Tuesdays at Forty: "Happy Birthday to Me"

A new blog series for the upcoming year: Tuesdays at Forty.  It’s the first year in one of the largest transitions that my life has encountered thus far.  I’m no longer Active Duty and am no longer tethered to anything.  Seriously.  There is nothing that I HAVE to do.  I don’t HAVE to go to work—assuming my retirement pay kicks in a week from tomorrow.  I don’t have to move—I have everything I need where I’m at.  Yet, conversely, I don’t HAVE to stay in Dover.  There is nowhere that I can’t move.  My paycheck will follow me wherever I go.

I had the opportunity, during my travels since March 31^st, to see that I really have quite the opportunity ahead of me.  Nobody depends upon me for food or shelter or anything.  Everything that I do is because I CHOOSE to do it.  If I give away all the money I have after bills are paid…my choice.  If I am never home and am always out gallivanting…my choice.  If I adopt a hundred cats (P-U!!)…my choice.  It’s all my choice.

The first that I’ll do is to buy a new planner.  I really like a good “analog” planner.  Yes, I can use my phone for appointments but I really like to see what’s coming up in a “big picture” kind of way.  This AT-A-GLANCE "Branches and Blooms" planner is the one that I’ll be getting in a couple weeks.

After that, I can get myself on a schedule that best reflects the things that I need to do in order to be where I want to be in a year.  Some of those goals:

• ·         In school
• ·         Conducting workshops in local schools
• ·         Much healthier and stronger than I am now

In the meantime, I’m finishing up the roadtrip that began three weeks ago—two weeks to go—and doing a little reflection and pondering in preparation for the year ahead.  And every chance I get, I will remind myself to not take for granted the fact that I have the freedom to do anything, go anywhere, and be anyone because nobody depends upon my presence to exist.  I have an opportunity in choice to make great everything that I do, to make fun everywhere that I go, and to help be happy everyone that I encounter.  I won’t squander those opportunities.

Nam myoho renge kyo