Last Ditch Effort Life Crisis

[catherine]

Well, crisis is overstating the issue, but I've been thinking about where I am in my own life at 63 years old. I just read that 60 is the new 40, so that's encouraging, and I actually feel 40, so that's encouraging.

But I think about my aunt. When we went out to lunch together one day several years back, she said, "I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with my life." She was 70 at the time and all I could think of was "Well, you better hurry up!" She's now 83, and just recently became a widow, and I sincerely hope she's at peace with where she is right now.

Then there was my dear MIL, who, after she was widowed in her early 40s became a sales clerk in Macy's and worked there for years. In her mid-late 60s she got involved in the Retail Worker's Union and they made her Vice President. She LOVED that job and found real meaning and purpose in it, but she only worked there until she retired at 72. Shortly before she died she told me she had a "wasted life." I was shocked! She worked hard her entire life, and she was a "domestic engineer" par excellence, and she was feisty and determined. When I asked her what she meant she said that she should have raised her aspirations and worked for the Union long before 65. She didn't think she (as a woman) could do better than a sales clerk.

So now, as I look at what I've done, I'm very cognizant that if I don't live my life the way I wish to RIGHT NOW, that ship will sail very shortly. I don't want to be 70 and trying to figure it out. I don't want to be 80 and feel I lived a wasted life. Just to be clear, from a family perspective I have everything I could hope for--in that regard, I am totally fulfilled. I'm just talking about from a "make a difference in the world with my unique talents" perspective. Somehow helping Big Pharma push their drugs into the marketplace is not exactly filling the bill.

What do YOU need to do TODAY in order to not have to look back on a "wasted life" someday?

[Zoe Girl]

very quickly, as rough as i have had some years i do not feel like i have had a wasted life. i didn't finish that novel, i wish i had been more financially independent before this, but i love the day to day of my job, my kids are good people regardless of struggle, i only have one friend i lost to the point she would never talk to me again, my family annoys me and probably judges but they are helpful when i need it. the hard parts are that i have consistently marched to my own beat and dealt with the consequences of that. However i have made my own choices, when i get really down is when choices are not available for a variety of health, economic, social, etc circumstances.

now days when the depression is heavy and my exhaustion wins i would not say this. i get really down,

why don't i feel wasted? Lots of meditation, focus on the spiritual and a regular return to art.

[pinkytoe]

One of the last things I recall my mother saying before she slipped into a two-year coma was "What was it all for?" She had silent regrets. I observed the same sadness in my father. His career was very successful but his personal life was a mess. It seems like so many of our aspirations are based on where we see ourselves compared to others. I can make myself miserable thinking about what I should have done or what I should be doing and what our culture expects of me. If no one else existed, would you still feel compelled to do those things? I think for a measure of self-satisfaction we should of course utilize the talents we are born with. I suppose I should have been an artist as that is what my talent is but I was never able to provide enough income in that way. Making my heart sing in all endeavors matters more to me now than any accolades or should-haves. Little things make me feel happy and fulfilled. To avoid regrets, I think about how fortunate I have been in this life. I have known the lifelong love and support of my spouse, raised a happy well-adjusted child, have great health at 60 and on and on. If the work you are doing conflicts with your basic belief system, then I would indeed question its value unless the end goal makes it very necessary.

[TxZen]

Reason I left the corporate world..I didn't want to regret staying and be miserable. I am doing what I want now and I am FINALLY starting to live MY life, MY way. ALl these posts about my home, clothing, the outside stuff is just reflecting who I REALLY am. I don't plan to ever stop working, no matter in what capacity that is. I have a bucket list a mile long but I am not just checking things off for the sake of doing it. I want to squeeze every last drop of life out of each day.

I can tell y'all..I took a HUGE HUGE HUGE leap of faith...no job lined up and at 40, I didn't know what I wanted to be. We cut back greatly on our budget so I could stay home for a year and figure things out. It's been the best thing I have ever done. I am defining me and I love it!!! I am infinitely happier. I got rid of anything that has not brought me joy- mostly "stuff" like heirlooms- nice but not me, I organized my digital frame with photos I love and placed it on my desk so I can see it everyday, y'all know about my wardrobe and I even painted my bathroom turquoise beach blue because I love it. No more worrying about others think...just living!!!

I have made it this far...let's keep going and have MORE fun and MORE love all around!!!

