Still, Dare to Hope! {deeper dive}

Transitions + New Year + New Hope

This piece is AI-free. These words are my creation minus the mechanics of artificial intelligence. You are welcome here!

Friend, today is a holiday, and you have stuff going on. Or maybe you’re reading this later, and that’s okay, too.

Even though I work from home, I try to observe the holidays. It’s not always easy when my desk calls me from the next room. Yes, I do have an actual job—a job unrelated to this writing gig. I am, however, beginning a transition phase.

I cannot believe I’m about to say it, but I will start drawing my social security this year. I know what you’re thinking. She cannot possibly be old enough for that! You are correct, and thank you for noticing.

Indeed, I’ve not yet reached full retirement age, but I’m drawing early. You may want to tell me this is a bad idea or that I must work until that magic number of years. Perhaps you are too young to know what I am talking about or, like me, are well on your way.

For me, 2024 is the beginning of a transition. I am grateful to work for someone who, last year, asked me, “How do you want this to go?” It’s been a blessing to be a part of the conversation concerning how and when I’ll phase into retirement.

My first job came along when I was fifteen—an afterschool job only five minutes down the road from my high school. Except for my second pregnancy and the newborn phase, I have worked all my adult life—a little part-time, mostly full-time, and a lot of volunteer time (mostly at church) thrown in for good measure.