Happy Thursday, friends!! Thank you for joining me for this month’s edition of Tell Us About 04.2025. Going forward, we will be coming to you a week earlier for this series so that several of us won’t be publishing 2 posts on the same day. Turns out the 3rd Thursday of each month was a popular post-publishing day.
I was looking forward to writing to last month’s Tell Us About prompt – reinvention – but experienced a fatal error message on WordPress that prohibited me from accessing the admin side of my blog. The blog was down for almost a week until I got some help figuring out that the error originated in a coding issue with the format for my blog theme. M. Faizan Rasheed at GrfxStudio came to my rescue and got the blog up and running but not in time for my Tell Us About and Ageless Style posts to go live.
Marsha at Marsha in the Middle suggested our April prompt. I am sharing my thoughts on some of the ways in which I am learning to adapt and flourish in this season of life.
Tell Us About
Tell Us About (TUA) is a global writing challenge where bloggers from all around the planet respond to a different prompt on the third Thursday of each month. Have so enjoyed writing these posts each month.
You can find my first TUA posts of the year here:
Tell Us About –
Hope you will check them out if you missed them earlier.
Before we wade in, just a reminder: Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After occasionally uses affiliate links which are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link provided I may receive a very small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.
Please find the places and posts where I link-up on this page.
Tell Us About 04.2025
When I think back on the seasons of my life, there have been so many changes, small and large. My childhood was fairly consistent with only 2 moves, 3 schools over 12 years. I lived in what I would call my childhood home in Bartlett, Tennessee for 10 years before deciding I was all grown up and ready to live on my own. Actually, rather being forced into that decision by my parents, but that is a story for another day.
Reflecting over the last (almost) 40 years, I am reminded of a very old picture book, “Caps for Sale” by Esphyr Slobodkina, first published in 1938. It is the story of a cap salesman who displays his wares on his head as he walks from village to village calling, “caps for sale.”
In many seasons of my life, I have felt weighed down by all the caps on my head. Or dizzy from all the balls I was trying – often poorly – to juggle.
Or even like this. Swimming against the current. The almost constant feeling of being bombarded by everyone and everything in my life.
First 3 Season of Adulthood
Once I was ‘all grown up’, my life was a roller coaster of changes. As most lives are. Graduating from college with a major in education. Moving to a third world country, followed by lots more moves over the years. Becoming a wife, mother. Moving back to the U.S. then moving right back to Panama a few months later. Finally moving to Texas where I have managed to stay put for 37 years now. Yay!!
Being hired as a school librarian – my first real fulltime job a whopping 10 years after graduating with my degree in education. Divorce. Single-motherhood. Remarriage. Step-motherhood. Divorce. Single-motherhood. Bankruptcy. Working 3 jobs at a time (this seems to be an almost constant theme across the years). I began feeling like my life was a broken record.
Season 4
In some ways at least the beginning of my current season felt like a rerun, too. Meeting PC. Years of dating. Marriage. Step-motherhood again with Paul’s children. And the same dismal results attempting to stepparent as the first time around with my second husband and step-daughter.
Then, finally, empty nest. Health problems. Grandchildren. Retirement. PC’s health problems. His early retirement. Enter Season Five.
Fresh Material in Season 5
Here we are beginning this latest season of life. In many ways, this is my most ‘settled season.’ Not a moment too soon, either. I am 67 years old (this month). I am thrilled to finally have a sense of stability in my day-to-day. There are still lots of little hiccups that keep LIFE interesting and unpredictable…broken foot, prostate cancer I’m looking at you both. But overall, in general terms, today looks a lot like I think tomorrow will look. And I am so grateful.
Life Coaching with Christie
In my Sentence a Day (SaD) posts this year, I have mentioned doing life coaching with my blogging friend Christie Hawkes at So What? Now What?. Christie is working on earning NBHWC board certification as a life coach. In order to gain hours of the practical coaching experience required for board certification, Christie (on her blog) offered free online health coaching to a limited number of clients. I signed up right away!! Figured this was a great way to nurture (my WOTY) myself in this season of life. For so long, I have put everyone and everything before myself. Trying to find a balance between people-pleasing and pleasing myself.
The Sessions
Every 2 weeks, Christie sets up a 30-minute Zoom meeting for us. We discuss ways I have nurtured myself, allowed myself to enjoy some “me-time” activities since our last counseling session. After each visit, Christie sends a summary of our session and a reminder of the goals I have set for the 2 weeks until our next session. From Christie’s notes, these are the goals I have set until we meet again on 04.16.2025.
- Put the fun first. You don’t have to earn your enjoyable me-time by doing chores first.