[Teacher Terry]

I don't have any regrets. I have 3 great kids, 4 college degrees, work I love & now being semi-retired enjoying the best of both worlds. Would I do some things differently-sure. Focusing on the past is a waste of time. At 60 we are traveling, doing many fun things we want, etc because you never know.

[ApatheticNoMore]

But I think about my aunt. When we went out to lunch together one day several years back, she said, "I'm trying to figure out what I want to do with my life." She was 70 at the time and all I could think of was "Well, you better hurry up!"

I roll my eyes and think, well maybe you should just be ....

plus that she's probably already done something with her life. I mean I don't know maybe she just sat on the sofa and watched t.v. those entire 70 years :). But more likely if she didn't raise kids or anything she probably did some volunteering that helped some people etc.. (wait this is sounding like an 'it's a wonderful life' rerun).

Ambition is actually very tricky, since I actually tend to see both extremes of it as pathological in some sense (both glorious heights of ambitious fantasy and "little old me the nobody, who am I to expect anything from life? i'll go make myself invisible now"). If we think our talents are super unique that's one extreme and well they probably aren't, almost no one is that unique (sorry but truth). But there is realistic development of the talents one does have (and one may indeed have an aptitude for music for example etc.), in the here and now, and then there's flight into glorious fantasy. And I may not always know how to walk that line.

[razz]

I watched a Charlie Rose interview talking to David Brooks of the NY Times about living a life based on resume vs eulogy thinking. One is very different than the other potentially.

I have lived a very fulfilling life at age 71 and am planning the next 25-30 years for a fulfilling time as well. I have enough of everything but am working on getting myself out of the way and giving my thoughts, prayers and efforts to my community and family/friends. It is amazing how much there is to do.

[iris lilies]

I don' mean to sound facetious, but life is probably easier without grand ambitions.

my life goal is to keep myself entertained. I don't have lofty goals even for entertainment. I am lucky to have completed a few long held life goals. At the moment, my current goal is to grow good lilies. See? That is modest. I don't even say that I want to breed good lilies because hybridization takes a LOT more focus than I wish to give to it.

so, I just want to grow strong, tall, healthy lilies. To that end todY, I hauled 3 buckets of compost and will load up another 3 or 4 buckets of horse manure that DH came home with.

[pinkytoe]

my life goal is to keep myself entertained.
Bingo!

[CP1970]

I don't know what it would take for me to feel like I didn't waste my life. So many missed opportunities, so much waste, so much trouble. I am feeling better recently, having given up my "middle class" dreams. I am trying to spend less time at work, more time reading and painting. If I keep on this path maybe in 5 years things will seem better and I won't have so many regrets.

[TVRodriguez]

Funny you should bring this up. I think the meaning of my life is to make things better--either for myself or others, and hopefully both.

Lately, I've been feeling more and more as if I'm one of the most fortunate people I've ever known because I really do feel fulfilled in so many arenas. I love my work--I get great satisfaction and joy out of doing what I do. I Love my family--I have a fantastic (albeit not nearly perfect) husband, and I have three healthy, growing kids. I have the opportunity to spend lots of time with my family because of the choices I made in my work--mainly, not to pursue the BigLawFirm career track--and my DH having made similar choices is also able to be a hands-on parent and to spend time with me, his lovely wife. And yet, I've been able to earn enough to contribute to my family's finances in a meaningful way and to give me some choices in how I spend what I earn. And thanks to the telephone, I'm able to be in as much contact as I want with my father and siblings, even if I don't get to see them in person more than once a year. I am able to buy all the food I need and want. I have a home that is big enough for my family without being too big. DH and I managed to settle in an area that is safe but not too expensive and with no Joneses in sight. I want for nothing. I have excellent friends, who are literate, funny, and reliable. I've done some volunteering and made some donations that I know have made a large positive difference in people's lives.

As humans on this planet, I don't think we are any better than cockroaches. We are born, live, do something, and die. It's the "live" and "do something" part that we have some limited control over. I try to make choices that will not harm others, that I can live with, and that may bring some joy to myself and/or others.

[KayLR]

This has been rattling around in my head for so long and I think I finally just gave in to the notion that the answer is just very simple. I stopped one career to go back to college in my 40's and get a degree. Then the economy collapsed and there were no jobs for me. I took an office job which has been ok, but a grind and so much more has been piled on that I've given notice and am taking a pay cut to regain my sanity at a new employer I worked for before.

