The Farewell Post – Retirement Reflections

When I last wrote on this blog, a little over a month ago, I promised I’d return mid-September for our monthly What’s On Your Bookshelf post. And that’s partially true. I’m back—but this time to say goodbye.

In early August, I took a break from blogging so my husband and I could fly to Hong Kong to be with our youngest son who was seriously injured in a bike accident while training for an IronMan competition. Thankfully, he is recovering well, and Richard and I are now back home. That time away gave me a chance to reflect and left me realizing that I’m ready for something new. Ready for what? I’m not quite sure. But I am open to the challenge.

Above all, I am grateful. I’m grateful that our son is recovering and that we have a strong family and friends to surround him as he continues to heal.

I am also grateful for all that nearly ten years of blogging have given me. When I began, I wasn’t sure what I was doing or why. I certainly never anticipated the deep and lasting friendships that would grow here, nor the challenges, adventures, and personal growth that would follow.

As I prepared to write this post, I reviewed my WordPress statistics and quickly realized that the numbers themselves are insignificant. What matters are the people behind them. I would like to thank each and every one of you. Whether you visited once, followed for years, left a comment, or reached out through my contact page, you made a difference. If we’ve become friends, know that your presence in my life has been a gift beyond measure, one that words can’t fully capture.

I plan to keep this site open until next summer while I review posts, decide which ones to keep, and how to keep them. If you have any ideas or suggestions, I’d love to hear from you.

This isn’t so much an ending as it is a turning of the page. If you would like to stay in touch, I invite you to reach out, and we can find a way to do that.

The linkups of What’s On Your Bookshelf, What’s Been on Your Calendar, and Wellness Reimagined will continue. You can access them monthly on Sue’s, Debbie’s, Jo’s, and Jen’s (Wellness Reimagined) sites.

With a full heart, I say thank you—for showing up, for reading, and for sharing. I remain forever grateful.

_{I’ve been fortunate to meet many bloggers in person, and have developed close relationships with bloggers both in person and on-line. I look forward to these relationships continuing to flourish and I cherish the fond memories.}

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.
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