I’ll be Happy When…

How many time in your life do you read something and you think to yourself OMG that's me! That has happened to me many, many, time. Then there is that one story, that I could not have written any better myself.

This story is one of them and this is me over, and over.

Do you see yourself in this story? I do.

Many people spend their lives thinking "I'll be happy when …" (I finish school, get my degree, get a job/promotion, get married, own a house, kids leave home, retire).

They spend their lives in anticipation of the next stage, never really enjoying the process or the journey.
Do you put off being happy until this or that happens, or waiting for some special event to lift you temporarily, only to feel flat and depressed once the event is over?
Do you also put off spending time with your loved ones until everything has been done and the in-tray (actual and metaphorical) is empty? In the meantime, our family or friends may have lost interest or moved on, and it's too late to regain the time we might have spent with them while we were busy emptying the tray. Face the fact that the in-tray will never be empty, there's always going to be tasks to be completed. Decide to make time now for the people that are important to you. All your work will get done in due course.
The present moment is all we have. Many of us spend our time focusing on past difficulties or anticipating future events, and end up living in fear of what might happen. However, regardless of what might happen tomorrow or happened yesterday or even in the last hour, the present moment is where it's at! If we allow our thoughts to be dominated by past events or anticipation or worry about the future, we'll never be happy in the present moment, which is really all we have.
Often we will be in a certain place and wish we were somewhere else - on holidays, in a new home in a different area, at a different job. Then we will be happy! Actually, if you spend your time feeling frustrated, unhappy and wishing things were different, then that state of mind will follow wherever you go. The opposite is also true - if you refuse to spend your time being negative, angry, or frustrated, and focus on being happy in the present moment, then happiness will follow you wherever you are. You may well find that your positive energy attracts to you the places, people and circumstances that you desire.
Do something creative such as painting, writing a book, music, or cooking something new and enjoy what you are doing for its own sake, not the end result. Don't worry what other people will think of your efforts, just immerse yourself in the activity and get lost in the present moment. Becoming immersed in something which is not generally considered to be a fun activity, such as vacuuming or ironing, can also put a whole new perspective on the task. Enjoy the physical side of vacuuming or sweeping, using your muscles and getting exercise. Enjoy the look, feel and clean smell of clothes and pillowcases (not the sheets - I wouldn't go that far!) as they are ironed. There's an old Buddhist saying, "carry water, chop wood", meaning that if you undertaking these tasks, then focus on the task and become at peace with it, rather than thinking about something else or wishing you were somewhere else.
The Buddhist art of "Non-attachment" is a useful tool to helping us live in the present. If you are attached to people, places, things, and outcomes which don't co-operate with your expectations, then you will experience fear, conflict and other negative emotions. Learning to release or detach from people or outcomes frees our spirit.

I can only hope by sharing this story, that I can help one person live in the present moment!
 It did help me!

“My Husband My Friend”

Scott, Happy Anniversary, 37 years. Where has the time gone. For all those years we have worked together, laughed together, cried together and loved together. We have had many dreams together, and even a few swear words. Many people have said we were very different from one another.

“ They were reading the cover, not the book.”

One time I was asked why I married a man who never smiled.

I have always seen that big smile in your heart for me.

We have discovered that love means a whole lot more, than we know when we first got married. We have weathered change,acquired more patience, and learned to laugh when life doesn't turn out exactly as we planned.
Sharing everything that comes our way has given us something that most people never knew… and on our anniversary, I am looking forward to all the beautiful tomorrows we have yet to share.

 Our Wedding Day!

       

   37 years later

Beautiful Poem

          Have I
Have I ever told you?
That if I sit really still and silent,
sometimes, I like to think
I can hear your heart beating
In time with mine.

Have I ever told you?
that when I watch you speak to me
through lines and cords,
I imagine
your voice,
whispering into my ear.

Have I ever told you?
that I wait out each day
in anticipation,
wanting
only an hour or two,
just a second in space and time,
to feel close to you.

Have I ever told you?
that there has been times,
when I ached for you,
ached for you so badly,
that the emotions overwhelmed me..
and so I sat and cried.