I've decided it doesn't make a tinker's dam difference what I "do" ambition-wise, career-wise. But my family is important. I need to be a nice, kind person for them, and my grandson who lives on the autism spectrum needs me as an advocate and friend. So that's what I'm devoting the time I have left to. Working to pay my bills and just loving my family, especially those who need it most. I wish I'd figured that out before...

All you need is love, love.....love is all you "need."

[Songbird]

I have no regrets. Life has been a great learning experience from the beginning till I get to the end. Family is the most important thing to me, and I have a wonderful family that I rather spend time with than anything else in the whole world.

[Float On]

I'm so impatient. I'm anxious to start something new in life. Waiting is hard. Convincing the DH that he wants something new too...is also hard.

[ctg492]

Thank you Catherine for posting this. I feel this way often and end with the last line you wrote, almost every day.

Each week now when I go see Dad he says the same two lines: "Geeze I had a good life" "Geeze I had a good job". I absorb that and leave thinking how nice that it. Dad worked a union job, lived in the same house since 1956, never traveled or did anything outside of taking care of his daily life with his forever wife and raising two kids.

It is now sinking in just of recent time. I am 54, I am not going to change the world, or save the world, I am (hopefully) going to get old. I have a ticker in my mind of how many good years I have left. Oh and I remind my workaholic husband often of this ticker. Only meaning active and able to do everything I do now or want to do. I have watched everyone I know and see when the slowing down happens and the progression of age.

I don't want to do much other then: Love where I am at in life. Be happy and each day. Do the things that I love and see the people I love. Yes those seem simple, but I did not reach that point till just recently. I wish I would have reached that point earlier in life, but happy I was not 80 when I reached it!

[gimmethesimplelife]

This thread has really made me think. I don't know that I ever had a road map to follow, growing up gay in what was then (and still is in some ways) a very conservative state. I felt that a lot of what other people could or would aspire to was off limits for me so I basically just did what I thought would give me more options. I don't know that I ever really had any great defining skill other than one big one - I'm very good at getting unpleasant things onto the table and getting others to look at unpleasant facts and possibly even deal with them. Not exactly the most making friends and influencing people skill to have but that's what I've got. Some of this I really believe is fate as I never believed I could EVER get married and have a serious relationship and here I am at the age of 48 doing just that. That amazes me. What do I really want to do, though? It'd definitely not waiting tables, that's for sure. In some small way I'd like to effect some positive change that will remain long after I am gone, but how to accomplish this, I don't know. I'll think this over a bit and come back.....Rob

[gimmethesimplelife]

This has been rattling around in my head for so long and I think I finally just gave in to the notion that the answer is just very simple. I stopped one career to go back to college in my 40's and get a degree. Then the economy collapsed and there were no jobs for me. I took an office job which has been ok, but a grind and so much more has been piled on that I've given notice and am taking a pay cut to regain my sanity at a new employer I worked for before.

I've decided it doesn't make a tinker's dam difference what I "do" ambition-wise, career-wise. But my family is important. I need to be a nice, kind person for them, and my grandson who lives on the autism spectrum needs me as an advocate and friend. So that's what I'm devoting the time I have left to. Working to pay my bills and just loving my family, especially those who need it most. I wish I'd figured that out before...

All you need is love, love.....love is all you "need."I find your take on this very inspiring.....thanks for the food for thought! Rob

[catherine]

Thank you, everyone. I've drawn a lot from each of your posts.

First of all, thank you for those who brought me back to earth, simple-living wise. Yes, essentially, since I've been 16 years old, my life's road map has always been the play Our Town, and I take its message to heart: "To realize life as we live it, every, every moment." That is a life well lived, no doubt about it.

And Kay, yes, I also believe "all you need is love"--so true.

And when I think about the women in my life I've admired most, it's not the ones who broke glass ceilings or got elected. The women I admire most ARE my Aunt Nancy and my MIL, who navigated their lives with grace and class. Also, my great-aunt Florence who shared laughs with me at her summer cottage, and Mrs. Bakunas, who was generous with the output of her sewing machine--to her kids, to me, and to her daughter's dolls. And my mother, who had nothing--literally nothing except one box of stuff--but who left me a legacy of constant cheer and unconditional love.

I do get it. Those are the people I would hope to be like. So, I really liked what you had to say, ANM--it is kind of a "wonderful life" kind of issue. We don't know what we are leaving behind, and sometimes we don't get to live out our youthful ambitions, (Yes, ambition IS tricky) but that's not what's important in the long run anyway.

