New Steps of Change

"The horizon leans forward, offering you space to place new steps of change." - Maya Angelou

Today was my last day as the K-12 Library Media Specialist in Fort Ann, NY. Yesterday, I said good bye to students; this afternoon, I bid farewell to teaching colleagues and staff members.

Teaching was not my first career, nor will it be my last. I've been a social worker, day care provider, bookstore clerk, and librarian in both academic and public libraries. Now, I'm an online editor and facilitator. If life offers me any other opportunities, I'll accept them gladly.

Forty years ago, this photo of me appeared on the last page of my college yearbook.



Now, as I did then, I'm walking away from one world to enter another. Exits are also entrances. Doors and gates open to new possibilities.

I think I'm ready for the next Journey.

All the Time in the World

I have written about Time before, as the poets have described it. Today, I'm after concrete suggestions, not imagery.

In three weeks, my husband will retire from his 30-year career in a corporate environment. He plans to devote more time to art, painting en plein air and building up his free-lance portrait business.

At the end of the 2008-09 school year, I will also retire from one position to pursue another, moving from teaching as a school librarian to facilitating online profession development workshops for educators.

Both of us will be home-based and setting our own schedules.

I know from my experiences as a stay-at-home mother and a 10-month school employee, that it's easy to get distracted, wander off task, waste time when the days seem to stretch ahead without (visible) limits.

So I'm asking for some help: how do those of you who are retired or work outside of a fixed calendar manage your time? Do you find it helpful to give yourself deadlines, plan an agenda, or block out activities by the day, week, or month?

I don't want to be chained to a clock or a desk, but I don't want to squander this wonderful gift of time either.

Your input is gratefully accepted.





"Life at any time can become difficult: life at any time can become easy. It all depends upon how one adjusts oneself to life." -Morarji Desai




"In Search of Lost Time" by bogenfreund