As I am on the cusp of my retirement, I found this poem that I had written some time ago and it spoke to me. I thought I would share it with you. It is very much a reflection of the stage of life I find myself in. Having spent the last 20 years identifying myself as a Social Worker, I need to find a new definition of self that fits for me. No labels or expectations from others, it will be interesting to see how the new me identifies themselves.
Who am I?
Who am I, I wonder as I sit here at my desk
What words to use, what would be the best
Is it by my job that I would be defined?
Is it how I think and how sharp is my mind?
Is it as a mother, though now my kids have grown?
Is a mother needed, now from the nest they’ve flown?
Is it as a Nanna, a Granny or Grandmother?
Or is it as a sister to my three brothers?
Do I have a value, beyond what others see?
Do I have a value, by simply being me?
Is it as a woman, a lover and a wife?
Is it as a soulmate for the rest of my life?
Is it then for others, to say how I’m defined?
Will they see the real me, will they still be kind?
Am I just a colleague, co-worker or a friend?
Will I then be nothing, should my worklife end?
Is my value counted by what I have to give
Does my value wane, the longer that I live?
Does it really matter, what they think I should be?
The person I’ll be true to, it just has to be me!
No matter what they say, no matter what they tell you?
The way that others see you, does not define your value!
(c) Susan Waight, May 2024
My journey with Parkinsons 