There comes a point in life when people start making assumptions about you.
That you’re slowing down.
That you’ve done your bit.
That perhaps it’s time to sit back, take things easy and let the younger generation take over.
Well…
We’re not finished yet.
A New Beginning Doesn't Always Look Like One
Jean and I have lived a lot of life together.
We’ve had wonderful chapters, difficult chapters, unexpected chapters and a few we’d quite happily have skipped altogether.
But life has a funny way of opening a door just when you think the road ahead is becoming narrower.
And lately, we’ve been discovering that there is still plenty of road ahead.
Finding My Way Back
For me, that new beginning is rebuilding something I’ve loved for most of my adult life — creating beautiful spaces and homes for people.
After years of interior decorating, projects, people and a business of my own, I’m finding my way back into that world.
Not exactly as it was before.
This time, differently.
With everything I’ve learnt along the way. With a little more wisdom. A little less need to prove myself. And a much clearer understanding of what really matters.
And perhaps the most exciting part is discovering that I haven’t lost my ability to spot an opportunity.
Today, Jean did another installation. A small one, but it got me thinking about how much more he has to offer than simply being used for the odd job here and there.
So I walked into a retail store and asked the young man there a simple question:
Do you ever get people asking for someone to install the things they buy?
“All the time,” he said.
Well… that was all the invitation I needed.
I launched into my sales talk – something I’m rather good at! Showed him my website and left him some business cards.
And I walked out feeling pretty good.
Maybe that’s what a next chapter looks like sometimes.
Not waiting for an opportunity to come knocking…
but going out and looking for the door.
Jean Is Still Creating Too
And while I’m doing that, Jean is still doing what Jean does.
Give him a curtain to install or something that needs making, fixing or creating, and somehow he’s happiest with his hands busy.
There is something wonderfully grounding about that.
Sanding down a piece of furniture. Fixing a rickety chair.
A project.
A Saturday morning.
And the simple satisfaction of doing something useful, like chopping logs in the forest.
And Perhaps That's What A Next Chapter Really Is
Not throwing away everything that came before.
Not pretending we’re starting from scratch.
It’s taking all those years, all those experiences, all the things that worked and all the things that didn’t…
and using them to build something new.
There are still things we don’t know.
There are still plans we’re figuring out.
There are still doors we haven’t opened.
And that’s okay.
Because we don’t need to know exactly where the road ends before we take the next step.
One Step At A Time
Sometimes faith means simply putting one foot in front of the other and trusting that the road will unfold.
So here we are.
Still learning.
Still creating.
Still looking for opportunities.
Still making plans.
Still dreaming.
And yes…
still getting ourselves into the occasional bit of trouble. 😉
We’re not finished yet.
Not by a long shot.
There’s another chapter waiting to be written.
And we’re curious to see what comes next.