I Can Do It

This week on CBS the Sunday Morning News program had a segment about living alone.

One out of every seven Americans lives alone.
About 30% of them are over 65 years old.
Women living alone do better than men.

In my whole life I have never lived alone although I've always treasured time alone. When I was working the only time I had at home was at nights and on the weekends. Of course, there was always someone around. I have to confess that sometimes I would call into work on a weekday and say I was sick, so I could have a day at home alone just to putter around. Maybe take on a project. Maybe do nothing important at all. But that time alone at home was comforting and healing.

It is different now. I am one out of every seven Americans who lives alone. This is a different alone than what I wanted years ago when I was working and raising kids. Then I just wanted a little "piece" of being alone. What I have now is yards and yards of alone and I have to find my way to cut those yards into little pieces and remake a life. I'm not writing this to make anyone feel sad for me. It is just the way it is. The thing that I keep thinking about is how many fabulous women I know who live alone and have full and exciting lives. They can be my pattern for how to cut up all the yards of alone-ness and put the pieces back together into a warm and rewarding life.

Last night I went to bed feeling overwhelmed with all I have to do from now on by myself, alone, I woke up this morning and again I thought about my friends who have done amazing things alone. If they can do it, I can do it. I will do it!

And the first thing on the list is no small task.....wrap up the apartment and business here in Houston and get Carly and me back to San Miguel. I can do it!