I've learned to take time to breathe and to reflect on my accomplishments. There’s no rush to move on to the next thing. I moved to Colorado over the summer, and it has been wonderful to change most aspects of my life. It's been a little sad to leave friends in Illinois. Making life-changing decisions is usually not without some sadness. Cheers to what's next.
Exactly. If you weren’t leaving something full of good memories you wouldn’t be sad about it. So in a way I’m grateful to be a bit sad…. The journey was wonderful to get here today
😢 i’m getting teary-eyed listening to you. But I do want to say congratulations on being able to end this one chapter of your life and begin a new one. Oh what beautiful memories you have working with your dad.❤
I retired 2 years ago, and I made the same choice to just relax and enjoy being in control of my days. I had thought about things I might want to do, and I have done some of those things, but it still feels great to be my own boss and not have to meet anyone else's expectations.
Wow! Bittersweet comes to mind. I always worked part time. When my daughter had her 2 kids and she wasn’t working out of the home, they own their own business, I quit! I wouldn’t miss a minute to be with them. No regrets. My husband worked at the same place for 43 years and when he retired he had absolutely no regrets and he really liked his job. We saved for retirement & we live very comfortably!
Hi Laura, what a big life change for you! So many great memories to treasure and all the true friends along the way. Retirement is never easy, I retired 3 years before I wanted to from the school district in S. CA. So wish I had those 3 years for my pension, but don’t have any regrets. Your next chapter in life will be more fulfilling, amazing & a chance for new beginnings! ❤
Laura - You are SUCH a class act! And we are SO in need of class! You bring honor and diplomacy and just pure goodness to all of us listening to your videos! We are enriched by your words and ways! Thank you so much!🙏
I can really relate Laura. i retired last year and i’m now helping out at hubby’s office and helping him wind down . He is planning on retiring and is trying to sell his business so hopefully in the next couple of years. it’s a bittersweet time
The only thing I felt I was giving up when I retired was stress! The joy that I would never, ever have to see those people again. I worked for a global corporation and any hourly employee can tell you, it's not pleasant. But surviving it did toughen me up. Nothing bothers me. I always wanted to have a job at a place like you had. It sounds like heaven to me. Enjoy your life!
That's such a cool office building! I think a big change like retirement is sort of like grieving a loss and the same stages in a way, especially when it is sudden and not gradual. Glad you are taking time to nurture yourself.
Laura, I find you such a down to earth woman. I think that comes through with your videos. I like the idea about taking time for yourself. So very important. Some people find retirement a bad word, but it does not have to be.
To me it was as if I was walking, like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, from a dull black and white to an open, colorful and beautiful world. I have flourished in my retirement because it is the real me.
I can’t imagine since 1996, it’s your 53 yr old guy subscriber from Detroit, Laura. Good for you for having and being part of the family business and for your mayorship. I’m a W-2 employee that has been in sales forever and over the past 5 years have gotten in to buy and hold real estate and now have 6 units/7 doors. I was in the military long ago and worked on robotic systems, performed/sang in theater shows… there are so many personal and cherished experiences that we all have that no one will ever know, but ourselves! Life is a crazy thing and like I say, you have to sop up the gravy of life with that biscuit at every chance you can and make use of your short time on the planet. We’ll all be gone one day so you might as well make the best of it and surround yourself with loving people who bring you joy and things that fulfill us! Love your channel, my dear. Even though you’re a lady, I’m learning perspective vicariously through you. And for that, I’m grateful. Look forward to commenting again soon. Take care. ❤
I enjoy your videos so much. I'm an artist and a mess and you seem to be my exact opposite when it comes to personality, but I can't but be in awe of your elegance. You are the human equivalent of silk. I wish you all the best for this new chapter!
I’d rather be an artist! I don’t have a creative bone in my body. So I admire your craft. I guess we all look at others in a bit of awe, it is what makes us all unique. Thanks for following along
Such a bittersweet time for you and your family. Hard to say goodbye to the family business, but ready to embrace life with whatever comes next. I can tell you’ve worked hard to make sure you’re in the perfect and healthy frame of mind to begin the next exciting chapter. Thanks for sharing this milestone with us ♥️
I'm glad you point out to take the time needed immediately upon retirement. So often (once the financials are set) people are assuming it's fair sailing and what a great adventure, but if you did love your work, found purpose, routine and close relationships, it is far more complicated. Whether the traditional choices work well, or if your life will require a different configuration, you are spot on in just processing, grieving a bit, finding gratitude and accomplishment in a work life well lived, and then allowing things to evolve and feelings to settle. People get there, but not when the mask of perpetual happiness is all one hears.
Thank you so much Lauren for sharing your last day in that special space with us. It’s a bittersweet moment for sure. We are all at a stage in our lives where saying goodbye and things ending are far too frequent. However, I share the same sentiment as you, one of gratitude. I’m a big journaler. And I’ve spent many years journaling about different jobs, experiences, troubles, and victories. I often go back and reread those journal entries, and they fill me with love and humor. I got a little choked up watching this. I hope you had a therapeutic cry at some point. What a wonderful experience to have worked at the same place for so long, especially with your father. New experiences await you and all of us, Brava, my friend! ❤
Great video! I was just forced to retire from my career of 35 years. I miss the relationships and am working through the grief. I also am taking a break. People keep asking me what are you going to do now and I say…I don’t know but time will tell! Enjoy your break!
