If you’re not (yet) a member of Medium, use these Friend Links for free access:

This helping element is new to me — I didn't have time to do voluntary work when I was busy working and raising our family. Of course, having no time to help was just an illusion. I did donate some money but didn’t put my heart on the line. Now this feels in my heart and bones, and I notice that Helping helps the helper, too.

Strength and peace to all of you at your Work. Remember that being constantly busy is not your destiny. Find your lightened or enlightened approach to your Work right now, regardless of your age!

Put Life before Work. Respect your people, and be humble. Remember you are also being led. If you need to recover from work only to be able to continue it as you did before, there is something wrong with your work, or the way you do it. Find a softer way to live and work.

I’m 65 and retired. I’m ashamed of the state of the world we’re leaving to the younger generations. I feel globally embarrassed. I’m apologizing for the current state of affairs. Lao Tsu is a greater man and suggests a shift in mindset in Verse 13.: Surrender yourself and love the world.

Now that I'm not so busy anymore, I have more time to observe what's happening inside my mind. I noticed that I'm still automatically planning ahead and trying to be efficient and fast. My father's stroke stopped me, and I realised I have a master teacher living next door, showing me what Presence in the Now means.

Since I have recently retired, I have been paying more attention to my mind. Am I slowing down, becoming more serene? Is my relation to Time changing? I chose an example: I have a long-term practice of Gym training. I think the way I exercise is changing. I call my new training style No Agenda Gym.

I tell you a story of an ordinary day on my retirement journey. It shows I’m still a rookie — it’s not a surprise, I started on Jan 1st. But I’m learning, with the help of my family. This time it was my 87-year-old father who gave me a lesson.

Being in the Now equals traveling on your natural path. You don’t travel along your Path. The Path travels You.

I found a random note written by me a long time ago. From the busy and stressed guy on October 27th, 2017, to the hopefully relaxed guy retiring, perhaps 2023–24.

Here we go. I’m trying to figure out what I want to get rid of (how have I lived and worked; retiring from), and where I want to go (how will I live from now on; retiring to).

This story was written on September 2023. I planned to start the Logbook before I retired, to prepare my process carefully - but I was so busy working that I my first notations appeared on January 1st, 2024. I plan to publish weekly reflections starting very soon, wait and see...