I did it! I have achieved getting to my Quiet Era and have really embraced it. For my longtime Readers, you can sense the build up to this in my posts if you really paid attention (not that any of you weren’t!). But even going back and reading them myself, I FEEL the inevitable while I was writing about my breaks and changes. Also, I know myself well and knew my work-a-holic work ethic wasn’t sustainable NOR what I wanted for myself anyway.

I remember someone telling me all the plans + goals they have yet to accomplish in their life, then ending their story with a little backhanded insult…something like: “But look at you…”, as if I was settling or giving up cuz I closed my boutique and retired from Touring + Writing. Don’t worry, I hit back with a little “It’s okay, you’ll get here one day.” (rolling my eyes) But honestly, listening to all that she was tryina do still (approaching her 40’s) (no shade to her or anyone still trying to do that!), just sounded so EXHAUSTING to me. And I for sure didn’t feel like I was settling or giving up on anything, by any means. (but you know, I don’t need to waste my breath explaining any of that to anyone)

So yes, I have really been (1) living the mundane day-to-day of being a wife and mom, (2) being in QUIET away from my phone and other distractions, and (3) receiving and accepting JOY from simple things like reading and collecting. LIKE I SAID I WOULD. (100 emoji) And it has been wonderful! Sure, it took some time to get used to and really believe that I was here. I’m also sure there are some people out there upset with my being quiet or absence…but I don’t use any of my precious energy thinking about anyone else (dare we say: Selfish Era??). This has done WONDERS for my nervous system and mindset. I look for and accept happiness every day and am thrilled with what’s boring + benign. (content face emoji)

I wish I could say with all the quiet around here, that our calendar is more scarce/sparse (what word belongs there?). Far from it! We have a beautiful created family that we share many meals and outings with. And my favorite part is that our time is not spent with just one core group over + over…but that we have evenly spaced out time with all our family members. It has given our children time to bond and create memories with many loved ones. Sure, the ongoing joke is that if you wanna make dinner plans with us, expect it to be at least 3 months out hehe. But we are RICH with people around us who love us wholeheartedly and unconditionally. Blessed beyond measure.

My health. My health is…my health. With all the adventures, my home life is as debilitating as ever. When I’m at home, I am RESTING. I don’t have many usable hours in a day (chronic illness warriors know that term ‘usable hours’ well). I might be able to do a light chore, like wash just 4 dishes (my daughter doesn’t allow me any more than that!) or fold clothes. I am the Official Laundry Folder in these parts and me + my ocd are very fine with that. But that’s about it, sadly. I had daydreams of retiring and scrubbing everything!! Nope, no can do. And it’s really heartbreaking for me. After some homeschooling for my daughter and feeding myself (which sometimes my kids help with preparing my meals), the rest of my time at home is for laying down, napping, catching or focusing on my breath. If I didn’t write this down here, no one would know the wiser however. I never let on how bad it really is for me. I’m a good Hider when it comes to my pain.

Anything else to mention…? (I coyly say, when I know what I really wanna talk about) Yes YES, I am still collecting Disney pins! (covering mouth emoji) I used to feel really dorky doing so, being “New Disney” and all at my big age haha. But now I am just unapologetically and unseriously doing this all out in the open!! (laughing crying emojis) I know it can be an expensive hobby, so what I take the most pride in is how I do this smartly. I keep my collection limited to just tea-related pins, with Mad Hatter being a favorite character. And then I don’t purchase anything over a certain amount. The real excitement is getting accepted for a really cheap offer that I didn’t think they would take! That part is so much fun, cuz I feel so smart and frugal hahah. I’m not really doing trades (I think that would be a whole post in itself). I’ve attended a few trading events…and with every one, I’m more convinced that trading isn’t for me. I don’t like the snottiness about some in the community, or how serious some people take it. I think it takes the fun out of it, imo. Anyway, I’ll be sure to include a picture of what I have so far now!

Tea and the website. I am ecstatic that people still read this blog everyday. (sweat bead emoji) I can’t believe how well our numbers do…and I’m not even promoting this on social media!!?! We had a new country viewing…Hello Morocco!! And somebody or “people” in China is/are loving us, cuz the numbers from there are up the wazoo! Hey China, how yall doin how yall doin? THANK YOU to everyone who is still rolling with us after my Retirement. This really means so much, really.

I have a few new spots I’m gonna try, so stick with us! We’ll be back soon! Love yall, mean it.

[my daughter took this funny picture of us, the Huz trying to hold me as I drag my cane behind him!]

[one of my favorite lunches…altho I’m not supposed to have raw veg]

[a picture I took, never meant to be shared…just wanting to save the moment of reading in bed with my dog close by (my sheets were being washed, so this was my daughter’s old set)]

[latest photo of my collection…it has grown!]