I will write ten posts on this 5th Retirement Anniversary addressing each category or "Label." I can also see the stats and which posts have had the most public views. At this time, my blog had 22,400 views. That's about 100 views per week in 18 different countries around the world! It is very rewarding to know that there is interest in what I have to say. By helping myself I must be helping others with similar interests. It is an incentive to continue.
Here are my brief summaries of the first five years of retirement and goal adjustments I want to make at this time. If you want more information on a subject, please scroll down on the right side of the main page and click on the first months in 2011 where you will see where I'm coming from.
My journey continues....
Health Issues and Exercise
I am very happy to report that my health issues have improved greatly since I retired! I attribute this to a major decline in stress, more time to manage food choices, regular exercise, and better medications.
I have come to realize that stress has the biggest interference with my diabetes management. I disillusioned myself into thinking stress comes only from not getting things done and being disorganized. Wrong! I prided myself on my exceptional organizational skills and my multi-tasking abilities were often impressive to those around me. I was successful in doing all that I wanted and apparently making it look easy. It seemed easy to me too because of my commitment and expertise. I was successful in being a wife and mother. I had an interesting and exciting career. I found ways to contribute my time and money to making the world a better place. I always tried and succeeded in making everything I cared about better than I found it.
The first few years of retirement was spent doing things on my "bucket list." There are still many things remaining but the immediate need has diminished as I settle into a pace that is a more natural order for me. I live each day to the fullest and in the moment. Sometimes this means I do a lot and sometimes I do very little. It's all good.
The stress that negatively affects my health now has likely been there all along and is self-imposed. It comes from multi-tasking and getting everything done just so I could do more. Yes, there is satisfaction in this kind of lifestyle and it complements extroverted characteristics. I am embracing my more natural introvert characteristics now. I understand that introverts make up about one third of the population so in order to "fit in" I put forth more effort than the other two thirds to be successful in a way that society values. I know I can do that when I need too. I don't need to so much anymore and have let go of pushing myself to get things done so I could do more. I value the pleasures of each task more and therefore enjoy everything I do more. I no longer feel any pressures from society to follow the majority's idea of success. I am already there.
Getting to this good stress level that is more natural to me has taken the better part of the past five years and my diabetes blood sugar levels has been a measure of that path. I have been up and down with changes in medications helping when the chronic disease progresses and it always will until a cure is found. I am still challenged with the right balance of nutrition and exercise. My eating habits have improved greatly with less overindulgence's that are emotionally caused. Exercise is easy to include in my outdoor lifestyle during good weather but I am challenged to stay on track with indoor routines. This is done with yoga and an elliptical machine in my home and my 5-month winter membership at a local Wellness Center (2017 is my 23rd year!). I do not stay too strict on my exercise schedules but know that I need 5-8 hours each week to maintain. I usually do 10-15 hours each week outdoors in good weather. I got this exercise thing. It is a lot of work finding the balance with nutrition and meds. After my last diabetes yearly exam last month, I am different in a good way. I have numbers similar to 10 years ago which was before I took on the manager position in my job with the state. It was just one month into that position when I needed meds to help with my diabetes. So I am very hopeful that the path I am on now with my health is as good as can be expected. I never take anything for granted and know good health will always require work to manage. But I am a good manager!
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