Seniv Petro – Freepik
“None of us are getting out of here alive, so please stop treating yourself like an after thought. Eat the delicious food. Walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean. Say the truth you’re carrying in your heart like hidden treasure. Be silly. Be kind. Be weird. There’s no time for anything else.”
― Nanea Hoffman. Sweatpants and Coffee LLC
I love the wisdom of this woman. Her quotes and her drawings really resonate with me, making me nod in agreement, open my mouth in an “Ah hah!” moment, smile with recognition, identify with a kindred soul, and much more. What a wise, delightful woman she is!
This quote describes my life since shortly before we left the States to move to Thailand to be close to our son. I previously spent SO much time missing him. He was SO far away in Thailand. Too far to ask him to come home just for a visit. I was grateful that he was such a good communicator. We used a chat program he set up for us that was secure and we could reach each other quickly, with both of us being conscientious about checking for messages. If we got particularly lonely, we had another program similar to FaceTime, where we could visit in real time, seeing each other. I lived for those times, loving to see him smile, trying to make him laugh.
Now I see him several times each day. We tease each other unmercifully about various things, having inside jokes where we both start laughing with just a look, being able to hold hands when we walk somewhere, sharing meals every day, visiting my husband in the nursing home 3 times a week, giving each other strength when we need it.
I have shed most of our possessions of the last 40 or so years. We could only bring one suitcase each and a backpack when we moved. With the shedding of ‘things,’ I also shed ideas, plans, and lifestyle in the move. Our plans for a future of shared retirement flew out the window with my husband’s stroke 2 weeks after we moved and his subsequent move from the hospital to a nursing home we found. Now our priority is to make sure he knows he is loved in every way we can, make sure he is as calm and comfortable as possible, and make sure he is getting the best care we can provide. All else fades.
I am learning to embrace my new life here in Thailand. I’m making some new friends, learning the customs of the Thai people, slowing learning a few key phrases, learning how to get around, eating new foods, and more. To move from a town of 9000 to a city of 1.2 MILLION is quite a change! New priorities for me personally are to finally get to a weight I want to maintain, be as healthy and strong as possible, and to enjoy the life I have here to the fullest. I am finally less worried about the 4 lbs I have left to lose. No one cares but ME whether I ever get to my goal or not. In the meantime, I’m watching my portions, but I’m no longer putting off drinking the cold chocolate drinks I absolutely love or my iced mochas in the afternoon. When someone wants to eat something not previously on my list, I smile and enjoy every bite, including the pastries my son brought for us to share on my birthday.
I’m trying to reach out to the people who mean something to me and TELL THEM how special they are and how rich my life is because of their presence. It doesn’t matter if they are here in Thailand, across the world in the States, on the Internet – I want them to know how I feel.
I don’t worry about looking silly, being old, looking very similar to a Shar Pei dog with all the wrinkles on top of wrinkles. I embrace the fact that there are now stores I can walk into and find things I can wear for the first time in two years or more! I fill my days with things I love, many times with a big grin across my face. I am retired. I no longer do what I don’t want to do – other than things I might end up in the slammer for…
I’m enjoying being spoiled here. I have massages, have a housekeeper, take my clothes to the laundry, my son orders meals for us delivered here and all I have to do is go up and share them. I get haircuts, mani/pedis, and Brian will take me shopping to find things I need or things that are fun to put in my place. I love my life now, living by myself for the first time EVER. Nanea’s quote describes my new life perfectly. I hope more people take her wise advice.
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