Have I ever told you?
that sometimes,
I will reach out,
touching your name
on this cold screen before me,
wishing
I could reach in
and pull you to me.

Have I ever told you?
that after the first time I heard
the sound of your voice,
thousands of miles away,
I sat up all night,
turning the conversation over and over
in my mind,
examining it,
like some newly discovered species of flower.

Have I ever told you?
that I would give everything up,
just for one night
to be able to lay near you,
to feel your chest rise and fall
with each breath you take,
just to know that you are real.

Have I ever told you?
that I dream of you often,
I dream of you reaching out
and touching my hand,
simply to let me know
that you are there,
and everything is okay.

Have I ever told you?
That I love you!

Letting Go!

Right now, I believe I am standing in the classroom of my life. I believe everyone that has comes into my life has been sent, and every situation is here to teach me something.

The question then is what is this experience trying to teach me? Well, one clear lesson, in my opinion, is that this experience is here to teach me the importance of letting go.

Everything in life is temporary, learning to let go is a survival skill and one we all have to learn.
Letting go is having the courage to accept change, and the strength to keep moving.

Letting go is growing up.

I believe it is a gift to learn how to love and let go, and to learn the difference between needing someone and loving someone. It will be a gift to learn how to let go of the past and move forward, and a blessing.

Let go and learn that all things are working together for my good.
(Even the things that do not feel good).

What I do not know is how to love someone without wanting them.
When I master that skill then my soul will be free.
   
Will it be easy, No. will it be worth it, Yes

My exercise will be -  breath in hold… say to myself …LET  GO  - breath out

Real Love?

Real love cannot be explained, it can only be felt…but I will still try to define it somehow.
Love is the highest emotion there is, a deep feeling of belonging so much with someone that when you see her/him you feel at home…your heart is beating 100 times per second and you cannot explain it. You have a sensation that you know this person on Soul level, that your Soul knows her/him Soul, that your Heart knows her/him Heart.

Real love never ends; in fact, you never stop loving the person, even though you might not be physically together.

You feel each others moods, thoughts and emotions, even though you are apart.
Probably two people who have this feeling about each other have been together in many lifetimes before, not necessarily as a couple. I believe we change relationships with the same people, in order to learn different lessons.

However, love is not enough to keep a romantic relationship. There has to be respect, trust, intimacy, communication, sharing, and forgiveness…All of this is connected under the umbrella of love.
To be able to truly welcome love into our life we have to be strong, we need to have the fighter spirit. To keep a relationship flowing is hard work, every day. Nothing is free. However, the award is amazing. The award is Paradise on Earth, true happiness…

Many people never experience this overwhelming, overpowering sensation of losing yourself into deep love. To love with an open-heart means you have to open up totally to another person. This is scary, because you are vulnerable and might get hurt, so even though true love knocks at your door you might never have the balls to open you prefer to run and hide under your blanket, pretending you do not hear.

“The little Town of Edina”

Ahh! the little town of Edina with it’s cobble stone streets, and trendy stores.  Read   “Moving to Edina”
 
Main Street

 
Scott and his father enjoying the little water falls on main street.

Where  every other SUV is a land rover.

Every other car is a BMW or Mercedes Bends.

View Full Album

With it’s great library's

Parks

 
 
  Heart warming homes.


 
  I must not forget the coffee drinkers that walk the streets.
 
Even though we did not drive a land rover, or a BMW, or did we shop you're trendy stores, or drink coffee on your streets.
 You have always made us feel welcome Edina, for ten years we have enjoyed you're libraries, you're beautiful parks, and your rich culture.
We have always felt safe and wanted here. Now the time has come for us to let go of this part of our life, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.
We would like to thank you Edina.. for making this page of our life a warm and happy story.
“We will miss you Edina”

My Final Steps – March

My Final Step!

So close I can almost touch it!

With retirement just 20 working days away, things are starting to heat up for me at work.

I am working madly to transition my thirty three years of knowledge into a working documents. I know that no one is irreplaceable and that they will get along just fine without me. I still worry that I will run out of time before everything on my transition list is marked off.


