At the moment I seem to be surrounded by lots of endings and beginnings. The end of my Social Work career and the beginning of my retirement. The end of a decent income and the beginning of – if I am lucky – being on a benefit. The end of being part of a work team and the beginning of being in a team of volunteers. Life, it seems is ever changing.
I am focussing more on the beginnings than the endings as much as I can. Though it is difficult to do so at times. In two weeks time I will walk out of my workplace for the last time as an employee on 9/5/24. I am happy to be retiring in most ways, but it is bittersweet giving up a part of my identity, being that of a Social Worker. I take from it many memories, some happy, some sad, some (well lots) challenging, some straightforward, some complicated, some just plain infuriating. But whatever I feel, it is time for me to find a new me, a happy and less stressed me determined to devote my life to me and my family and of course to my beloved husband.
It probably won’t surprise people that know me, in that I am not going to be like some and say I will just slink away quietly with no fuss. After 20 years of Social Work and 11 of them at my current job I feel I deserve a bit of recognition and a goodbye where I get to thank the people I have shared my working life with. So, my colleagues are organising two morning teas and two lots of drinks. One for my Social Work colleagues and one for my Ward based colleagues.
I hope that I have left my position in good shape and can end my time as a Social Worker well and with dignity and grace. I had a query on FB about whether I would get sick pay paid out if I don’t use it in the next two weeks. Someone who read my post said that it doesn’t get paid out and I should just use it up. As I apparently have 80 hours, I would have to basically be ‘sick’ for the next two weeks. Not something I am comfortable with doing and leaving my role with unfinished business and creating headaches for others.
So, in just over two weeks a new me will emerge. No longer in paid employment, but hopefully a busy and happy new me.
Time will tell.
My journey with Parkinsons 