I have more than enough.

By Lourdes Werner

I have a sewing machine and yards and yards of

fabric.  I make quilts.

I have the ocean outside my window.  I'm privileged.

I have a little extra money once in a while.  I buy books.

I have children and grandchildren.  That in itself should be enough.

I have a small espresso coffee maker.  I wake my husband up with the aroma.

I love the ocean, the sand, and the sun.  I make sure I get my daily dosage.

I have empathy.  Every day is a challenge to keep it.

I love blue nail polish.  I make sure I use it often.

I have a favorite coffee mug.  It has my initial on it.

I have herbs growing in my balcony.  Oregano and basil are my favorite.

I have Bob.  He is my soul mate.

I have two new pairs of flip flops.  Flip flops are the best.

I have a favorite recipe of "arroz con pollo" that everyone loves.

I have a great recipe of banana bread with chocolate chips and I make

it every time bananas start to rot.

I have many ideas to write about.  I have started to develop them.

I have a blanket to snuggle with on the couch and someone to share it with.

I have very few friends but they are the only ones I need.

I have a brand new bottle of my favorite perfume.  Who needs two?

I have a huge bucket list.  Every time I take one item off, I add another.

I have enough to last a lifetime.  I'm lucky.

Inspired by a poem by:  Tomaz Solamun

Try and write your "I haves".  Share.

It made me realize how much I have.

Gratitude: Thirty days to retirement... or so my retirement a...

Gratitude: Thirty days to retirement... or so my retirement a...: Thirty days to retirement... or so my retirement app says! The definition of retirement is withdrawal, departure, seclusion, retreat.  Re...

Thirty days to retirement... or so my retirement app says!

The definition of retirement is withdrawal, departure, seclusion, retreat.  Retirement! What an ugly word! It sounds like you are going away somewhere never to be seen again.  In Spanish the word for retirement is "Jubilacion".  Yes, even if you don't speak Spanish, you can tell the word sounds like fun, like jubilee.  If you mention to someone that you are retiring in 30 days, their responses are enough to send you into depression.  "You better stay involved", "You should volunteer", "Start a Hobby", and other ideas that suggest that all of a sudden you will have no purpose in life, your brain will deteriorate immediately and the walker or cane must be on your wish list for retirement presents. How depressing!

I would like to think of retirement as the culmination of years in a successful career.  A moment to be proud of your accomplishments, to take stock on the difference you've made, but also to start a new chapter, one that has no boundaries and that is open without limits.  The most important part of planning for retirement is to have new goals, new adventures planned and just ask my husband how good I'm at planning.  It's not the end of a life but rather the beginning of a new one.  I have enjoyed my career.  I am lucky that I have spent 28 years around students.  When you are around students you are constantly learning. You keep yourself young.  We think we are teaching them but at the end they are teaching us.

As a teacher, I was able to inspire students to succeed, to have goals and to help them accomplish these goals.  I was able to teach them how to learn beyond the classroom.  As an administrator, I've had many teachable moments but also so many learning moments.  If you just listen, the music will play.  The music played for me many times.  I have touched so many and so many have touched me in ways I could not have imagined.

But now, I'm planning for retirement...thirty days from now.  I'm not retreating, withdrawing, or secluding myself.  I'm going to start new adventures, meet new people, touch different lives, read more books, enjoy more sunrises, more "cafecitos", have more time for relationships, learn a new language, maybe write a book, and whatever appears in the horizon.

I'm ready!

Gratitude: Gratitude - A New Year's Resolution

Gratitude: Gratitude - A New Year's Resolution: Gratitude We often focus on our cup being " half empty " rather than " half full ". When you are in a place of ...

Gratitude - A New Year's Resolution

Gratitude

We often focus on our cup being "half empty" rather than "half full". When you are in a place of gratitude you are more than likely to have more good things come your way. Gratitude can be pushed aside in times of personal peace and when things are going well.  We forget to be thankful for the little things.  In hard times we become thankful for the basics - health, being alive or the sun shining.  A Zen Buddhist said "be thankful for all things, good and bad" and that is extremely hard to do.  Who can be thankful for an evil co-worker, a friend,  or a family member who has wronged us?  Once we start thinking about all the things we should be grateful for, others will come to mind.  I recently  experienced a fall that resulted on a broken ankle which led to surgery and endless weeks of recuperation.  This incident was not part of my plan and gratitude was the farthest from my mind.  Why me?  Why did I have to experience this life altering  experience?  What it gave me was the reassurance of those close to me who cared, who provided me with flowers to brighten my days, with cards with messages of encouragement, with delicious prepared meals.  It helped me develop patience and empathy.   It also gave me the reassurance of my husband's love and his commitment to "in sickness and in health" as he spent twelve weeks taking care of my everyday needs including many times when depression seemed too much to bear.  It also gave me the opportunity to write as I became removed from everyday responsibilities.  Am I glad that I broke my ankle? Of course not.   But I am truly thankful for the lessons learned and the realization that I will never take little things for granted, such as taking a warm shower whenever I want to!

Meditation:  Make a list of all the things you have in your life that you are happy and thankful for even down to little things like being able to afford to feed your family. Make the list as long as possible.  The longer the list the more blessings you will add to your life.