- Prioritize your to-do list, choosing just two items that must be done and viewing everything else as possibilities.
- Start wearing your bracelet as a reminder to slow down and be present.
Something I shared with Christie is my inclination to scurry about trying to tackle my entire to-do list everyday rather than prioritizing several chores to be tackled and managed daily, a little at a time. We even talked about giving myself permission to enjoy a me-time activity – BEFORE I tackle my chores. Can you imagine??
My Progress
The last week has been a tough one as I was summoned to jury duty and selected to serve for a murder trial. I hope to write more about this experience in an upcoming post. Each evening when I would get home from the courthouse, I was mentally and emotionally exhausted and physically tired from sitting for hours, too.
My inclination in the past would have been to try to do all the things I had missed out doing during the day, scrambling to get the laundry done, the sheets changed, dinner prepared, to workout when that was the last thing I felt like doing. Instead, I pretty much came home and parked myself on the couch. Several nights PC picked up something for us to eat for dinner. I got the laundry started, and he finished it during the day when I was gone. He washed the sheets and we put the fresh sheets on the bed together. Over the weekend, I scrapbooked for most of one afternoon, gave myself a pardon from the gym, and did some meal planning for the new week. The trial gave me bad dreans and kept me awake at night so I climbed into bed each night feeling very tired.
And I wore a different bracelet every day. When I felt especially anxious, I would move the beads on my bracelet and say little prayers or think of good things I was thankful for. The bracelets were tangible reminders to take a breath and to give myself some grace.
Hoping that I can learn this lesson once and for all. And in doing so, enjoy the slower pace, the settled feeling that has come with this season of life. I think I’ve earned it!!
My Tell Us About Friends
I am anxious to read how the other Tell Us About embracing seasonal changes in their lives. Won’t you join me in visiting them?
- Debbie from Deb’s World looks at life’s changing seasons, via kids and cars, and what they teach us about growth, patience, and letting go (of both control and the steering wheel).
- Marsha from Marsha in the Middle picked this topic, but she really doesn’t remember what she was thinking at the time! She writes about the seasonal changes she sees around her home and what she used to see at her home up north!
- Rosie at Rosie Amber chose to look at the changing seasons of life and compares them to one of her favourite trees, the mighty oak.
- Sue, who blogs at Women Living Well After 50, writes about living well in the season you are in and finding joy at every stage of life.
- Suzy from Suzy Turner blog writes about how seasonal changes affect her life in Portugal and shares a magical perspective by exploring the Triple Goddess archetype—Maiden, Mother, and Crone—as a way to connect more deeply with the rhythms of nature.
- Our friend Mary Katherine from MKsAdventure is taking a brief hiatus from blogging as she is up to her ears in LIFE, hosting houseguests and preparing to retire from her long-time career.
Link up your seasonal changes post, too!!
Your Turn
What changes have accompanied the seasons of your life? How would you describe your current season, its pleasures and obstacles? Please share in a comment below.
Looking forward to being home the rest of the week. Catching up on things around the house – but gently – and enjoying being outside in our very spring-like weather with highs in the 90s!!
Thank you for popping in for a visit. I am often very delinquent in responding to comments because I let everything else get in the way but I am going to try very hard to be more prompt with this new ‘relaxed’ outlook on life!!
Hugs and kisses,
As I was reading the things your counselor/coach is teaching you . . .I thought – wow! I could give myself permission to do something fun before a “chore.” Imagine that!! I always enjoy reading your thoughts!!
Yes!! We both should make it a practice to have some fun once a week before we do the responsible thing – the chores. Or maybe indulge in dessert before dinner? Christie has been so thoughtful, so good for me. I feel like a calmer, gentler version of myself. And I like it.
Thank you so much for the support and kind comments.
Lesley, the life-coaching opportunity sounds very useful.
I was called for Jury service a few years ago and I quite understand the stress of it. It isn’t something that I would like to do again. Some folks enjoy it, but not me.
This year I am working of a treat for me each week, it may be something quite small and simple, but I am keeping with it and I am enjoying life a little more.
Take care,
Rosie
Thank you for sharing your idea of a treat a week to make life more enjoyable. We all need little rewards in life. I am finding that it really won’t be the end of the world if A, B and C don’t happen TODAY. Or if I take a nap. Or sit down to read a book.
The murder trial took a toll on me but I allowed myself some grace and time to regroup. I have finally stopped dreaming about it.
