When I stopped working as a head teacher I didn't know quite what my future would hold. I didn't know if I would miss work. (Ok so that is funny - of course, I was never going to miss work) or if I would need to get a job to see me through to retirement and if I did what that job would be. So I packed away all of my work clothes into the loft into suitcases - a LOT of them. I had so many suits and jackets and skirts and blouses and tops and jumpers. I could have worn something different every single day for an academic year I am sure.
Today they all came down out of the loft. They have been sorted and bagged and are all going to charity. I am ashamed by how much there was and by how many beautiful clothes had never been worn and still have the labels on. I was _ confess - a shopping addict. I am no longer that girl. I think I have bought only two or three items in 2019 and they were on a need to have basis, not on an 'I have too much money and I just can't resist buying things' basis which was clearly how I used to live. It was a mammoth job going through it all, and I confess to a few tears as special items went into bags, but I feel so much lighter now - and the loft is clear and they are going to a good cause where hopefully they will bring joy to new wearers and money for good causes.
My books have gone, my folders have gone and now the clothes have gone. I feel like a phoenix who has now truly risen from the ashes of a job that became too stressful and a work environment that at times was horribly toxic. I have shed it all now and just have the 'memorabilia stuff' left which will also get sorted and go and then I am free of all but the happy memories of the children. That will never go. I still believe teaching is the best job in the world and there was much I loved about it, but there was also much I hated and, as time went on, I did less and less of the bit I loved - the teaching, the hands-on, and more and more of the bad stuff; the policies, the trying to please governors, staff, parents - all of whom wanted different things - and really only wanting to do what was best for the people at the heart of it - the children. I left at the right time. I left my school thriving, successful, everything in place and performing well and I left before I was broken. I was cracked in many places and those cracks have slowly healed, but I got out at the right time for me.
Our life has become far more simple. We take pleasure in things that don't cost anything and love them. We don't have the expendable income we used to have. but that doesn't even factor into our life. We are the stage where we don't need the 'stuff' or want the 'stuff'. We are downsizing our lives and that brings us pleasure. Yesterday we had a fabulous day and all we did was took our lunch to Poole Park, parked for free, had a lovely long walk and ate in the sunshine. I love our mornings of leisure, reading the paper in bed before managing to get up. I love lazy afternoons filled with creativity and I love that we just have time together. No-one knows what lies around the corner and our retirement years could have been very short. I hope we have many many more years to enjoy the simple life together but even if I didn't have them, I have had three fabulous years of a retired life ... so far!
Anyway - on to scrapping which I have more time for now, along with countless other hobbies. (And I even find myself downsizing that too. I have got rid of a lot of stash and am getting rid of more. I don't often buy new supplies and I am content using the things I have)
This is another page for our Disney attractions album. My aim - not sure I will ever manage it - was to scrap every ride and attraction. I have done a fair few though no means all of them. There are a lot! However, I was pleased I finally did this one. We had been worried about going to see the refurbished Hall of the Presidents ... not only because Trump was there but we knew it had been changed greatly. We loved the new version. The narration was superb and the film excellent and we really enjoyed it.
and this was made for the monthly colour challenge on UKS and celebrates my cousin's husband Bryan who I was so in awe of. He had never been to the UK before, never driven on the 'wrong' side of the road and the only automatic car they had for him was a huge Range Rover Discovery. With me by his side, and Nigel in the car in front, this young man drove all around Dorset and we are not known for our big roads. Our county is full of tiny little narrow roads where passing often involves reversing. He did it all including navigating through a very busy Oxford when we headed north. I would have cried if I had been him - he was so brilliant.
Today I am thankful for
- getting rid of things that were tying me to the past
- decluttering
- my life - I am truly grateful for the life I have and the love I have been blessed with
and I just loved these cartoons to end with today
