Let me start by (re) introducing myself. I'm Heather, and after 23 years of teaching, I recently took early retirement to escape get out of public education. I'm following my dream of becoming a freelance writer, so I've been writing sample pieces to fill out my portfolio. But this blog is for me to write my experiences in my own voice, and I hope someone out there will relate and enjoy it. Welcome to my new lifestyle blog!
Living This One Life with a lifestyle blog
"This One Life" is extremely important to me. We are all given one life and we have to live it the best we can. We all know this, but I haven't always been brave enough to live it. There are bills to pay and so many adult responsibilities; it's scary to think about shifting priorities and start doing the things we're saving for "some day." But here's the thing: my husband is veteran and, like almost 5 million other veterans, he has significant health issues. I remember sitting in his hospital room one day, watching him sleep after surgery, and I had a revelation: We have to start doing things.
In that moment, I meant taking the trips we had been talking about doing...some day. When we get enough money in the bank. After we buy a new couch. When we get (insert debt here) paid off. But in that hospital room, I had a sudden realization that I didn't want to look back on our life one day and think, "Why did we think it was more important to buy a couch than to take that trip?" Ever since I'd known my husband, he had talked about wanting us to go to Jazz Fest in New Orleans. We both love NOLA, and that was the main trip we had been planning on "for later." Well "later" had come; we went to the very next Jazz Fest, and we've been two more times since then. Yes, it requires careful planning, and no, it's not possible every year. But we have shifted our priorities to include memorable experiences.
And Here We Are welcome to my new lifestyle blog
My husband's health was a wake-up call for me in many ways. It took a few more years after that day in the hospital, but it's one reason why I decided to retire early. Public education has changed a lot since I started 23 years ago. I won't get into all of that but, for me, it had become a toxic workplace. I just couldn't stand the thought of giving up time with my husband and family to go to a job where I cried at least once a day. And when I wasn't at work, I had anxiety about going back there. My family wasn't getting the best me, or even the real me. I was a mess. Former Teacher. Living my best life.
I looked for a different job, but unemployment is very low where we live. Also, I kept thinking about making the most of our time right now, and going to a work site for 8+ hours a day just didn't fit in with that. So when I ran the numbers for early retirement, I decided our budget could survive the pay cut. It does make travel a little more challenging, but as my fellow retired teacher friend said, "I'd be better off at Target than back with the school system." Now I'm exploring freelance writing, I tutor part-time, and I've rediscovered what I love about teaching by working 1:1 with students. Living with cancer. Quitting teaching.
So that's a little about me, and how I came to start writing a blog. Do you have a similar experience? Feel free to talk to me in the comments!
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