Yes yes yes. Brilliantly written and shared. I will just tell you that not working is the singlest greatest job I have ever had. Seriously. In every way. From rediscovery, to redressing!! I have never felt more powerful than now. And when I think about being seen or heard...well it is up to me who I need to be seen and heard by. Work was a great laboratory experiment in so many ways. Phase II, as I like to call it, it even better. You are a force of nature my dear. And you now can do it completely your way. xxoo
Debra Your words are perfect. And tho at the moment I am working, I have no issue when I’m not. There is so much of me to do. And sometimes it’s lonely and hard and I feel a little lost but then I realize maybe it’s just uncomfortable because for so long all we knew was work. Thank you. Thank you.
Wow, Debi - I LOVE the way you see this and the way you're doing Phase II! Thank you for your insight - it's really helpful and I'm going to think about it. Maybe I can take you to lunch one day so you can impart your thinking to me. xx
I am joining the club of corporate job-less soon and the concept of ‘time’ is freaking me out. As is the question I will soon be asked - so what do you do? So I also started writing on substack… MUST-BE-PRODUCTIVE-ALLWAYS. Tx for sharing the pain.
I just read your post about Marielle. I love it and can't wait for more.
You're right about my story - it is pain I shared. Others have been about joy and sisterhood. Like you, I feel a world of gratitude to those I've been lucky enough to work and become friends with.
Love it! I adopted my dad's philosophy. He told my sisters and I that you never retire. After 30 years in the Navy, he was close to that age and answering, our frustrating question about sailing into the chillax era. "Guys, you never retire. Get that out of your head, you find something else to do." :-) From where I sit, you have lots of awesome choices!
Yup, thank you for expressing my pain so beautifully. From dressing this time of year to senior working. I'm older than you but still freelancing a bit. However, a home office has no need for my stuffed closet of perfectly in style expensive work clothes. And lost is the empowerment of a title and nice office in an agency. Kind of feel like I'm drifting. You are so not alone!
Thank you, Howard. I had you in my head as I stripped words away here and there, and have continued stripping (words, not clothes!) On Substack, you can keep editing after you've published - both a joy and a curse.
"Work made me feel powerful. And wanted. And needed.
. This other thing makes me feel naked."... sigh~**** raw as an oyster...
I want hava dozen more pls, already!! Extra Lemon?? Thx fer dressing us from the top down , AL FRESCO...on the nude beach of life's next conquest... working less & enjoying more... Sandy Hook this way?? xoxoxoxo
"Raw as an oyster" - Ellie - you're such a poet. Here's to working less and enjoying more and always, more oysters - with as much lemon as you want. xx
You are not AT ALL alone-in-this or a weirdo! I’m right there with you and feel so validated by everything you’re feeling and conveyed so brilliantly, as always. I hope you (and I) learn to cherish this time in our lives. Life seems to always be in a state of flux but good to be reminded of what’s most important and on Emily’s shirt (which I’m now coveting.) Thank you for continuing to share your stories with such openness, honesty and vulnerability. ❤️
Once again you've struck a chord in my head! What are we when we aren't our career? Thank you for articulating the crazy, hopeful, frightened thoughts running thru my mind. Onward!
You know the old Yiddish aphorism that translates as “You can live but they won’t let you?” I’d love to work, but evidently at my age they won’t let me.
It’s not my feeling. It’s theirs. My bleary eyes can still see well enough to guide my trembling fingers on my laptop, but no one is interested in having me do it. I’m not much on fashion, but evidently gray doesn’t go well with anything.
Yes yes yes. Brilliantly written and shared. I will just tell you that not working is the singlest greatest job I have ever had. Seriously. In every way. From rediscovery, to redressing!! I have never felt more powerful than now. And when I think about being seen or heard...well it is up to me who I need to be seen and heard by. Work was a great laboratory experiment in so many ways. Phase II, as I like to call it, it even better. You are a force of nature my dear. And you now can do it completely your way. xxoo
Debra Your words are perfect. And tho at the moment I am working, I have no issue when I’m not. There is so much of me to do. And sometimes it’s lonely and hard and I feel a little lost but then I realize maybe it’s just uncomfortable because for so long all we knew was work. Thank you. Thank you.