I have always felt, though, that life is like a candy store! (I really love the quote: "Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death.") I wish I had nine lives. I agree with TVRodriquez in that we're here to help each other along. I see so many opportunities for that and I just want to grab them all.

I still want to get more involved in the permaculture lifestyle--not necessarily farming--I'll leave that to iris lilies and her DH and to Gardenarian, CathyA and Gregg, etc. But really more the whole idea of moving towards a "new story" of interdependence. I still want to start a worker co-op. I still want to explore the world in a more hands-on way. Sometimes I feel my job gets in the way too much. And I question my choice to service my considerable debt rather than just sell it all, pay off the debt, and start at Square One, but DH is against that.

And speaking of my job, I really, really don't want to give the impression I'm not grateful to have it!! I'm extraordinarily lucky and grateful to have it, and truth be told, I have fun at it. I love taking information and making it useful. No, I'm not ready give up my job.

CP, I have a lot of regrets, too, with regard to how foolishly I used/spent/gave away my "life energy" (my money). I shudder thinking back on what I would have if I had paid more attention (and listened to Dave Ramsey's advice). But no matter, I'm sure I learned something from it (albeit very expensive lessons for sure), and it's OK because I have everything I need, and much more.

[SteveinMN]

All you need is love, love.....love is all you "need."
I was reading an article yesterday about Demi Moore selling her penthouse apartment in NYC. It's on the market for $75 million (!). And I must admit that I spent a moment or two wondering what it would be like to sell a $75 million apartment because "I don't use it enough". And wondering which of life's myriad choices made led me away from a life in which I could end up owning a $75 million penthouse among other homes. And then back to reality.

The reality is, I love my life right now. I didn't choose well for my first marriage, but I sure did for my second. I live a comfortable middle-class life with a lot of security (where I live, the money I have to spend). Between DW and myself, we believe we are well-prepared for retirement. Yes, there are house chores I don't particularly like, but I remind myself then that they still provide more of a sense of accomplishment than my work did.

And I get to walk my talk. I truly believe we are here on Earth to learn more about who we are and -- having satisfied that curiosity in this life -- can depart at will for the next adventure. In the meantime, we are here for each other. I like Kay's statement that all we need is love. It's why I have such a hard time identifying with people who believe life is (or should be) nasty, brutish, and short. DW seems to agree. She was concerned when I quit work/retired that I might be one of those guys whose whole life was tied up in his day job. But it's not how I describe myself or even how I think of myself. There are IMHO better descriptors of me than "photographer" or "test engineer". And those better descriptors are the ones I use and against which I evaluate what I do every day.

[Zoe Girl]

i think i really feel for those older women, even with more to do i feel that there are more opportunities for women (and others who have been held back) to do things they really want to. if i had been effectively blocked from some of my dreams just because of gender i think that would affect me deeply. i study with a buddhist nun and there is still a block to full ordination of women in some traditions! it is 2015 which is crazy. it increases my gratitude to live in this time.

And as someone who earns a lower income it feels really good to hear that people appreciate their higher incomes, even solid middle class.

[Kestra]

This thread really speaks to me as I recently left my corporate job and my marriage in order to live closer to my ideal life. I gave up all the usual things like my double-income "rich" household, most of my possessions, my steady paycheque, and now I'm doing whatever I want whenever I want. I definitely agree with the sentiment about keeping myself entertained. And I also want to help people - with my business plan, with my volunteering, and just by being a nice person, networking, and helping out friends and others as it comes up. Do I always know what the right thing to do is? No. But at least I'm no longer being strangled by the noose of normalcy. I'm living more authentically than I have in years.

[iris lilies]

This thread really speaks to me as I recently left my corporate job and my marriage in order to live closer to my ideal life. I gave up all the usual things like my double-income "rich" household, most of my possessions, my steady paycheque, and now I'm doing whatever I want whenever I want. I definitely agree with the sentiment about keeping myself entertained. And I also want to help people - with my business plan, with my volunteering, and just by being a nice person, networking, and helping out friends and others as it comes up. Do I always know what the right thing to do is? No. But at least I'm no longer being strangled by the noose of normalcy. I'm living more authentically than I have in years.

that's it, living authentically, that is the real deal about life's goal. We have to find our authentic selves and then figure out how to set up our lives so that we support our "authentic self."

"Authentic self" is another name for Maslow's "self actualized."

