I’m learning to be kinder to my older self. Recently retired, I’ve been looking inward to find my true self again without the identity of my job, although I am still connected to my work place in a small way. I honestly began to recognize who I truly am by returning to my work place for visits. People comment what they miss about me and I suddenly saw in me what others see. It has brought some confidence back too which had been fading as I become the old person among mostly younger coworkers. And it caused me to evaluate my life moving forward. I don’t need my job to continue with my good qualities. The one problem I do deal with is my aging body! I am working on acceptance of the extra pounds and such. That’s what I need to work on!
I am so touched by that reflection. It would be easy to get lost in a story about retirement, but you are thoughtfully aware. You went back to your old workplace and noticed what people appreciated about you! That’s so powerful. You are worthy, you don’t need your job to validate that - and now you have more time to take care of that aging body! Thank you for sharing. Here’s to always being kinder to ourselves…
I started to soften that mean inner voice by thinking about what I would say to a friend who told me all this. So, I try to talk to myself as I do to my friends.
I’m learning to be kinder to my older self. Recently retired, I’ve been looking inward to find my true self again without the identity of my job, although I am still connected to my work place in a small way. I honestly began to recognize who I truly am by returning to my work place for visits. People comment what they miss about me and I suddenly saw in me what others see. It has brought some confidence back too which had been fading as I become the old person among mostly younger coworkers. And it caused me to evaluate my life moving forward. I don’t need my job to continue with my good qualities. The one problem I do deal with is my aging body! I am working on acceptance of the extra pounds and such. That’s what I need to work on!
I am so touched by that reflection. It would be easy to get lost in a story about retirement, but you are thoughtfully aware. You went back to your old workplace and noticed what people appreciated about you! That’s so powerful. You are worthy, you don’t need your job to validate that - and now you have more time to take care of that aging body! Thank you for sharing. Here’s to always being kinder to ourselves…
I started to soften that mean inner voice by thinking about what I would say to a friend who told me all this. So, I try to talk to myself as I do to my friends.
Yes! I love that reframing. It’s simple. What would a friend say? ❤️