That sentence sounds rather simple, doesn't it? But getting to the point where I could actually say those words—and mean them—was anything but simple.

For years, I had been someone who worked hard, figured things out, and did whatever needed to be done. That was simply who I was.

My last position began as one thing and gradually became something much bigger. Over time, my responsibilities expanded into many different areas, and I found myself wearing more hats than I could count.

I was doing a lot.

And for a long time, I simply kept going.

Eventually, being "the person who could handle it" became exhausting.

One of the hardest things for me to acknowledge was that I no longer felt valued in the way I needed to feel valued.

As my responsibilities grew, so did the stress. Communication became increasingly challenging, and I often found myself carrying responsibilities and pressures that had accumulated over time.

There always seemed to be another task, another meeting, another problem to solve, or another thing that needed my attention.

I sometimes felt as though I had to remain available far more than was healthy for me.

And yet, I kept going.

That's what people who work hard often do. We adapt. We take on another responsibility. We tell ourselves things will eventually settle down. We convince ourselves that if we just work a little harder, communicate a little better, or hang in there a little longer, things will improve.

But eventually, there comes a point when you have to stop asking,

"How much more can I handle?"

and start asking,

"How much longer do I want to live this way?"

That was the question that changed everything for me.

There wasn't necessarily one dramatic moment when I slammed my laptop shut and declared, "That's it!"

It was more like a light slowly coming on.

I had reached my limit.

I realized that being capable of carrying something didn't mean I was obligated to keep carrying it.

I realized that staying simply because something was familiar wasn't necessarily a good enough reason to stay.

And perhaps most importantly, I realized that I didn't want the next chapter of my life to look like the chapter I was trying so hard to leave behind.

I prayed about it.

I brought my fears, my exhaustion, and my uncertainty before God and waited for Him to gently nudge me when it was time for things to come to an end.

I was tired—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Even my hubby could see it and worried about me.

This wasn't simply the tiredness that comes from working hard. It was the deeper kind of exhaustion that comes from constantly feeling responsible for things that seem to have no end.

We needed the money, I'd tell myself.

Just hang in there a little longer.

But each day, I could feel a little more of myself being stretched too thin.

Something had to change.

Here's the part you don't hear a lot about making a drastic change:

Even when you know something isn't working anymore, leaving can still be frightening.

I didn't have every answer.

I didn't have a perfectly mapped-out five-year plan.

I didn't know exactly what retirement was going to look like or what I would do with all those hours that had previously belonged to someone else.

I simply knew that I couldn't continue living the way I was living.

So I took a chance.

I walked away.

And let me tell you something...

My first day of retirement was terrifying. 😂

After decades of working, suddenly having control over my own time sounded wonderful in theory. In reality, I woke up and realized there was no one waiting for me to answer an email, reply to a message, attend a meeting, complete an assignment, or solve an emergency.

What was I supposed to do with myself?

That, as it turns out, became the beginning of an entirely different journey.

Now I'm looking back at that decision from a completely different place.

A little more than a year has passed, and I can finally see that leaving wasn't simply the end of my long 40+years of working.

It was the beginning of discovering who I am when my value isn't measured by how much I can accomplish for someone else.

I'm learning to slow down.

I'm rediscovering things I enjoy.

I'm cooking more. I'm crafting. I'm crocheting. I'm sewing. I'm making things with my hands. I'm discovering that an ordinary day doesn't have to be packed from morning until night to be a good day.

And I'm learning something else:

Rest is not laziness.

Having time to think isn't wasted time.

Doing something simply because I enjoy it doesn't require a measurable outcome.

There is a whole world of life beyond productivity.

Taking walks is exercise for my body, mind, and soul.

Spending quality time with Jesus keeps me grounded.

And perhaps one of the greatest gifts of retirement has been realizing that I don't have to constantly prove that I'm useful.

I can simply be.

I want to be careful about something as I begin sharing this Retirement Series.

I'm not telling anyone to quit their job.

Everyone's circumstances are different. Some people can't leave. Some need the income. We did. And some people have responsibilities that make a drastic change impossible. And some may simply need to find a different solution.

This isn't advice about what you should do.

This is simply my story.

But if you're reading this because you recognize something of yourself in it—if you're working and constantly exhausted, if your responsibilities have grown beyond what you ever expected, or if you've begun wondering whether the way you're living is sustainable—I want you to know something.

You're not alone.

Sometimes we need to keep running the race for a while longer before we reach our own finish line.

Sometimes we need to make a plan.

Sometimes we need to make a change.

And sometimes, after years of giving everything we have to our work, we finally have to give ourselves permission to say,

"This chapter is finished."

