I recently watched a YouTube video about things you don’t have to worry about after age 50.  The premise was that as you get older, things keep getting better and better.  Since watching that video I have thought long and hard about what was said and have come to the conclusion that it was mostly fluff.  To universally imply that things get better and better is simply not true.  I say this because as we experience life, there will be good days and bad days.  Over time, some things get better but some things get worse.  That is the reality of our human condition and to try to convince you otherwise will only make you feel bad.

Even though I wanted to call BS on the video, the takeaway was that periodically we all need to identify those things that should be set aside because they drag us down and prevent us from having that better life we strive for.  So that is what I did.

It is my hope that this article will motivate you to come up with your own list.

Have you ever been on the receiving end of someone telling you that they crave more me time?  Or has the someone been you?  How did you feel afterward?  Selfish and guilty?  Sorry for all the questions, but speaking from experience, we are trained to consider me-time, also referred to as alone time, a luxury to be indulged only when every single task and chore on our to-do list has been completed.

To that, I say phooey.  Everyone needs some time to spend in the quiet solitude of their own thoughts, doing things they care about with out suffering the judgment of others.  To that end, here are some of the benefits of setting time aside each day for “me time”.

One of the toughest things to do after experiencing a life changing event is to get back in touch with your true identity.  Speaking from experience, this is easier said than done.  Why? Because for most of us, our identity becomes wrapped up in our careers, family, and social circle.  With so many opportunities to be on stage, it becomes uncomfortable to break down the rock star façade and feel worthy just for being ourselves.

A short time into retirement, I am feeling this pain and am trying to fix it by altering my work-centric mindset.  Self-worth is not tied to a job, popularity, or to being the greatest wife or parent on the planet.  If you struggle with this like I do, here are some reminders that your self-esteem is not what you have done but who you are.

In the journey of life, I have learned that perfection is an elusive rat hole that is unachievable.  It has taken retirement to bring me to this realization.  Without deadlines, there comes a clarity of spirit and mind.  Who would have thought it?  After due consideration, here are some of the simple strategies I have embraced to let go of perfection.

In case you have not noticed, July 11th is Amazon Prime Day and offers and deals are coming out of the yin-yang?  It seems that every blogger on the planet will be promoting this day of deals.  Me?  I want you to see the trees beyond the forest and get something for free with no strings attached. For two days, my eBook, Prepper’s Guide to Food Storage, will be free for everyone. Offer good July 11th and 12th.