Wow, Debi - I LOVE the way you see this and the way you're doing Phase II! Thank you for your insight - it's really helpful and I'm going to think about it. Maybe I can take you to lunch one day so you can impart your thinking to me. xx
Debra,
I LOVE this for SO MANY reasons!
Your writing is just amazing.
I hate the word retirement. Can you please come up with a new one!
I invite you to my studio to hang out and see what life after advertising can be like.
XOC!
Thank you so much, Carol! I'd love to come to your studio!
So spot on. All of it. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Cathy.
So true. The part about the cardigan getting retired hit me right in the heart.
Oh, thank you, Karen. A true compliment coming from one whose writing hits me straight in the heart time after time.
Deb, this hit close to home, really resonates with me. I loved the way you wove this together. Fantastic. ❤️
Thank you, Karen. I'm sure it resonates in all kinds of ways... we're in this together!
Love this! And love that dress for Lisbon streets - wear it with flats, why not? More joy. 💚
Thank you so much. And you're right - why not give the Lisbon dress a shot with low shoes?
I am joining the club of corporate job-less soon and the concept of ‘time’ is freaking me out. As is the question I will soon be asked - so what do you do? So I also started writing on substack… MUST-BE-PRODUCTIVE-ALLWAYS. Tx for sharing the pain.
I just read your post about Marielle. I love it and can't wait for more.
You're right about my story - it is pain I shared. Others have been about joy and sisterhood. Like you, I feel a world of gratitude to those I've been lucky enough to work and become friends with.
Love it! I adopted my dad's philosophy. He told my sisters and I that you never retire. After 30 years in the Navy, he was close to that age and answering, our frustrating question about sailing into the chillax era. "Guys, you never retire. Get that out of your head, you find something else to do." :-) From where I sit, you have lots of awesome choices!
Thank you so much, Rocky!
As always, your writing exquisitely expresses a thing we feel but can't quite put our finger on. FWIW - I thought ALL of the outfits were perfect.
Thank you so much, Joan! As for your comment about the outfits.... it's worth everything! xx
Yup, thank you for expressing my pain so beautifully. From dressing this time of year to senior working. I'm older than you but still freelancing a bit. However, a home office has no need for my stuffed closet of perfectly in style expensive work clothes. And lost is the empowerment of a title and nice office in an agency. Kind of feel like I'm drifting. You are so not alone!
Thank you, Sheri. I so appreciate that - you're not alone either.
Another beauty -- ! Funny with charm drippeth over! Yours is the chord that makes the whole world sing. H
Thank you, Howard. I had you in my head as I stripped words away here and there, and have continued stripping (words, not clothes!) On Substack, you can keep editing after you've published - both a joy and a curse.
You nailed it.
Wow - thank you, Don.
"Work made me feel powerful. And wanted. And needed.
. This other thing makes me feel naked."... sigh~**** raw as an oyster...
I want hava dozen more pls, already!! Extra Lemon?? Thx fer dressing us from the top down , AL FRESCO...on the nude beach of life's next conquest... working less & enjoying more... Sandy Hook this way?? xoxoxoxo
"Raw as an oyster" - Ellie - you're such a poet. Here's to working less and enjoying more and always, more oysters - with as much lemon as you want. xx
You are not AT ALL alone-in-this or a weirdo! I’m right there with you and feel so validated by everything you’re feeling and conveyed so brilliantly, as always. I hope you (and I) learn to cherish this time in our lives. Life seems to always be in a state of flux but good to be reminded of what’s most important and on Emily’s shirt (which I’m now coveting.) Thank you for continuing to share your stories with such openness, honesty and vulnerability. ❤️
Thank you so much, Natalie - that's beautifully said. You're right - life always does seem to be in a state of flux. Here's to more joy. xx
Once again you've struck a chord in my head! What are we when we aren't our career? Thank you for articulating the crazy, hopeful, frightened thoughts running thru my mind. Onward!
Thank you so much, Kate! Yes, yes, onward! xx
You know the old Yiddish aphorism that translates as “You can live but they won’t let you?” I’d love to work, but evidently at my age they won’t let me.
Hmm. I've never had that feeling - I feel young and relevant and have always felt that others see me that way too. But for the first time, I wonder.
It’s not my feeling. It’s theirs. My bleary eyes can still see well enough to guide my trembling fingers on my laptop, but no one is interested in having me do it. I’m not much on fashion, but evidently gray doesn’t go well with anything.