If you were wondering, I got home from skiing unscathed. No pervert or axe murderer. Just a very sweet man who wanted to do a kindness.
Just being on the mountain was so satisfying. If you were raised in a place like I was raised your favorite surroundings have rocks, streams, mountain laurel and rhododendron and the view goes on for miles. The prodigal mountain child comes home.
One of the best things about that view? A thousand people can drink it in and it is still there, beautiful as ever. Some of the best things in life are abundant.
Talking retirement from my school job has gotten me thinking. People say they envy me and would get out tomorrow if they could. Others say I should take this opportunity to enjoy life. Makes me wonder what they think I have been doing all these years. Makes me wonder what THEY have been doing all these years!
Don’t spread this around, but I have been enjoying my life! Years ago I promised myself I would go to my grave with minimal regrets. I have been keeping that promise to myself. Perfect record? Good grief, no! But I try to keep the regrets to a minimum.
Several years ago Stephen Covey wrote an overnight cult favorite called The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. In the book he talked about scarcity and abundance and the mindsets that go with them.
Those who think the good things in life are scarce, hoard whatever they can get. They are jealous and possessive. Even if their job, home, whatever is not suiting them they won’t move on. They are nervous and afraid to make a mistake. They are afraid to be left without.
Conversely those who have the abundance mindset believe good things and wonderful opportunities are everywhere. There are always more ways to grow. More ways to experience life. What I have now is one thing. Maybe good. Maybe bad. But if I no longer have what I have now, I can find something new. There are exciting things out there.
No, I don’t want to retire from the school job. I am still having fun. Logic, though, dictates I leave. Not so I can finally enjoy my life but so I can continue to enjoy my life.
What am I going to do? Not totally sure. Hopefully continue to work at the psychology practice. Teach DBT. Improve my counseling skills. Become a lab rat at Will’s. Dance. Love up puppies. There are a variety of opportunities. Maybe try something I have never tried. Take piano lessons? Or do something I always enjoyed but recently have done little of. Study history? You never know.
What I do know is there is an abundance of opportunities to replace what I will be giving up. This is not a one option life. Never has been.
Are the opportunities limitless? Not exactly – have you heard about my vision? – but there are still enough to give me plenty of choices. And many of these choices are available to nearly everyone without diminishment.
How do you feel about mountain vistas? I know a few and I share. After all, good things like that are abundant.
Written February 16th, 2018