An early retirement can cause feelings of loss, but Laura reminds us, as with all changes, there are unexpected benefits and joys.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)
I officially retired one year ago. I explain that retirement chose me, rather than the other way around–as having a chronic illness forced the issue. After 23 years working as an elementary school counselor my body could not work day in and out.
It was an eventful year with ups and downs, both emotionally and physically. I realized recently, while seeing a former colleague at my favorite Starbuck’s that I am settling in to retirement. We talked about the kids and the joy it is to work with them, but she reminded me of the drudgery that sometimes comes with the other aspects of the job.
I wished her well and told her what a real blessing it was talking with her–and she said she needed to hear that message.
I began thinking there are real perks to retirement; even if I am not close to the “official” retirement age; most of the hairs on my head are red, rather than grey; and if I could, I would work. So I wanted to share a few of my observations of the positives I have discovered during the last year:
- I don’t have to wear dress clothes and panty hose to work each day–although I do have a collection of Jobst stockings that most 49-year-olds don’t possess.
- If I want to have a chocolate chip cookie for breakfast I do, with my Starbuck’s iced tea. You see, if I have the energy to drive to Starbuck’s, I can indulge once in awhile. I don’t have to attend events I don’t find too pleasurable or are too lengthy or difficult to get to.
- I relish the relationships I have. It takes great effort to stay upright at times, so if I am with someone I find myself very present in the conversation. These moments bring happiness.
- I have time to write and writing provides pure joy.
- I have met many new people since being diagnosed with dysautonomia more than two years ago.
- These include members of the HopeKeepers group I run; online people at both Rest Ministries and the support groups I belong to for dysatonomia: a dear friend I met through her relatives who shares my diagnosis; and people in my church community where I now volunteer as disability/chronic illness advocate. These are people I would never have met if I continued to work; nor would I have taken on these new roles as an advocate, HopeKeepers leader or Rest Ministries writer. I am convinced God had a plan for me and has more surprises in store.
- I have increased exponentially my faith and relationship with the Lord. I always believed in God and was spiritual, but it is so much deeper. I could never walk this chronic illness journey without my faith, and for that I am ever thankful.
Life is difficult with a chronic illness, there are losses and sadness. But there are also joys and hopes. And in just one year of retirement a lot of changes have occurred.
Prayer: God, please bless me and strengthen me as I continue on My journey with chronic illness. Whether I am employed or unable to work, may I find joys in whatever I am capable of doing. Amen.
About the author:
Laura Seil Ruszczyk lives in New York with her husband and three children. She retired last year from a job of 23 years as an elementary school counselor. She is writing a book about dealing with dysautonomia, a neurological condition in which the autonomic nervous system malfunctions; affecting such things as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing and temperature regulation.
If you have had to retire or give up your career, what have you found are some advantages of doing so?
This is Lincoln Brewster singing “Everlasting God” and you may know it from church if you have sung contemporary worship songs. They lyrics start with “Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord.” I have sung this song many times, but as I saw those words today it hit me– as we wait upon the Lord strength will rise!
As Laura waits to see where God leads her, I expect she will find strength and the same strength is available for you and I. -Lisa
Hi! Your article was very encouraging! Thank you!! 🙂 I was wondering how did you become an advocate? Can we email about it? Let me know! 🙂
In His Grip,
Ms. Micheal
Laura,
Great to see how many positives you can list from this last year – I’m sure we don’t always look hard enough to find them. 🙂
I’ve always believed that God never wastes our experiences, so thanks for sharing how He’s using you in your new “normal”.
Blessings,
Fiona
Laura thankd for sharing your positive joys with us, it was very uplifting today. many blessings diane.
In exactly one month – I will have been fired retired for one year. As hard as it was to find myself in that position, I knew it was God’s plan for my life. Everything I have done thus far in my 48 years, has been his plan. I have always been able to sense that since my diagnosis at age 28. When I look back over the years, and how he gave me the energy to do what we did early on in our marriage, then the course of my 30’s, and now the plans he has for me in my late 40’s….I can’t wait for my 50’s.
The positives of being retired have been:
It brought my husband and I closer, hard as it was for him, he feels like my protector now, and that is a good feeling.
I was able to be with my mother through my fathers many hospital visits and surgeries the first part of this year.
