I have talked here about liminal points, key points of transition in my life. Typically, I see those points in the review mirror after the fact. Times like going to university. Getting Pregnant. Getting Married. Buying our first house. Having 3 kids. As well as numerous milestones and liminal points along the way.
I am currently aware of being in the middle of a liminal point. Kind of like being in the eye of the hurricane. I am making numerous realizations in real time as I prepare to retire from government and move on to whatever comes next. Some of the realizations that I have made include:
- I never really wanted to work for government, in fact I was vehemently against it as I watched my dad work for government over the years. That said, I see colleagues now that have chosen this career specifically and trained for it and are willing to go the extra mile for what they are searching for in Government.
- I worked hard in Government for 25 years and went above and beyond for most of my career. Things are getting stale now and that is natural.
- I am seeing signs everywhere that it is time to go including all of my network contacts over the years being retired, moving on or dying. This includes Gordon Cobb who passed away recently while still working for ACOA.
- For years I was focused on money. While money is important, I am now realizing that it is time to slow down a bit and enjoy the fruits of our labours. Cheryl is actively pursuing here Masters in Island studies which has many potential travel opportunities. The kids have moved out and are doing ok on their own. The amount of money that we need to get by has decreased significantly, so I can now slow down and "do what feels right" as opposed to "Doing what pays the bills". I may or may not work somewhere else, but if I do, I hope it is fun.
- More to follow as my official retirement date is tentatively March 17, 2025, although I am technically off work now.