For me, that chapter ended a little over a year ago.

I didn't know exactly what was waiting on the other side.

I only knew it was time to find out.

And that decision became the first page of my retirement story. And, I'm writing that story as I go. 

This is part of my Retirement Series. If you'd like to follow the entire journey, click here!

It's hard to believe that my last post here was back in March. As I was recently browsing through some of my older writings, I found myself laughing, reminiscing, and asking a question:

"Why did I ever stop writing here?"

Growing Up in Grace has always been a special place for me. It's where I've shared my faith journey, favorite recipes, retirement adventures, home projects, personal struggles, answered prayers, and lessons the Lord has taught me along the way. Reading through those older posts felt a little like opening a time capsule.

Since it's been a while, I thought I'd stop by and share a little update on what I've been up to lately.

My sewing journey has been going so well!

Over the past several months I've made all kinds of projects, from decorative pillows and tote bags to zipper pouches and infinity scarves. More recently I've been enjoying functional projects such as my fabric basket featured above to store my sewing threads in, bowl cozies, placemats and hot pads. Creating for creating is fun and creating for function even better!

I've also spent quite a bit of time reorganizing my sewing space. If you're a fellow maker, you know how quickly fabric, tools, notions, and scraps can multiply! What worked six months ago may not work today. Both of my storage carts are now full, and to make matters even more interesting, two of my sweet neighbors recently gifted me additional fabric!

I briefly considered upgrading my sewing machine to an electronic model, but after looking at prices, I decided my faithful Brother XR3774 and I still have plenty of projects left to tackle together.

I've also rediscovered my love of crochet.

One of the reasons I stepped away from it for a while was hand and shoulder pain from an injury, but after finding a helpful ergonomic device for my crochet hooks, I've been able to enjoy crocheting again.

I recently completed a beautiful blanket with scalloped edging for my oversized polar bear stuffed animal, named "Snowbella". She proudly sits in my sewing space and wears the cozy blanket to protect her white fur from dust, dirt, and the occasional flying thread particles from my sewing adventures!

Yes, I realize that sounds slightly ridiculous, but if you're a fellow crafter, you understand me! 🤣

After almost 2-1/2 years living in our home, I can honestly say we've finally settled into the layout and design of each room.

Our decorating style continues to lean toward French Country Cottage with a touch of romance here and there. While I haven't done much thrifting lately, I have picked up a few treasures, including florals, decorative pieces, and even some dish drying mats that I transformed into pillows.

One of our favorite improvements was adding a curtain to hide our modern dishwasher. It instantly gave the kitchen a softer cottage feel.

Just yesterday, my husband and I were talking about how much we love our living room. Not just because of how we've decorated it, but because we spent 12 years living in an apartment without a living room because he needed a home office. Having a comfortable home still feels like an incredible blessing.

Also, I updated our bedroom with a beautiful quilted coverlet featuring a vintage floral design. It came with matching pillow shams, which now have a second life decorating our couch pillows.

Our home isn't glam glam, it is cozy, comfortable and filled with a lot of gratitude.

Walking with The Lord remains a daily journey.

Faith isn't something we figure out once and then move on from. It's found in everyday decisions, prayers, concerns, victories, disappointments, and lessons.

One area where the Lord continues to work on my heart is learning to let go of my past.

I have a tendency to analyze things endlessly. I want to understand why something happened, what I could have done differently, what someone else meant, or how events might have turned out under different circumstances.

The problem is that we aren't always given those answers.

Sometimes The Lord simply asks us to trust Him.

I'm learning that peace doesn't come from analyzing every detail of the past. It comes from trusting the One who already knows the whole story.

My prayer is that I continue growing in that area and learn to move forward without constantly looking back.

I also had a very short-lived return to Etsy.

For a brief moment, my husband and I found ourselves concerned about some upcoming expenses, so I reopened my digital art Etsy shop.

However, after looking carefully at the costs involved, the monthly software subscriptions I would need, and several home projects that require our attention, we decided it wasn't the right season.

The experience served as a wonderful reminder that God remains in control of our finances.

Not me.

Not my husband.

Not an online shop.

The Lord has faithfully provided for us, and once again He gently reminded us to trust Him.

As for what's next, I'm not entirely sure.

I'm still sewing, crocheting, creating, organizing, and enjoying retirement one day at a time.

Most importantly, I'm learning to slow down, listen to The Lord's leading, and enjoying the season He has me in right now.

And perhaps, just perhaps, you'll be seeing a LOT more posts here again. It's good to be back.

Grace and peace to you!