I have been able to babysit for my grand nieces and nephews and their smiles and hugs and energy are such a joy.
I recently joined the YMCA so that I can go back to the swimmer laps I so love, and it doesn’t hurt to do so.
I have been able to actually see the birds that are coming to my birdfeeders and enjoy their chirping songs.
I have been able to spend more time with my family and friends, and go with my husband on the weekends, when while working, I would just collapse.
I finally see the bottom of the piles of wash instead of just the tops.
I have been able to start couponing and sale shopping and make better financial choices.
I am finally able to enjoy the home we have worked so hard for over the years…and I am so content.
I can nap when I need to, and not fall asleep in the wrong places at the wrong times…..
I am lucky, thank you God for everything you have blessed me with, even my illnesses…..Amen
Thanks so much for the uplifting article. After a career as a nurse for >30 years I unexpected
found myself retired/ disabled at 50. Thanks for sharing hope.
Dear Laura,
Just read your wonderful devotional. I am much older than you are, but also had to quit working when in my late forties. I worked for 2 churches and then also as the assistant to a director of a childrens home. They were jobs provided for me by God in that they were jobs in helping people , as yours was, but were just part time as I was already ill and could not work long hours. I finally had to quit my last job with many regrets, also.
But God is always good and you have stated so many blessings experienced in your “new life”. I think it is a great guide and inspiration for life after .”retirement” from a job one loves only to find special blessings to replace and enlarge our “new life”. The saying I know is change is difficult ; handle with care. That, for me, is so true. I have found some things that work for me, but still looking for new ways to keep me active and engaged as much as my body and energy will let me. I am very much older than you but still have hope in expanding my horizons in new ways the Lord would deign for me!
One of the things you mentioned is that you have started a Hopekeepers group, theyre all great suggestions (‘ by the way!). I have been praying and thinking about this so much lately. I wonder of you could share some of your experiences and knowledge in how you started and how it’s going. You could email me privately if that would work. If you would have the time, energy, etc. to share with me would indeed be great.
I am not home now, but have time to put together ideas, thoughts, etc. together if the Lord opens the door for this.
I have asked and received Lisa’s great guide to start a new group. I have limited Internet access now where I am but will be home sometime in August and would like to get this started for the fall. That may be too ambitious but that is my goal. You and any others who are in groups advice would be most helpful, also.
Thanks again.
Blessings,
Patty
Hi Laura,
Thanks for an uplifting devotional. I had to laugh when I saw the bit about Jobst stockings, as they’re an essential in my life, too. I looked in the groups but didn’t see your dysautonomia group. I’d love to be part of one, here, as I have it also. Could you email me? I’d appreciate it!
What a positive outlook and timely reminder. Thank you for writing this!
Thanks for your positive & uplifting devotional dear Laura. 🙂
I have now been “retired” for just over 2 years &, like you, can see a number of positives. Many of the ones you mentioned I could relate to.
Sadly soon after I left “my school” it has gradually gone steadily downhill, with major dramas & families leaving. I have been spared from going through a really awful time there. All, but one of the original staff members have transferred out or taken retirement to get out of there….all on the edge of depression or breakdowns as they left! The final fellow staff member is VERY unhappy there & is trying to transfer out. I’m so very thankful to God that I left with great memories of the school & that I didn’t have to go through such an awful time, like my fellow staff members.
I remain in email contact with all of my lovely friends (fellow staff members) & they’ve all said how thankful they’ve been that I didn’t have to go through the mess too. It sure would have devastated me! God works in mysterious ways!
May “retirement” continue to grant us blessings…..seen & unseen. Counting our blessings is so very important to our overall health. Gentle hugs to you Laura. You’re in my prayers right now dear friend. Lotsoluv Kerryn
Read through the comments and appreciate them. I will comment further soon but am on little energy today as my daughter had successful knee surgery yesterday. Thank you for writing. Laura
Dear Laura,
Glad to hear that your daughter had successful knee surgery. Don’t know her age but my step grandaughter ( young woman who I (have never met, complicated family dynamics, what else is new.)having knee surgery soon in NY City. Her mom(my dil) is going to be with her during surgery and recovery.
Am on low energy too at this time, and planning a nap later today. That’s an everyday thing for me unless circumstances beyond my control!
Please take time to rest , nap, etc. taking care of yourself when your daughter is resting and recuperating. Hope all goes well. Take care and may God bless you and yours.
