tomswift46 Published on June 14, 2008
by tomswift46

tomswift46's blog

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Moving
Posted on March 13, 2009
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Retirement #1
Posted on March 10, 2009
2 comments (latest 3 months ago)
Limbo
7 comments (latest 3 months ago)
Aging
Posted on April 2nd, 2008
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Vermont
Posted on June 27, 2007
Work & Play
Posted on June 26, 2007
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Limbo

Saturday June 14, 2008 at 08:49AM

Years ago I felt that everything was gray and then I went into group therapy which was a wonderful mixture of Gestalt and Primal therapies. It wasn't talk therapy but rather "getting to your feelings" by laying on a mattress and regressing,screaming crying and then hugging,touching and being touched in a totally non threatening kind of way. Sometimes I think of the lay co-therapists, Barbara and Ben very fondly.  We had day long marathons and that laboratory of emoting became a starting point to changing my life,leaving the gray and entering the colors that I try to bring forth in my art. I left a bad marriage and a depleting job. Those who knew me thought I was destroying myself and , in a way, I was. I tore apart the encrusted me that had formed in defense and went back to a more open childlike state, obviously not all the time but it became a place I could go to and I remain in touch with that early more open me.

As I wait to retire I have told no-one at work when I am leaving because I fear that the administration may try to move me into a less pleasant position earlier. It leaves me in a state of limbo. I am not used to having secrets. It brings distance and reminds me of that distance I experienced in my 20s. I will be sad to leave some of my colleagues and some of the students but not doing the same thing over the years, tho there is a soothing quality there as well. It just makes sense to tie in my pension now and leave my wife secure.

I am not good at moving on,endings.

I could go on and on. 

7 Comments / add your comment?

Rob Youngpro says:
I retired last year, and it has been a new beginning.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink / translate )
Larryosan says:
Funny how these life "transitions" have a way of sneaking up on us and also how they are such two sided experiences. I went through two very important moments that have defined my life, the first was being dumped shortly after moving to New York, which sent me spiriling into a deep scary depression. That was when I took on my depression and started the process of healing for real. The second was my divorce which didn't send me into depression as I had been "on the couch" for awhile and it was rather mutual but it caused me to stop and take a deep look at my life and who I was and what I wanted to be. That is when I started photography, writing, acting and a bunch of other creative outlets.
I don't totally have my plans for retirement but I do know that lifelong learning, creative outlets and exploration both externally and of who I am are on my agenda as they are now. I just said goodbye to a good buddy at work who retired and he has his agenda, with travel and school and personal growth all set out and he will take some time to decompress from work. I like his plan and I suspect that you too will find a path similar to this.

The only true ending is when our life ends the rest are just changes and transitions.

Oooooh, me the big time philosopher full of all sorts of sayings. Perhaps I should put those on postcards and sell them.

ta ta for now

baba rum raisin
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )
Christel Ehretsmannpro says:
I think retiring is more difficult before than after...and I can tell you : it's just wonderful, living with our passions without having to feel guilty...For my part, I had a rebirth
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )
Elbertinumpro replies:
Oui - madame - vous avez raison -
Posted 3 months ago. ( permalink / translate )
Simone M says:
Hi! tomswift46!!! Would you speak and write in French, by chance? Because, if I can read you, it's quite long for me!!! I like your reflexion about live.
Have a good day.
Posted 17 months ago. ( permalink )
Silvana Taramasco says:
Hola tomswift46, muy lindas fotos y gracias por tu visita. Con respecto a tu artículo, el punto es que la vida es dinámica. Tus células cambian y ya no eres (nos guste o no) el mismo de ayer.Todo fin implica un nuevo comienzo, cuando se cierra una puerta indica que se esta abriendo otra. El problema del Hombre es el de retener, el no dejar partir, y esto ocurre por temor (a lo desconocido). Si el proceso es cerrar un círculo, pues que se cierre. Dejemos ir a las personas, dejemos de pertenecer a un trabajo, cambiemos de vivienda, etc. Siempre va a aparecer algo nuevo...y eso se llama CRECER. Un beso desde Buenos Aires.
Posted 14 months ago. ( permalink / translate )
Elbertinumpro says:
Thank's for your openness - our soul is young forever - we only had to thrust her - excuse my english - it is not so good
Danke für deine Offenheit - unsere Seele ist immer jung - wir sollten ihr vertrauen -
Have a nice day -
Posted 3 months ago. ( permalink )

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