My posts aren’t always about travel although that is indeed a favorite topic of mine. I also post about life things and what I’m thinking and feeling. And I’m feeling very philosophical these days. I’ve always been a student but I’m very immersed in the inner workings of myself in retirement.
As I neared the end of my legal career and faced cancer, I found myself longing —peace. Not just the absence of conflict, but a deeper, more profound state of being: peace of mind. I wanted to step away from the struggles, the pressures, and the self-imposed battles that have shaped so much of my working life. After all, as a civil defense trial lawyer for over four decades my life was defined by confrontation on a daily basis.
Yet, now when I look back, I wonder how many of our problems are truly unavoidable? How much of my stress was self-inflicted—born from ego, unrealistic expectations, or the relentless pursuit of things that never truly satisfied?
I’ve come to believe after reflection and contemplation that the greatest realization may be that peace is not something granted at retirement; it is something we cultivate within. If we can free ourselves from conflict—both external and internal—we can unlock something even greater: joy.
True happiness does not come from accolades, wealth, or the number of hours we put in. It comes from knowing we did our best, that we lived with integrity, and that we are at peace with our choices. It comes from letting go of regrets, forgiving ourselves and others, and embracing the life we have now.
The end of a career is not just a closing chapter—it’s an opening. An opening to a life where fulfillment is not measured by achievements, but by the serenity we carry within us. Peace awaits those who are ready to claim it. And I am reclaiming mine.
Namaste
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