Blessings,
Patty
Thank you Laura.
God has lately been helping me to come to terms with my “retirement” some 10 years after the fact.
He is simaltaneously showing me that I am not useless just because I no longer serve special needs kiddos and their families- a job that was my life’s passion & reason for getting up every morning- and he is helping me to consciously embrace this reality of life now. I am becoming better able to care for myself, and re-learning good pacing.
For the first time in all those years, he has done enough progress and adjusting that just this month, I have a passion for getting up again.
It is somerthing I sure couldn’t have done while working.
When it’s right weather, I am heading straight outside to spend a luxurious hour in the sun, and with the Son.
Back to a daily chapter of Proverbs, even started to practice a true Sabbath day. The results are so astounding re. peace, joy, hope, and more love in my heart to spill over onto others.
My inability to focus has been really helped by this practice.Just getting out of my 4 walls! And for the first time in years, getting some tan again.
That has made me feel younger, I guess because I associate my darker skin with my younger, healthier days.
I’m not real old, but I often feel like I am twice my age or so. Surely anyone seeing this can relate!
Anyway, just yesterday while (able to run an ) errand, I was struck by the fact that I was also able to give my time and attention to minister to two hurting hearts. God just seems to cross my path and open doors with complete strangers- lets me pray with them sometimes too!
Such joy!
So, tho I was lightheaded and wiped out, I smiled all the way home with the blessing of having been a conduit of God’s love to someone that day.
As you know, that is lifeblood for every believer, and extra special for domeone who often struggles to get themselves upright and fed.
That is my long-winded answer to the question at the end of your devotional:)
And I so enjoyed the others too<3
Praising God for the Summer's blessings including RM,
Lesetta
13 months after my missionary career unexpectedly finished and I returned home, this really resonated, thanks Laura.
I started new part time work 3 weeks ago and thank God, looking back, that He was in control. He gave me the rest I needed, and then brought along the job perfectly suited to my limitations, at the perfect time. I needed a year before I was ready for this new challenge, and God knew that better than I did! 😀
Ms. Micheal, my church did not have a parish advocate. I was looking to start a HopeKeepers group but by the time I finished my conversation with the person in charge I had volunteered to be an advocate. I am convinced the Holy Spirit was behind that move. Laura
Fiona, thank you for writing. I would never have imagined all the ways God is using me but I am glad.
Diane- blessings to you also.
Melinda – thank you for sharing your list of joys and congratulations on your one-year anniversary!
Lynn – a nurse for 30 plus years is admirable. God bless you.
Patty, my HopeKeepers group began in Dec. We took July off and begin again on 8/17. There is good information on restministries on starting a HopeKeepers group. I will also email you some information.
Diane, I just ordered a fun pair of jobst-like stockings ( bright orange) off the internet. There is a dysautonomia/EDS group at restministries but it appears to be inactive. I am not a member as I am a member of two facebook dysautonomia groups. Are you in any groups on facebook for dysautonomia?
Dorothea- thank you for writing. God bless you.
Kerryn – Thank you for the prayers Kerryn. I would have enjoyed working at a school with you!
Patty – my daughter is recovering well and I appreciate your kind words. I hope things go well for your family as well.
Lesetta – how wonderful that you are getting out in the sun, hanging with the Son, and had an opportunity to pray with others. Your response made me smile. Thank you for writing.
Anne – congratulations and God bless you on your new job opportunity.
I just came across this site after searching for answers about things to do. I was forced to retire because of breast cancer, lost my insurance at the beginning of treatment and not being able to work during treatment, that eventually led to surgery 6 months ago I am finding it hard to focus on finding something to do with my time for I am still young. I am trying my best to relax in this period of my life even though my economy(not only this country) is bad, its hard. My children are young adults no gran as yet, and seeing that I came to live closer to them and very grateful for they lived far away for years being in military phone calls were few, and all my other family are now far away, I do still feel lonely. I try volunteering when they have openings at the food bank or few other places and church. I feel there is a big gap in my life that stays empty and I am reading my bible, would love to travel and do more. I go for walks early morning but by the evening I*m depressed. still trying to understand it all……
one more thing I forgot to mention I over- worked myself for that company for 20yrs when I lost my insurance, it was something I loved doing.