Freedom…

I mentioned in a previous blog that I was knocked out recently by a cold virus. When I spent time lying around, I found myself travelling down a rabbit hole, watching silly reels posted online. What really caught my attention were the videos of fighter pilots, especially female pilots. Female fighter pilots represent a very low percentage of the overall number of pilots. However, there numbers are increasing and their successes will open the doors to many more girls who want to take on roles that have traditionally been male dominated.

I have a confession to make. It’s a big deal that I sat through numerous fighter pilot videos. I get motion sick so easily that I couldn’t even watch the video games my son played when he was a kid. The rolls and climbs normally leave me a little green - I cannot even begin to imagine how awful it would be to fly! And yet, I watched the steep climbs, the rolls, the inversions with something other than nausea in my stomach. I was seeing it in a different light. Given the speed and altitudes that these pilots are flying at, they are travelling in a huge, wide, open sky. They are eating up the geography, so to speak. I was watching the landscape, or the sky and clouds and it made me feel something I haven’t felt in a very long time.

Do you remember how you felt the first day of high school? Or how about the first time you arrived at university? The first day on a new job in a new location? Underlying everything there was, for me at least, a current of fear. What if I’m not good enough? What if no one likes me? What if I can’t figure out how to do whatever it is I’m supposed to do? And then, there’s that thrill of the new. The adventure. The excitement. New people, new things to learn, new opportunities to embrace. There’s a huge, new world in front of you.

There’s something very freeing about the notion of a wide, open space in front of you. As children we had that freedom. I’m not naive (or not totally). I know that opportunities aren’t just presented. We have to be in the right place, we need to work hard, we need some luck, we need some willingness to learn, and we might get what we want.

Freedom is a huge concept and one that I can’t fully cover in this blog. Far bigger than flying in a plane and getting opportunities in life. Living in Canada, I’m blessed to be able to speak. I’m female and yet I succeeded in a job primarily staffed by men. There are a lot of places in the world where that isn’t even a possibility. I am free to vote for whomever I want and without fear of reprisal. I can own a home, have my own bank account and make decisions about my life, without a man’s approval. We have freedoms in this country that I probably take for granted. I try to remember to be grateful.

Another freedom is the ability to do. I’m not impaired physically and I keep moving in an effort to maintain that mobility. I have a neighbour who suffers from many ailments and yet amazes me. She is always going, regardless of the barriers in her way. She works hard and does not give up on herself or her body. Doing is more than moving, it’s also about having the freedom to enjoy certain “treats”. I think we can become complacent in our lives. Yes, I work hard. And yes, I believe I deserve what I receive in return. I try to be smart and maintain what I own. I also enjoy some travel and purchases. I can forget what it’s like to not have the freedom to do those things. I’m not rich and am not expecting to ever be rich. But I am able to enjoy my pool, a car that runs well, and continue to care for my old house. I consider it a necessity - take care of your “things” so they last a long time. However, there are those who work hard but just don’t make enough to be able to take a vacation. Maybe they’re working two jobs to make ends meet so something that may seem “normal” to me and my friends, like taking a trip to the beach just isn’t possible. That’s a freedom as well. The freedom to relax and enjoy life. There are a lot of freedoms that money can buy. I have never agreed with the statement, “money doesn’t buy happiness”. I’ve always felt that was said or written by someone with money, someone who didn’t have to struggle. Money may not buy happiness, but it certainly provides a person with the freedom of choice.

And choice is a freedom. One that we have in abundance in Canada. I will often point out that people should whine less as their circumstances are often a result of their choices. That’s the negative side of the word. The positive side is the fact that we get to make those choices. There are lots of opportunities for careers and from those careers come more opportunities for lifestyle. Do you want to live in the city, attend events, go to galleries, enjoy live music? It’s possible. Prefer the quiet life in the country? We have that, too. Our country is huge with lots of room. Lots of freedom.

Now, this blog is based on the second half of life. Decades ago people went to a job, got married, had a family and lived that life. At the end of their time at that company, they would retire. And what was retirement then? I admit I’m not 100% sure. I think it was time spent with friends, grandchildren, perhaps volunteering. It always seemed that retirement came near the end of something. Nowadays it isn’t unheard of for people to have numerous jobs in multiple companies. We live longer so retirement isn’t necessarily a quiet, restful time. It’s also not necessarily the end of work. What I often hear now is that it’s a chance to do something for fun. It’s time for something that’s just for you. Without the same pressures of “needing the job”, having a pension allows a person to try something new. I have a friend who’s very creative and I know she’s thinking about doing something with that talent. Perhaps she’ll consider decorating or working with flowers. Maybe wedding planner? She’s worked hard, day in and day out to build up her pension and she’s done it well. Why not have a little fun? She’s got many years ahead of her.

What do you think about when you consider retirement? Do you think about going on an adventure? I know quite a few retirees who are travelling the world. They post their experiences online and it looks incredible. But that doesn’t last year round, does it? Isn’t there a time when you’re at home? What do you do then? If you’re like my friend, do you find something that fills a need? For her, she’ll feed the part of her that has an eye for colour, can design and organize, and makes herself feel good.

I told my son I would like to find a way to earn a little money writing. These last few years have awakened this need to write. I never knew I would like it or that I would have this need. Throughout my week, my brain will go on little paths with ideas to write about or thoughts about a potential book that I’m playing with. I think my son is surprised because I said I would like to make money. In his mind, once I can get a pension that should be it. My pension won’t put me on “Easy Street”. I’ll have to be careful with my money and think before treating myself, whether it’s with a purchase or a trip. I don’t think continuing to earn money is a terrible thing and it might help when I reach the age where I may need to be in a home or have support. It will cost and I don’t want to be a burden to my son. And it’s more than that. I want the freedom to live a life where I choose what to do and where to go.

So what’s the feeling I had when watching the fighter pilots soaring in the air? It was desire. Desire to do what I want to do. Desire to not be on someone else’s schedule. Desire to set goals based on my core values. Desire to have some adventures. And how do I get there? The freedom of retirement.

Still working on my dining room set up and I love the new table. I’ve made it cute with a St. Patrick’s inspired tablecloth. Not expensive or elegant but something just for fun.

A fresh look in the living room as we enter March. I believe it’s important to celebrate our past, along with the present. The picture frame above my love seat holds pictures of my grandpa on the farm and my grandma and grandpa after retirement at their home in town. On the back of my couch is a handmade quilt from my grandma. It’s the old fashioned kind made of old clothing pieces.

A few bare spots at the moment. With both St. Patrick’s Day and Easter landing in March this year, I’ll be adding some Easter decor over the course of this week.