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"Seventh Inning Stretch" ..the beginning of your path to ReFirement by Paula Grey

REFLECTIONS ON MY 7TH INNING STRETCH

I fully retired about a year ago after a previous year of stress (lawsuit threat, cancer, business sale and family drama).  Unlike a baseball game where there is a time limit on the 7th inning stretch, I think everyone's timeline and experience will be unique.  I was mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted so I have taken my time and I am grateful that I had the resources to do so.

During the 7th inning stretch at a baseball game, some go for refreshments or the restroom, some chat with friends and strangers or just relax in the sun.  I like to stand up and sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" then dance to "Haaaaaay Baby" after which I'll drink a beer (and I hate beer).  This past year I have been singing with relief (I'm cancer free, the business sale went extremely well, the lawsuit went away...family drama still exists, but you can't have everything).  I've also been dancing with adventure (travel to Machu Picchu, The Amazon & Galapagos Islands, San Diego and LA beaches, Pickleball in Arizona and an upcoming trip to Africa).

I also needed time to recharge so I gave myself permission to rest and not feel the need to be constantly productive.  I sleep 9 hours a night, prepare healthy food, and exercise daily.  I have time to read novels and re-connect intimately with my husband, Rob.

I've always felt that you can't open yourself up to something new without creating a void.  When I retired, I didn't have a plan but trusted that the void I created would be filled.  This blog and our future retirement counseling are the new challenges that have entered the void.  They are creative and meaningful, but best of all, they can be accomplished on our own schedule.

I look forward to telling you about my cancer which I believe was caused by the injustice of the lawsuit threat, selling our business which dominated our life for 35 years, and the family drama where I was targeted as the SOB (source of blame).  We have a lot of other topics too and welcome you to our ReFirement journey.


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