[TVRodriguez]

DH read me a quote when we first met that said something like:

With anything you might do, you have 4 choices:
1. Do it, and enjoy doing it.
2. Do it, and don't enjoy doing it.
3. Don't do it, and enjoy not doing it.
4. Don't do it, and don't enjoy not doing it.

Basically that it's up to us to decide how to experience something.

[iris lilies]

I watched a Charlie Rose interview talking to David Brooks of the NY Times about living a life based on resume vs eulogy thinking. One is very different than the other potentially.

I have lived a very fulfilling life at age 71 and am planning the next 25-30 years for a fulfilling time as well. I have enough of everything but am working on getting myself out of the way and giving my thoughts, prayers and efforts to my community and family/friends. It is amazing how much there is to do.
I like David brooks and I think he has a new book out. Probably that is why he was going the talk show circuit.

[Gardenarian]

Catherine, I get these existential crises on a regular basis. I thought by now I would be a well-respected novelist and director of a library. Instead, I've written 3 very bad novels and work part-time. I guess you could look at it and say I traded my career for raising my daughter, but the truth is that I think I'm an okay writer but will never be fabulous, and I discovered that I have no interest in administration and management. But one can't live solely through their kids.

So at 57, what are my dreams for the future? Not entertaining myself, though maybe that's just a matter of semantics - but challenging myself. Becoming stronger physically, emotionally, socially. Overcoming fears and taking on real adventures. Challenging myself intellectually, through lectures, theater, reading, and classes. Trying to do something to halt the destruction of the Earth. Discovering my spiritual path.

In more concrete terms, I recently put in a large garden. LOTS of digging and earth moving. A few years ago I would have been on the floor with back pain, and exhausted before an hour was out. Now I can be out there working all day and feel great, because I exercise has made me stronger.

Another: After I lost most of my hearing I was afraid to walk into a room with new people - a couple of years later I traveled with my dd to foreign countries. Always challenging myself gives me a real sense of achievement. I am actually more comfortable socially now than I was before my hearing loss (though still prefer solitude or family.)

As RLS said, “Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” I'm planting lots of seeds for the future.

[catherine]

Gardenarian, I could have written that post but you did it so much better. Thank you.

[Zoe Girl]

DH read me a quote when we first met that said something like:

With anything you might do, you have 4 choices:
1. Do it, and enjoy doing it.
2. Do it, and don't enjoy doing it.
3. Don't do it, and enjoy not doing it.
4. Don't do it, and don't enjoy not doing it.

Basically that it's up to us to decide how to experience something.

yeah, i decided to be happy in looking towards more earning and not so much writing novels. there isn't the perfect work anyway, i had to just change my focus, not saying that was easy for the artsy idealistic type, but it is possible to put one priority (earning) above the perfect job. (i am not to having the earnings yet but on my way)

[Teacher Terry]

I have really enjoyed reading everyone's comments. As long as we are alive we have the chance to change the direction our lives are going if we want to. We have always helped people our whole lives & continue to do so. I chose badly my first 2 marriages but got it right this time. However, I don't waste time regretting that because that is where my 3 boys come from. Now we are focusing on having more fun. Taking more vacations, going out more etc to activities that we love. We are spending more now instead of being so frugal. We want to enjoy ourselves while we can. This age is interesting because for the very first time I realize that one of both of us could die. Look at the obits & plenty of people die in their 50's-60's. On that cheery note we are both in good health but you never know.

[TVRodriguez]

As long as we are alive we have the chance to change the direction our lives are going if we want to.

Yes! I have a quote by Longfellow that I keep where I can see it that reads:

"Nothing is too late Til the tired heart shall cease to palpitate."

[Teacher Terry]

I always hate it when people get mad & leave the forum. The more people with different opinions the better! If we were all the same it would be very boring.

[lhamo]

I'm dealing with these kinds of feelings/issues a lot at the moment as I just quit my job after a very long, painful process that dragged out nearly two years. I applied to be Director of our office and learned about a year ago that they wouldn't be offering me the position. The whole story is in my journal over on the MMM forums if anyone is interested. Anyhoo, I quit on Thursday, and while it felt good (still feels good) I am starting to get those "what now" thoughts. I'm fortunate to be in the position of not having to work for at least the next year, and maybe indefinitely, but I also know I don't want to just sit around and eat bonbons. Getting back into good physical/mental health is my first priority. Supporting my son in his academic program is also of top importance, as is figuring out how to maintain a strong relationship with my DH and DD while they are an ocean away (DS and I will be returning to Seattle, DH and DD staying in China for at least another year). I have an idea for a blog/small business that I might develop. Yesterday I also started thinking about trying to develop some projects related to something I used to work on in my old organization -- that might actually turn into a whole non-profit organization with a unique focus (at least I think it is unique -- need to do some research to make sure others aren't already doing it). And I'm also toying with the idea of a big writing project or two.

