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A to Z Challenge: Day Twenty – “T”

Retirement Reflections

‘T’ is for Time-out.

Perhaps combining increased adventures, including two trips away, with blogging tirelessly for twenty-six days, wasn’t well thought out. Top that off with continuing my Sunday Guest Posts, has given me twenty-eight straight days of…toil!

Today has been scheduled as a ‘take ten’ (hours not minutes). I am sitting in front of my fireplace, with pajamas on and a pot of tea. If my plan continues to take hold, you will find me in this exact same spot all day…and well into the twilight.

What is your top way to treat yourself to a time-out?

time-out

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Published by Retirement Reflections

Prior to retirement, I lived and worked in Beijing China for fourteen years (Middle School Principal/Deputy Director at The Western Academy of Beijing). Leaving international life behind, my husband and I retired to Vancouver Island in June 2015. To document both this transition and our new adventures, ‘Retirement Reflections’ was born. I hope that you enjoy reading these reflections, and will be willing to share your own.

51 thoughts on “A to Z Challenge: Day Twenty – “T””

  1. Hi Donna,
    I kind of wondered how you managed to do all of the travel and the blogging on top of just regular life routines. Glad you are taking a well deserved time out!

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    1. HI, Fran – I greatly appreciate you noticing. Even though I have tried to hide it from those around me, it has been a bit insane most of the time. I have typically resorted to blogging in the early hour after everyone else has gone to bed, or before anyone else has woken up. Six more days to go. What doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger!

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  3. You’ve been very busy. Enjoy your little break! Mark and I sat on a bench in the garden yesterday, feeling the sunshine on our faces, blocked by the wind. We contemplated life, and actually smiled. In the evening, all hell broke loose again. Wish we’d get a break one of these days!

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    1. HI, LIesbet – I am pleased that you and Mark had a chance to rest, and laugh. I am so sorry to hear that life became difficult right after that. I agree that you both deserve a break. Sending warm, positive vibes your way!

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  4. I am right there with ya! My favourite time out is just that with a good book! Of course a little 😴 comes along with it. Enjoy your well deserved day😉

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  5. No time for time-out this side of the pond. I’m toiling away – favourite thing to do is to have a good book … when o when? I like that look of the chess set …

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    1. Hi, Susan – Thanks for noticing the chess set. It is one of the pieces that I inherited from my family. Neither Richard or I actually play chess….but it is on our bucket list of plans!
      Wishing you a well-deserved break from toil!

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  6. My time out includes either a good book or a good Netflix series, recliner, and my water bottle (so I can hydrate while I relax). Doesn’t happen often enough.

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  7. I think you well and truly deserve a time-out Donna – how you manage to fit everything in just baffles me. I’m plugging away at comments and planning my May posts – goodness knows what I’d do if I was travelling and doing the AtoZ day to day!

    Leanne | http://www.crestingthehill.com.au
    T for Take Control

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    1. Hi, Leanne – My ‘A to Z plan’ was definitely short sighted. Yet there are bloggers out there who are working either part or full time and they still produce wonderful posts for this challenge (like you)! After Monday, I will be looking for a bit of a blogging break…but I do have three Guest Posts to write! 🙂

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  8. I’m glad you are giving yourself a bit of a rest. You are in the home stretch now with just a few letters left. I can’t imagine blogging every day like you have – on vacation or not. We are just finishing up a week away and just staying up on all the blogs I follow has been a lot.

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  9. Hi, Janis – Welcome home! I agree that being able to read all of the blogs that we love while traveling can be a challenge. Adding to that the commitment to write and publish my own posts daily was a bit silly! 🙂

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    1. Hi, Jill – I love curling up with a good book too. Especially one that I don’t need to read (think book club). Although I am retired and in control of my time, pure leisure reading still feels like a sinful luxury!

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  12. My first thought was I wonder if she is wearing flannelette pyjamas 🙂 If I had any PJs, I would have a day like you had, though it would be comfy clothes and coffee! Hope you enjoyed your break, we all need one on a regular basis!

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    1. HI, Suz – Thank you so much for stopping by. Funny about the flannelette. 🙂 Luckily my pjs are heat resistance cotton. Comfy clothes and coffee would work well too. I agree that we all need a break every now and then!

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  13. Hi – Loving your literary fun with letters. It made me recall a book hubby had a few years back (no, I did not read but he enjoyed it). Eunoia is an anthology of univocalics by Canadian poet Christian Bök with each chapter is written using words limited to a single vowel.

    Anyway, yesterday the weather was warm (finally) and the sun came out (finally) and I spent half the day in the garden…and the other half the day groaning on the couch curled up with my crossword puzzle book. Not quite the take time for yourself I had imaged. Even called “leftovers for dinner”.

    I’ve got “learn to play chess” on my bucket list as well! Wish we lived closer we could learn together!

    Onto uvwxyz!

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    1. Ahhh, you did need to remind me about uvwxyz. Nothing like saving the hardest for last!
      I need to look up Chrisian Bok’s poetry. It sounds like something that I would like.
      And I would love if we lived closer to each other. Even an IRL catch-up would be lovely!

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  15. I had the flu this past week so have spent lots of days at home. Just not leaving the house for any commitments, even fun ones, is my idea of a great time out.
    We’ll make it, Donna, no doubt about it. Almost down to one hand’s worth of posts and everyone knows that when it gets there, anything is achievable.

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  16. Hi, Karen – I am sorry to hear that you have not been well. I hope that you are feeling better soon. It is a great thing that you started writing your posts ahead of time. I hadn’t built in a contingency plan in any way….other than I was prepared to break the rules (post only photos or post late/not at all) if need be! Almost there!!

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  17. Good for you, Donna. And what a lovely sanctuary it is! I relish a day when I don’t have to leave the house and I rotate between the swivel rocker in my family room where I can sit and read and look up at the woods and the leather chair in my living room next to the gas ‘wood’ stove. Cups of coffee and tea and an occasional trip to the bathroom. Bliss! Oh, and no bra, too, of course.

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  20. Hi Donna, I hope your time out plan took hold well into the twilight so you’ll feel more rested tomorrow. The end to the A to Z Challenge is near. Take care!

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  22. I think you deserve some time off, it’s been a huge month fr you in so many ways. You’re totally rocking this challenge though I must say. You are Tops! I’d love to join you for some tea 🙂

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  23. The AtoZ is a tough challenge, and as the end approaches, it’s pure endurance and mental tenacity to the finish line 🙂
    Taking Ten sounds like the perfect solution! You’re almost there!

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    1. Thanks, Joanne – I greatly appreciate your understanding. It is a much tougher challenge (on so many different levels) than I thought it would be. But there has also been some incredible highlights. Six posts to go (and one of those I will be writing very shortly)!

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  24. When I want to treat myself to a time out, I have a “home” day that may or may not involve getting out of my pyjamas. The day will start slow with coffee in bed while listening to the radio and reading. (Truth be told, that’s how most mornings start!) The balance of the day is filled with puttering – tidying my living spaces, baking cookies/muffins or chopping for a pot of soup while listening to some good music. I indulge in some tv time whether it be home & garden/food tv or a light movie. Weather permitting, time outside for a walk. My battery also gets charged with good food, water/tea and more reading within reach. A daily commitment like your blog begs for time off. If I can’t take time out in a week, I aim for little snippets of time out in a day.

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  26. Sitting down to watch a favourite TV show, glass of red wine, and chocolate covered honeycomb to hand.
    You’re doing a splendid job, Donna. There’s no way I could have published a blog post for 23 days on the trot. The finishing line is in sight.

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