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Habit

Oh, so true...
I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.
I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
I am completely at your command.
Half the things you do, you might just as well turn over to me,
And I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.
I am easily managed; you must merely be firm with me.
Show me exactly how you want something done,
And after a few lessons I will do it automatically.
I am the servant of all great men.
And, alas, of all failures as well.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine.
Plus, the intelligence of a man.
You may run me for profit, or run me for ruin;
It makes no difference to me.
Take me, train me, be firm with me
And I will put the world at your feet.
Be easy with me, and I will destroy you.
Who am I?
I am HABIT!

Since retirement, I have taken a more active roll in the "goings on" with our elected officials. I have written letters to my representative and both senators of TN. Each have responded in kind. By the way, we have a Republican and a Democratic Senator. So I hear both sides and naturally they both want my vote. Their letters are often cryptic and you have to read between the lines. I don't agree with all being said, (but I receive both sides, non-the-less). Perhaps in the very near future I will share the contents of the letters and how I feel. That's for another time...

Have been asked frequently how does it really feel to be retired. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful,...should have done it years ago. Go to bed when you want - even get to drink coffee in the evening- get up when you want, naps, fish, work odd jobs around the house, travel; actual life of leisure is how I would describe that inner feeling.

But as habit has it, it is best to stay engaged and divide free time with work time. Habit! Keeping busy should be a necessary habit. Spontaneity is another good trait to maintain into the golden years. Actually, took a 3-day, spur of the moment, trip to Florida (Nashville, TN - Daytona Beach, FL - Tampa - Back to Daytona - Nashville, TN) to pick up an e-bay purchase, and in the process went deep sea fishing with friends. Nuts - Yup! Fun - Yup! Try that for spontaneity, you retirees. Least I can say I did it when I wanted and could do it. There will come a time... when the big WHEN word will come into play. "When I no longer feel I can, when I no longer can, etc"! So get out there... I traveled everywhere with my job and saw little. Now, I will try and make the destination and the trip a highlight. You know the old adage: smell the roses along the way, even at 3:00 am in the morning with a nice cup of coffee!

Bob
Retired







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