I think I have enough opportunities/projects that I won't be bored/depressed as I enter into this new stage of my life -- at least I hope so! But it is going to be hard to adjust to not having a paycheck every two weeks, even if I know we are fine financially without it.

[iris lilies]

I'm dealing with these kinds of feelings/issues a lot at the moment as I just quit my job after a very long, painful process that dragged out nearly two years. I applied to be Director of our office and learned about a year ago that they wouldn't be offering me the position. The whole story is in my journal over on the MMM forums if anyone is interested. Anyhoo, I quit on Thursday, and while it felt good (still feels good) I am starting to get those "what now" thoughts. I'm fortunate to be in the position of not having to work for at least the next year, and maybe indefinitely, but I also know I don't want to just sit around and eat bonbons. Getting back into good physical/mental health is my first priority. Supporting my son in his academic program is also of top importance, as is figuring out how to maintain a strong relationship with my DH and DD while they are an ocean away (DS and I will be returning to Seattle, DH and DD staying in China for at least another year). I have an idea for a blog/small business that I might develop. Yesterday I also started thinking about trying to develop some projects related to something I used to work on in my old organization -- that might actually turn into a whole non-profit organization with a unique focus (at least I think it is unique -- need to do some research to make sure others aren't already doing it). And I'm also toying with the idea of a big writing project or two.

I think I have enough opportunities/projects that I won't be bored/depressed as I enter into this new stage of my life -- at least I hope so! But it is going to be hard to adjust to not having a paycheck every two weeks, even if I know we are fine financially without it.

Glad to hear that you cut that cord! Now, on to a new life adventure!

[gimmethesimplelife]

I'm dealing with these kinds of feelings/issues a lot at the moment as I just quit my job after a very long, painful process that dragged out nearly two years. I applied to be Director of our office and learned about a year ago that they wouldn't be offering me the position. The whole story is in my journal over on the MMM forums if anyone is interested. Anyhoo, I quit on Thursday, and while it felt good (still feels good) I am starting to get those "what now" thoughts. I'm fortunate to be in the position of not having to work for at least the next year, and maybe indefinitely, but I also know I don't want to just sit around and eat bonbons. Getting back into good physical/mental health is my first priority. Supporting my son in his academic program is also of top importance, as is figuring out how to maintain a strong relationship with my DH and DD while they are an ocean away (DS and I will be returning to Seattle, DH and DD staying in China for at least another year). I have an idea for a blog/small business that I might develop. Yesterday I also started thinking about trying to develop some projects related to something I used to work on in my old organization -- that might actually turn into a whole non-profit organization with a unique focus (at least I think it is unique -- need to do some research to make sure others aren't already doing it). And I'm also toying with the idea of a big writing project or two.

I think I have enough opportunities/projects that I won't be bored/depressed as I enter into this new stage of my life -- at least I hope so! But it is going to be hard to adjust to not having a paycheck every two weeks, even if I know we are fine financially without it.Just wanted to say I wish you the best Lhamo with this new stage of your life. It sure sounds like you have your priorities in order. China's loss is Seattle's gain. Rob

[rosarugosa]

Wow, drastic changes, Lhamo, good for you! I hope everything falls into place. Please keep us updated!

[razz]

Wow, drastic changes, Lhamo, good for you! I hope everything falls into place. Please keep us updated!

I second those thoughts.

[catherine]

I second those thoughts.

Me too!!! Wow, thanks for the update, lhamo! Enjoy your adventure!

[Zoe Girl]

hi lhamo, i understand the fear, the lack of automatic structure (even structure that was causing a lot of stress) can be unsettling. i think all of your ideas are great, deciding and keeping the focuses at least a challenge for me at least. there are so many non-profits right now, great work and a challenge to get funding. i would love to learn more as you get into the process since i am still only a couple years into this field.

i am so happy that this discussion has been one where people are comfortable being honest and no one is being cranky!

[TVRodriguez]

Adding my congratulations to the list of them, lhamo! Very exciting changes. Lots of opportunities.

[Gardenarian]

Welcome back to the PNW, Lhamo! Sounds like exciting times ahead.