu - Hubby got sick, but not the flu - two days in the emergency room!  Thankfully he's on the road to recovery.  His insomnia is my insomnia!

Weight loss - well - I hit a plateau - A huge plateau!  So I decided to join weight watchers online.  After a month I'm starting to drop again.  Last weight, 196.5 - Only 45.5 left to go!!  Oh - and I had to buy a new dress for our event.  Last year's was too big!  And this year's was TWO (count them, 1-2) sizes smaller!! WOO HOO

And the hot flashes!! What the heck?  Those were supposed to be gone!  I'm in full blown menopause now and the hot flashes and night sweats have returned!!  I have doctor's appointment next week and will try to get some answers on that.

And so, I will try to commit to weekly posts - I have three other blogs so I get busy and forget this one.  The one that is my saving grace in dealing with this thing called menopause.  The one where I can vent and share and be me - My therapy.

So thank you to all my dedicated therapists that have stuck with me in spite of my inconsistencies!

Rightness

Been awhile since I've written.  It's been a rough month and it's just started!!  Work has been crazy.  Too many things crammed into one day!  Had a job interview for the job I've been after for more than five years - but it's not looking too good.  I'm thinking people aren't interested in hiring older people because I know I'm qualified.

And a friend I'd had a falling out with died.  It's strange how we are so convinced of our "rightness" until someone dies.  Then we begin questioning it.  Could I have handled this different?  Maybe it was my fault?  Even though you know it just is what it is and people have differences all the time, death has a way of creating questions that would never have otherwise existed.

I suppose it's a wake up call for the living - think carefully before you speak and measure your actions before you take a step.  Life is far to short and unpredictable to always be convinced of your own "rightness".

Sneezeleak

I am an aging woman.  I am a member of the group known as "The Baby Boomers".  I am honestly enjoying getting older - telling people my real age.  I also find the changes in my body to be, well, interesting?

Only an older, menopausal woman will understand sneezeleak.  It's that little dose of incontinence that comes when we cough hard or sneeze or even, sometimes, laugh!  Ack!!  What the heck it this??

I'm not ready for depends.  Not by a long shot.  My ego will simply not allow it.  But what do I do here?  I had a bad cough and went to the doctor and found my self in the corner crossing my legs and clamping down as hard as I could to no avail!  You know, that "Sneeze" posture?  Geez.  What do I do now?

I tried those new things that are out that are supposed to put pressure on the urethra to prevent "leakage".  They look like a tampon.  They hurt.  They made it hard to go when I was really going.  And they didn't work. 

Perhaps this is TMI (Too Much Information), but why are we so hesitant, or flat out opposed, to talk about these thing?  Oddly, it happens to most of us!  It's made me acutely aware of just how self-conscious we are about our bodies.  We prefer to pretend we are perfect, with no odd goings on at all, when just about everyone else around us is doing the same thing!

I propose a challenge.  Let's talk!  What is going on with your aging self and what are you doing about it?  Talk here - talk to a friend - But let's get out there!  Am I the only one that finds these new experiences both interesting and frustrating and in some ways, humorous?  Our bodies are amazing, just how they are at this moment.  Our aging issues are badges of honor that we've made it this far!

Life is short.  We are all young, then we all are old.  Old is not a negative thing.  Old is part of the process. Old is beautiful!  I have a sign in my office that says, "Never regret getting older.  It's a privilege denied many".  It's a privilege I embrace.

This is my mom, a few years before she died.  She was not given the privilege of getting older.  She died at 50.

I am thankful for my aging self.  Sneezeleak and all.  I am thankful for the experiences in my life, memories I would not have had I not lived all the years that I have.  I am thankful for today and treasure the moments.  Tomorrow is promised to no one - Today is a treasured gift.  Don't let it slip away.

This is me and my grandson.  If I were not getting older, I would not have this amazing young man in my life.  He is a treasure!

What is your Music?

I drive to work - a long drive.  I'm lucky if it's under 40 minutes.  That's a lot of time to sit and look out the window.  I listen to music - news radio (I really like Tim and Terri on KPAM).  But if time really goes by quicker when you age (and yes, science shows our brains change the way we perceive time), then why am I wasting over six hours a week?

A co-worker shared a free app with me for my phone - Overdrive. It allows you to borrow audio books from your local library.  So I did it.  The first two books I borrowed are by Wayne Dyer (one of my favorite inspirational speakers).  The titles are 10 Secrets to Success and Inner Peace and Appying the 10 Secrets to Success and Inner Peace.

I only started listening yesterday, so I'm on number 4 - But number 2 is the one that really resonated with me -

The 2cnd secret is "Don't die with the music still in you".  He uses music as the analogy of our personal passion and purpose.  His discussion is discovering the passion inside you, that thing that makes you soar and grow - that thing that makes us feel like we are truly reaching our potential and purpose. Our music.

This got me to thinking.  I'm in the final quarter of my life.  Do I even know what my music is?  If I don't know the music, how can I get it out?  I've reflected on my life and the things that make me feel wonderful about doing them.  I love to sing.  I feel in my element when I stand in front a crowd and belt out a song.  Dr. Dyer suggests you can even make a living at doing what you're passionate about.  But I'm not a song writer and no one wants to pay you to continually sing someone else's songs.  I love to take pictures - I love to write - I love to learn.  So what really is my passion and how can I make a living doing it?

I have decided this will be my week of reflection.  To really look inside and find my music.  To really understand how that music defines me and my purpose.

And I challenge you to do the same.  Leave me a comment and tell me how you are reaching inside. Are you in?