Hi Leslie, I love your interpretation of the Seasonal Changes prompt. Great to hear you are working with Christie. Life Coaches can be such a help and I’m sure she appreciates you helping her gain accreditation. Being a step parent is not like the Brady Bunch is it? I’ve been there and it took many, many years for them to finally accept me and find peace in our relationship. Take care and good luck with your life coaching sessions. Sue L x
Thank you, Sue. Christie has been a godsend. She is such a sweet, gentle person and her gentleness is rubbing off on me!!
Being a step parent has been a very difficult experience for me. I think a lot of it is because the mothers of my step children did them some real injustices and they have struggled ever since. In both cases, the moms just took off and abandoned the children. So very sad. And no matter how I tried to provide stability and love, I wasn’t the MOTHER that they wanted.
You have lived a life, my friend! I’m glad you’ve arrived at Season 5 where so many good things are happening. I’m at that season, too. It has its own challenges, right? But, we now have the time to sit back and consider our choices.
I can imagine you definitely are exhausted when you get home from jury duty. I served on a jury a year or so ago, but it wasn’t murder. That’s got to be so very draining.
You are a survivor, Leslie, and I’m glad you’re working with Christie. It sounds like she’s helping you to make a difference.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Thank you, my darling friend. Years ago, the school counselor where I was librarian told me that she thought Destiny’s Child song Survivor should be my theme song. I have had a crazy, crazy life. But I am still kicking. And it has made for lots of interesting tales and examples of what not to do for my daughters!!
I came away from the murder trial feeling like we made the right decision but it was still such a stressful, intense experience. Hope to write about it soon.
That was such a lovely piece of writing Leslie and what a life you’ve had. It’s been quite challenging at times, hasn’t it. So glad your 5th Season is settled and much happier. Very much agree with you that in the 5th Season THINGS come along. Oh yes, indeed they do! But glad your health issues seem to be resolved. And also it’s great to hear you are doing far less of the rushing around – that life coaching you’ve had sounds really practical, useful and helpful. And oh my word, all the best for that jury you sit on – that must be exceedingly challenging!
This was a great read 😊
Oh, Penny, so glad to see you stopped by and to find your sweet comment. I hope I can continue to embrace this slower pace. Today was a wonderful day of blog reading, commenting, writing and being HOME all day. Just glorious. Now if I can just get PC to embrace being home, too. He loves to shop and would gladly run to Walmart or the mall several times a week. Thank you for the support and the visit.
That’s amazing you were able to get some life coaching! I can tell you are really taking the suggestions to heart. I’m so sorry to hear about the trial and how stressful it is. I can’t even imagine having to go through it all. That has to be so hard mentally and emotionally. You owe it to yourself to take it easy with chores/meals/etc. while you are going through it and even afterwards!
Thank you so much. I really ‘babied’ myself while I was on jury duty and then allowed myself to have some down time to regroup once the trial was over. It was very gough for me. Hope to write about it here, soon.
I had been settled in a very contented, full and fulfilling season of life for so long that I was really thrown for a loop when we suddenly had to move and become empty nesters and start new jobs and just everything. Funny how life can do that to us! Either pull the rug out when we’re feeling comfortable, or keep us just a bit unsettled for so long that we come to expect it. Love how you and your life coach have been approaching the need for nurture and peace in your life and that you are treating yourself so well! Enjoyed reading this so much!
Christie has been a godsend. I hope I can soon graduate to figuring out the me-time for myself but she has been a big help to get me on the right track.
You did have a lot to contend with at one time. Moving is never a pleasant experience for me, but start new jobs with a move and the sudden empty nest must have felt overwhelming. Glad you guys made it through. I am always afraid to say or even think that things are ‘good’ because LIFE has a way of upsetting the apple cart just when I am feeling content and comfortable. Thank you so much for your visit and kind comment.
This is a great post for the past two prompts Leslie. I’m so glad to hear that you’ve been working with Christie and she’s helping you.
Your jury duty sounds awful, I hope you’ve been able to settle after it was over.
You’ve summed up all your seasons very well and I really enjoyed reading your story. Thanks for being a fab host and for all you do for everyone. You’re a star in my book!
Jury duty really was tough. I want to write about it to help process and move past it.
Thank you for the sweetest words in your comment. Christie and I met up again yesterday and I was so proud of my progress. Christie has such a gentle way and has rubbed off on me. I am thrilled.
I am so glad to hear you’re finally trying to put yourself first, Leslie! You’ve certainly earned it! I can’t even imagine how exhausting that jury duty must have been, both physically and mentally. Good for you for taking it a little easier when you got home!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
Hooray for a season of stability. I hope you are embracing it..and enjoying all the joys and benefits of this season of life!!