Lifelong Learning
Formal education is the very best way to get the basics but there is nothing like practical, everyday experience to teach you about life. If you stop learning, you stop living.
Though it is absolutely critical to get that formal, basic education our schools provide, the rubber really meets the road when you deal, day in and day out, with life in general.
Since I’ve been retired I literally have not slowed down. In fact, if anything, my life has shifted into second and third gear. I’m not so sure how I did all I did when I worked AND did this day in and day out stuff.
Yesterday I visited with a good friend. Beyond the fact that he and his wife are very close to me, he has become my shrimping buddy. Chris is a philosopher, a master chef, and an adventurer. A minister by profession, he is now retired but that has not slowed them down. They love to travel and bought a nice motor home to travel all around the country. They are gone more than they are home and just got back from a two month trip to Canada…something they did with other motor home friends.
I met Chris and Barbara after my husband died many years ago. They came to town with their family to minister to the people in the church where my husband had been the minister. I’ve learned a lot from them about life. We’ve matured together and that makes the relationship even more special.
Through the years I have seen them lose a son and watched Chris bravely fight lymphoma. He had a stem cell transplant. Many of us considered it a miracle that he survived that since there were few who did. He’s been cancer free for many years now.
Last Friday changed everything. He knew he wasn’t up to par and wound up back with his cancer doctor. This time, his prognosis was again very serious. Rapid and radical treatments may or may not work. Time is of the essence for these treatments so he has begun daily trips to his doctor.
We visited yesterday as usual. It was a good visit filled with laughter, hard questions, and sincere statements of concern and hope. Yes, we were reminded that time can feel short and mortality is a reality we really don’t want to have to deal with any sooner than we have to.
I now can take weekly drives to their place without concerns for work. That is a good thing and I will do that as often as possible. Maybe that is what retirement is all about. It’s more relaxing to be able to be there without the fears of not being responsible for one’s job.
This retirement thing may not be so bad after all.
My wish for you today is that you embrace life fully – regardless of your age or job circumstance. Cherish and nurture relationships along the way. That is where you will learn the most about life.
~ Joellen