Tuesday 27 June 2017

TWO YEARS... REALLY??!

As I watch my friends who are still 'at the chalk face' staggering towards the end of another academic year, I find it hard to believe that I'm actually almost two years into my life 'post teaching'.  There are elements of the job that I do miss.. especially the fun that I used to have when I was lucky enough to have time with super-motivated musicians... BUT I wouldn't go back for anything.
 
Nowadays I'm what can best be described as 'steadily busy'.  My days are always full of music, family, friends ..and keeping on top of house-related jobs.  I love the fact that I'm master of my own ship.  I rarely have that horrible, stress-inducing feeling of sinking under the weight of commitments.  I enjoy the fact that I can always re-schedule my day if some-one needs my time, or help in anyway.
 
 
I'm starting to enjoy myself as a musician too.  In the last three years of my teaching career I didn't touch my harp at all and I lost a lot of technique as a consequence.  Since I stopped work I've put HOURS of practice into my harp and I'm finally starting to sound confident and competent again.  On Sunday afternoon, Ness and I played a set in a concert in the local church.  For the first time I wasn't paralysed by nerves... Look, I'm even smiling in this photo!!!
 
I've got very little money but, as I'm time rich, I make things for people.  Last week I made this patchwork bag for my sister's birthday.  I love having the 'head space' to be creative.
 
 
It's funny... I read somewhere that it takes a month to recover from every year of stress that you've lived through.  I'd agree with this.  I worked for 26 years on adrenaline and it's taken the best part of 24 months to get it out of my system.  I felt better last summer - I feel immensely better this summer.  The only thing that suffered from this has been my waist-line... but that's the content of another post!!!!
Jx 

9 comments:

  1. I've often said that I thoroughly enjoyed teaching, the 14 years I've been retired have been among the happiest of my life.

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  2. I couldn't agree with you more Jan. I don't know where the last 9.5 months have gone but I've enjoyed every minute of it. I need less money than I did when I was working because I have far more time to make/do things. I really want to start sewing and learn to crochet. Is wonderful that you are getting so much joy from your music.

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  3. I'm glad that post teaching life is becoming less stressful and you're enjoying your music and other creative interests. The patchwork bag you've made for your sister is lovely.

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  4. I so agree! I enjoyed my job, but I've never looked back after retiring. I've picked up my cross stitch and am enjoying being in a folk music group with my son and a dear friend of ours. It's wonderful to have the time to do what we enjoy!

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  5. I'm so glad that you're happy with your decision to give up teaching. Well, I know you're still teaching privately, but that's not the same as having all the stresses from school based teaching. I put a lot of weight on when I gave up work, I gave up smoking at the same time so that didn't help either. Love the bag you made for your sister.

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  6. Glad you are enjoying semi-retirement Jan. Good to hear. My own experience wasn't so good, as was made redundant after 13 years back at the bank & I just wasn't ready for that. I'm a proper OAP now & am Living with that OK, but still feel pangs of guilt over not working till I was at least 60, although by then the pension age had been raised to 65 & I just couldn't find any full/part time work in that period due to a downturn here in Oz.. That's life I suppose.
    Enjoy what you are doing now, as I'm sure others are now benefiting from it. Take care.

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  7. My husband is certainly happier since he gave up teaching. You sound wonderfully relaxed and happy to have time for your music. The bag is lovely:)

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  8. I am so glad you are enjoying your retirement and new life. Wonderful that you are playing again too. I didn't know the heat affected harp strings, but then, I have never seen one close up. What is your husband doing with the fuel tanks?

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  9. Pleased to see you are now enjoying your new life, takes a while to settle in to it doesn't it! I sometimes wonder where I found the time to go to work, days fill up quite quickly.

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