Tag: happy

Thoughts 23/4/24

Write about a time when you didn’t take action but wish you had. What would you do differently?

I had to ask my wife for clarification here as my mind had drawn a blank. Now the flood gates have opened. In the words of George Michael- “Turn a different corner and we never would have met.”

Yes, this question really is a closing doors moment. We all make decisions on a daily basis, lots of them, and then occasionally a big one comes up and you have to concentrate on how you respond. Not all decisions are particularly bad, but hindsight being a wonderful thing you occasionally look back and say, “ I wish I had done that differently.”

Contentment

For me that moment would have been in the late 80s. As a couple my wife and I have always had a bit of a spend thrift attitude to money, if we had it we kind of spent it. Sometimes we lived beyond our means as I’m sure we all do from time to time but we had good times and made memories and don’t regret that for one moment as you can’t put a price on good memories. They were what we used to call picture moments, we still have them from time to time and we will occasionally say to each other “This is a picture moment” and we know at that point one of us has taken a mental picture of that very moment for posterity.

In the 80s we had a chance to purchase what was our old house for about £80k. Considering we were only 17 miles from central London it was a bargain, but because of our spendthrift attitude for life it was out of our range even at that price. Instead we poured endless amounts of cash into a flat we renting, we should have realised we were lining someone else’s pockets and not ours. We didn’t care, as ignorance is bliss….isn’t it?

Fast forward about 3 years, a little wiser and settled due to impending marriage and the offer for the same house came in this time it was in the region of £140k the price had risen by £60k. This time we jumped at it, it was tough and we had to knuckle down on our finances but we did it.

Looking back yes this is a regret that I wish we had jumped at when we had the chance. If we had where would be now? Would we be in a better position or not? All I know now is we are happy, we are content and happy with our lot. We do not envy people, in fact we are happy they have done well and celebrate their good fortune, yes we could have done things differently but would we be as content with our lot?

Like I said at the beginning, George said it all in his lyrics.

Regrets, none at all, lessons learned definitely, are we better people for our experiences? You bet ya we are.

Have a lovely day all.

Thoughts 21/3/24

What do you wish you could do more every day?

I really wish I could participate in all those things that I love to do on a daily basis. The only problem is as I’ve always stated is that Work gets in the way of everything I enjoy doing.

I can’t understand how many people go into retirement and have nothing else to do. I work in a business, where the employees are so use used to working a regular shift based timetable that they become so ingrained with the work ethic, retire and very shortly you are attending a funeral.

I know that sounds a bit exaggerated but that’s the way it seems to anyone who retires from this job, it is as if they are now entering the corridor to the end of their days, strange i know but we’re so used to it when someone says they’re going to retire we all think the worst.

I don’t want that to be the same for me. I have so many interests that I can never see myself being bored or getting to the point that I just sink into being happy with my lot.

In a nutshell hobbies that’s what I would do.

Have a good day folks stay safe. Be happy.

Thoughts 17/2/24

What activities do you lose yourself in?

I’m rather fortunate in having a number of interests to get involved in, however more often than not work gets in the way.

How many times have you made that resolution that this year “ I’m going to work to live not live to work” and each year you reneged on that resolution. I have for god knows how many years, but this year there has been a change.

My health is getting no better and I’m now looking at this as being a warning to me to get things in an order of priority. Work, it’s given me PTSD what with all the traumatic issues I’ve experienced and nothing else, so I’m giving it less time and attention by cutting out all overtime, turning that damned phone off and spending quality time with my wife and dog. I’m treating those rare days off as family days and so far so good.

It might be only me and the wife getting away to some away football games, but we love these days out and win lose or draw (mainly lose at the moment) we love these days out. Cutting out the work ensures this can happen.

I love art, I’m useless at it but I love it, I love fixing and repairing old cameras, I love repairing electronics, i love a beer and I like to socialise with family and friends.

I’m realising my enemy here, though an essential for achieving stability is work.

I’m on a countdown to retirement now and I class my current actions as a trial for retirement and I’m really enjoying it I’m 58 going on 80 at the moment.

The message i’m trying to get across here is not to put things off. If you pledge to do something follow it through, there comes a time when it is all just too late and you don’t want to be laying there prior to taking your last breath having regrets. Do it all, do it today. Live, love ❤️ and be happy. Always.