Retirement Poem by Ray Lucero

(An excerpt from an email to a recent retiree)

“Retirement is about not scheduling things, rather allowing things to present themselves or unfold naturally. For someone that's used to routine this can be traumatic. Relax...and know that what needs to be done will be done by choice not time.

The time just ahead is an opportunity for you to really give to yourself in ways that nurture and support you. As a giver by nature you are used to giving to others, sometime at your own expense.

Remember Beloved, when those around you let you down or disappoint, you have to give to yourself what they cannot or are unwilling to give to you.

As a person living alone, you will learn the difference between loneliness and alone-ness. The former is based on co-dependence and the latter is based on self-awareness and self-love. Thousands of years of negative imprinting by society has rendered people into feeling powerless and co-dependent.

I've said it many times dear friend...Love yourself as much as I love you and you will know true happiness”

ROTMS