Just Pondering: Learning the art of laziness

By Allyson McCaw on October 28, 2021.

So, that time of my life has arrived – retirement.

I have been thinking more and more about the old adage “time stops for no man” and watching the sand flowing through the hour glass way too fast. I feel a shift in the universe and a gentle hand on my back nudging me closer to this milestone. I really do shake my head when I realize how naïve I was, to unknowingly think this is an easy decision.

When I watched others before me stress about leaving their careers I assumed it was a no brainer. You just walk out of the door and never look back. After all isn’t that the holy grail? This mantra is getting us all through everyday work doldrums. To dream of never having to punch a clock or be accountable to anyone except ourselves.

However reality is somewhat different. I truly have mixed feelings. I am working through it and trying to do my homework beforehand so I don’t drive my hubby any more crazy than I already do. He has been trying to teach me, so thought I would pass on some of his pearls of wisdom. He claims you have to learn a whole new skill set and there are a few rules to follow .

Nothing is an emergency. Unless you are bleeding out on the floor or clutching your chest all things can wait till tomorrow.

Learn how to embrace laziness. He claims boredom and laziness are very underrated. Who says you have to finish all the duties on your wife’s honey do list? Just do one task really well and everyone will be happy. The world will truly not stop spinning and you get to finish the Sudoku and crossword in the paper.

Learn the joy of just “putzing.” Now he tells me putzing is a bit hard to learn but once you get it down you never go back to organized time management. It seems you can spend an entire day just moving one article in the garage back and forth to eventually returning it to its original place and call it a day. Simple and very useful when you don’t want to do the laundry or wash the kitchen floor.

Squirrelling – a new adverb in our house. Hubby says a simple task such as putting in your dentures in the morning turns into a marathon of jumping from making the bed, to putting on the coffee, to frying up the bacon and then sitting down to eat and realizing the dentures are still in the cup in the bathroom!.

All kidding aside the biggest lesson he has taught me is to be realistic in your new found freedom. If you have never swung a golf club in your life chances are you will not be the next Tiger Woods. Especially if you don’t even know the way to the golf course. If you were a club or volunteer type you will continue to do it but don’t expect to reinvent a new you. You will certainly get the opportunity to try new adventures but it has to fit you.

So I mull over all of these things and hope I can start to learn how to slow down. I really do believe the universe gives you signs. So, I am no longer “older than dirt” but according to the children I am “older than Google.”

I was hit with a big one last week was when talking with a younger coworker and I suggested that is was time for “Elvis to exit the building.” She looked perplexed and replied “Who is Elvis?”

Now that’s a sign!

Stay well

Allyson McCaw is a Medicine Hatter

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