Contentment
Hi Readers,
Once again I fess up about being slack with getting posts done. I honestly thought that this year I'd be banging them out weekly, but it seems I'm only doing it weakly!!!
I was just thinking to myself why this is the case, and I think it's because I know I have ample time to do them, but then don't feel the need to rush about it. Each day I say to myself "Time to do a post", but then put it off until tomorrow. Then another tomorrow appears and so on. When I was working I was probably more committed as I was competing with work demands, whereas now I'm just competing with my own organisation, or lack of it!!
Anyway, here we go.
Now the source of the inspiration behind this post.
For the past few years I have become extremely interested in stories about people who always strive to get the best out of themselves, no matter how major or minor may be whatever they are doing at the time. I have read, watched and listened to so many accounts ranging from famous people down to average Joe's like myself who just like to pen some occasional thoughts. We all have the ability to contribute and no-one should feel they have contributed less just because they are not famous for it.
Someone could build a company that helps millions, while another person might save a friendship. Both major accomplishments in my book. And who are we to judge who accomplished more?
Which brings me to the concept of Contentment.
I was watching an interview recently with Alex Pearce, the captain of the Fremantle Football Club, someone who I knew of by name, but I knew little to nothing about him. I'd been looking for something to watch while having a workout and decided that looking at something that I knew very little about could surely teach me something new?
Boy was I blown away. I sort of had this pre conceived perception that he was made captain of the team because they had a shallow pool of candidates. I was very quickly proven wrong. I was immediately taken by the clarity in his speech and how he expressed his thoughts so clearly and earnestly. He could definitely hold a persons attention just by the way he put his words together.
But what struck me the most was the way that he has overcome adversity in his own life with mental health challenges, and also a run of shocking injuries. Through everything that he had to endure he always sought ways to be content with what he was doing. Sometimes this meant not over striving or over training, as this just placed him under increased self pressure, and often his body would fail him again and again. As would his mind.
Through learning to understand himself more and accepting his limitations he was able to be more accepting of what he could and couldn't achieve, and as a result he was more content.
No coincidence that in the years since he has continued to cement himself as a great leader, one who doesn't get complacent with his performances in anything that he does.
And it is also no coincidence that it was his final play in the last minute of the game yesterday that won it for his team. He pointed to where he wanted the ball kicked and he flew sideways into the pack, taking a brilliant contested mark and then kicking the winning goal. Afterwards when being interviewed he played down the significance of it, as he said it was a set play and that he was calm in his approach as he was content, knowing that he could pull it off. Some could misinterpret this as arrogance, but after watching the interview a week ago I could really understand how he could expect himself to take the mark as he knew that it was within his capabilities. I still get goosebumps watching replays of his mark!!!
So after watching the tv interview a week ago, then again hearing him talk about the mark he took, I really started to think more about the the things that make me feel content, and maybe you might be doing the same thing now yourselves.
My past two weeks have been pretty eventful for a number of reasons.
Firstly, our dear brother Tony succumbed to the leukaemia that he had been fighting for 18 months or so. His funeral was last week, and was another of those rare times where the remaining siblings get together at the same time. This is hard as we live across three states.
Tony had fought such a brave fight and was determined to beat this bitch of a disease that has hit our family so hard in the past three years, but towards the end he just must have realised that he had done all that he could and it was now time to relent. I won't say give in because we never heard that from him ever. In his final days there must have been a time where he felt that he had given it all he could, now it was time to go. I'm not suggesting for a minute that he was content to go, but as we all might face the time where we have to address our mortality, at what point do we accept that our time is due?
Tony faced everything so bravely, I hope that when my time comes I will be able to face it as stoically as he did.
And out of a terribly sad event, Tony's passing resulted in a very rare gathering of the remaining family members.
I'm glad I've got that part of the past two weeks out of the way as it is still pretty raw.
Regular readers will be aware that last year I bought a caravan and a bigger car to tow it. It was always on the cards for our retirement, so I decided to go ahead and do it, albeit on my own. Well Readers, the fantasy didn't last long.
The van got sold two weeks ago, and the 4WD went last week and I downsized to a smaller car as I just don't need such a big car any more.
It was a very hard decision to make, but one that I am content with for a number of reasons. Many people have looked at me funnily as if to say "Are you nuts?", while others have just come out and said it to me!!
Firstly, and I may have alluded to it in a previous post, I think I bought the van thinking what it would be like for the two of us, or two people. As it's just me now, and the fact that I'm not searching for someone to share it with, it was feeling like a white elephant. Each time I've been away in it, it has been okay during the day as I'm up and about, but returning each night to the van brings just a massive feeling of emptiness, and only emphasised further that I was trying to fulfil a dream that would not happen. It wasn't lonely as much as empty, and I just couldn't get myself to enjoy it.