I plan to kick off my retirement with a week long trip to Florida then on to Arizona for 10 more day of hiking and enjoying time in the sun with my husband Scott.


March 3rd

I give my notice in writing to my boss today!

Read below:

After great thought and with a lot of mixed emotions, I have decided it is time for me to retire my position as work flow - coordinator at CGDMS. 

My last day will be March 30 2012 

My years at CGDMS have been some of the best of my working life.

I have had many positive experiences here, both professional and personal, that I  will always remembered fondly. 

I would like everyone at this wonderful company to know how pleased I am to have had the opportunity to serve everyone for the past 10 years. Thanks to all of you again. It has been a privilege to work and serve you.

Sincerely, Margaret Curry.



The president of the company announced my retirement  to the company today  Read below:

From: Braddock, Tommie, S (CGDMS)

Subject: Retirement Announcement - Margaret Curry

To All CGDMS Employees,

After 33+ years of service, Margaret Curry has announced that she will be retiring on March 30, 2012. Margaret began her career with Taylor Corporation back on June 14, 1978 as a printer working for Carlson Craft, located in Mankato, MN. Through her hard work and spirit of cooperation, Margaret was then promoted to Group Leader. As the Group Leader, Margaret would coordinate the work flow of approximately 100 team members, ensuring accuracy and on time delivery.

In 1998, Margaret moved to Holland with her husband Scott, to start a new business for Taylor Corporation called PII BV. Margaret took on the role of Production Manager and managed a staff of about 30 employees.

Then in 2000, both Margaret and Scott were asked to move back to the United States and help with a newly acquired business located in Colorado. Margaret’s role with Current was Office Supervisor.

Given an opportunity to return to Minnesota in 2002, Margaret was offered a position with CGDMS as the Work Flow Coordinator. Margaret welcomed the opportunity and we have enjoyed working with her the past few years. We will miss her dearly and wish her a very happy retirement. Margaret will be moving back to the Mankato area and is looking forward to life’s next adventure.

Please join me in congratulating Margaret and wishing her the best in her new endeavors.

Tommie Braddock | President

Corporate Graphics Direct Marketing Solutions



Then came a surprising e-mail from the man that owns all of the corporation that I have worked for for 33 years   Read below: 

Margaret,

Tommie dropped me a note indicating that you would be retiring on March 30th. First of all, congratulations to you and I hope that retirement provides you with all of the opportunities you deserve.

I have been so fortunate over the years to work with such great people like you. You have provided leadership and a standard for other employees to watch and try to match. Your ability to take on so many different positions over the years has hopefully provided a career that has been educational and very interesting.

I wish you and your loved ones the very best.

Glen Taylor



This e-mail is from my boss.

From: Paap, Frances, M (CGDMS)

Subject: Never Say Good-Bye

Hi Margaret,

I was holding out writing you a note hoping your retirement date would not come, but as I look at the calendar I see the date is fast approaching. I can still remember the day you came into LTS to talk with me about working with our company. I look back on that day as one of the best days of my life as I got to meet you and start a long time relationship.

I have really enjoyed working with you and seeing that big smile on your face. You have dedicated so much to Corporate Graphics and to Taylor Corporation we are so lucky. You have given so much of yourself and your time. Thank you so much for being you, and giving all you’ve got.

I have learned many things from you during our time together. The most important thing I learned was how you give of yourself and don’t expect anything back in return. You have been serving the company for years instead of expecting the company or its employees to serve you.

I will miss you each and every day,

Love Frances



I Thanked My Co-Workers!

Dear All,

I am writing to thank you all for your support, friendship, good wishes and generous gifts, since I announced my retirement. I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart, but my heart has no bottom for you.

I would also like to thank Margie, and her social committee for organizing such a brilliant going away party for me. It felt more like a reunion than a going away party. Seeing so many of you come out to wish me well, will be a memory that I will treasure forever.

I look forward to seeing you all again sometime in the future.

Kinds regards,

Margaret. 

 

My last  paycheck from CGDMS.

 March 30th 2012 at 4pm, I punched out for the last time at CGDMS!

 

A few picture from my retirement Party! 

March 31th

After 50 + years of living at work, today I begin working at living!