The events of the past 3 years have meant that I no longer dwell too long on things and try to make decisions to move on, as life can be just too short. I found that I was thinking too much about it, but was always coming to the same decision to sell, so I did. If I have made the wrong decision then it's nobody's problem but my own. And who is to judge if it is right or wrong anyway? Stupid perhaps, but no-one was saying I was stupid when I bought it. Those who give me their 'advice' about it are usually giving it from their perspective, which I understand. But I'm not sure if they fully realise my reasons as I don't share them to many people at all. It was much, much more than just financial.
The same applied when I sold my motorbike recently. Once again, I had people questioning my sanity, but only I fully know the full extent of the ailments with my body that make riding a motorbike dangerous for me, and for all you other road users. So thank me for looking after you!!
I have been so lucky to have a few super close friends who I have confided all this to and they have been a super help. But our 3 sons have been by far the greatest support as they just say "Dad, do what makes you happy".
They are just the best♥️
That's why I am content with the decisions and choices I have made in the past few weeks, who knows, you might find that I've gone and bought a speedboat or a sports car, when in reality a mobility scooter would be more appropriate!! (I'm not thinking of buying a boat or sports car by the way!!) While I was nervous right up until the moment of handover, I felt a remarkable sense of calm soon afterwards, which to me was being told that it was the best thing to do. Now I can look forward to whatever my next adventure might be.
Hooked up and ready to deliver to the new owners.
Time will tell if I made the right decision, but I won't be dwelling on it too much. It was something I tried and it just didn't work for me. It went to a lovely farming couple from Inglewood who will create much better memories with it than I think I would have been able to.
And just to show that time moves on quickly, today I saw my 4WD for sale in a car yard in Bendigo. As I said, it was a great car, but too big for me to just drive around, which is why I went for something just a bit smaller. Yes, I took a bit of a money hit, but I think I'll make it up in the long run. Plus, it was physically hard for me to get in and out of with my two bung shoulders and two bung ankles, and already I'm appreciating the easier access in the new car. My life, my choices.
And after all the haggling and so forth I am satisfied that I'm content with what I have done, the stress has gone completely.
Since retiring I still get asked this question a lot.
"So what are your plans?"
As I'm still a bit of a virgin at this retiring gig, forgive me if I haven't mapped out each day for the next few years!! The first part of the year, and even up until now, has just been enjoying not having to go to work and just having the time and freedom to do what I want, when I want. That sounds very selfish I know, and it is still something I feel guilty having the freedom with. I also feel incredibly guilty that I get to do all these things already, albeit on my own, when they were originally planned for the two of us.
Much of the early part of the year was like an extra period of holidays, so I was riding and kayaking each day and loving making great use of the weather.
Then I was overseas for a few weeks, and then some caravan trips when I got back home.
Then throw in some trips to QLD to visit family.
Pretty soon I was knocked up with this bloody ankle and that has consumed the past 12 weeks, meaning I can't do much at all. Only 6 more weeks in the boot hopefully🤞
Actually, today I made huge inroads and mowed my back lawn. It must have looked funny, but I got it done with no problems. I didn't dare touch the front lawn as my neighbours would kill me, plus it doesn't need mowing.
While I hate this prolonged inactivity, I'm content that I am able to do most of the things I need to do. Sort of!!
But through all of this the one thing that sustains me is that I am content with where I am with everything at the moment.
Sure, most things bug me, but I know that is my reality. I can't worry about my leg, it will get better when it does. I had cortisone shots in a shoulder last week so that has helped lift my spirits a bit, I feel like a million dollars now!! (For a few weeks at least)
I'm gutted at Tony's loss, but I feel a sense of content that he is no longer suffering.
I managed to spend quality time with my siblings, despite the circumstances. I came away from those few days with a sense of content having been with them all.
I even managed to get our rental property painted, something that I was stressing about. But now that the car and caravan have gone, the rental is painted, I am sort of getting around the house without a crutch all the time, and I have some plans for the next few weeks and months, I feel a sense of contentment for the time being.
God only knows what I'll be doing six months from now, but I'm content that I'm not stressing about it. As I said earlier, I'm not dwelling on things too much and choosing to make decisions about things more quickly instead of procrastinating.
If you hear that I'm living in a humpy out in the desert, taking ballet lessons or working on an olive farm in Greece don't be surprised!!!
So Readers,
All I hope that you might get from this is that you just might take a few moments to see where there is contentment in your lives.
It needn't be a huge slap in the face or major discovery, it might be that you remembered to unpack the dishwasher just before your other half got home!
I'm just feeling content that I've completed another post as it always leaves me feeling so positive. I just have to lift my game and commit more regularly, but I must admit that whenever I write, it feels like that was the best time to write.
Until my next post,
Cheers. 😁