Wow that’s amazing thank you for sharing ! I can imagine the relationship you had at work with you dad so so cool, with your pups and the trains and the donkeys with the view it will give you quite the smile when you think of those times !Thanks Laura ❤️enjoy ❤️
So true and fortunately with social media we can atleast stay up to date with what everyone is up to. We were like a big family and there are a lot of wonderful memories. Thanks!
Hi Laura, could you make a video about grandmothers who keep bringing up the subject to the grandchildren? I don’t have any grandchildren myself, which I find very sad. I also hear this from other grandless children women. Why do those grandmothers do this?😢
Congratulations are in order for you. We were in a partnership in building and maintaining townhomes in a suburb here in North Texas in which this ended after 25 years in December 2014 This is a very long story but I will make this short. My husband designed and built 4-plexus for a man that we met by renting one of his 1 bedroom units at the time in which turned into a long term friendship due to my husband’s experience in construction. This man was on planning and finance at TI Dallas in which he had his own financing to move this project along to which this turned into a partnership long term for 25 years, long and short he screwed us around at the end and just left us high and dry. We both became sick and disabled over this and still today suffer from this. We lived on the property and never took 1 vacation for all them years because we loved it so much up till the end. He always told us that we were to nice. I will stop there because this story has many arms and legs to be told. I would just be ranting if I went on-sorry, so much to say, Anyway congratulations to you, we wished this could have been us telling the same story. Happy for you 🎉. Thanks you for this video it brought good memories and also tears. Robert and Judy 10-24-2024
Thank you so much for sharing your story. Business relationships can tear your heart out. This was really the reason I came to work for my Dad, he had had some very bad experiences with partners and was taken advantage of. Life is so full of ups and downs. I hope you are both doing better
@@laurahillauthor Oh! If you mean the printing of them, I know about printing. If it was selling ads for them, I definitely do not know anything about it. I am not good at sales. Thanks for the reply and sorry if I sounded nosy, which I guess I was….. but I just wondered. Glad I found your channel because this is the phase of life I’m navigating and not doing so well at all.
Not nosy at all I enjoy the questions, and yes selling advertising, producing the directories and delivering them but hired a company who actually did the printing.
I've learned to take time to breathe and to reflect on my accomplishments. There’s no rush to move on to the next thing. I moved to Colorado over the summer, and it has been wonderful to change most aspects of my life. It's been a little sad to leave friends in Illinois. Making life-changing decisions is usually not without some sadness. Cheers to what's next.
Exactly. If you weren’t leaving something full of good memories you wouldn’t be sad about it. So in a way I’m grateful to be a bit sad…. The journey was wonderful to get here today
😢 i’m getting teary-eyed listening to you. But I do want to say congratulations on being able to end this one chapter of your life and begin a new one. Oh what beautiful memories you have working with your dad.❤
It’s definitely bittersweet. I’m grateful for all the good memories. Better to have had them than not. So I will keep reminding myself❤️
What a special moment to share with us! Life is an adventure for sure!
Definitely and thanks!
I retired 2 years ago, and I made the same choice to just relax and enjoy being in control of my days. I had thought about things I might want to do, and I have done some of those things, but it still feels great to be my own boss and not have to meet anyone else's expectations.
Ditto!
Agree💯thanks for sharing
Wow! Bittersweet comes to mind. I always worked part time. When my daughter had her 2 kids and she wasn’t working out of the home, they own their own business, I quit! I wouldn’t miss a minute to be with them. No regrets. My husband worked at the same place for 43 years and when he retired he had absolutely no regrets and he really liked his job. We saved for retirement & we live very comfortably!
Love stories like this. Life is such an interesting journey we are all so unique.
Hi Laura, what a big life change for you! So many great memories to treasure and all the true friends along the way. Retirement is never easy, I retired 3 years before I wanted to from the school district in S. CA. So wish I had those 3 years for my pension, but don’t have any regrets. Your next chapter in life will be more fulfilling, amazing & a chance for new beginnings! ❤
Thanks so much Candy!! Appreciate the support. It’s definitely going to be an adventure
Laura - You are SUCH a class act! And we are SO in need of class! You bring honor and diplomacy and just pure goodness to all of us listening to your videos! We are enriched by your words and ways! Thank you so much!🙏
The trailing pups are so precious! 🐾🐾
Haha they are never far❤️
Thanks so much, lots of years and lots of experiences lol good and bad!
I can really relate Laura. i retired last year and i’m now helping out at hubby’s office and helping him wind down . He is planning on retiring and is trying to sell his business so hopefully in the next couple of years. it’s a bittersweet time
I’m sure is a bittersweet time, especially as you’ve both worked so hard. I hope the transition goes smoothly.
The only thing I felt I was giving up when I retired was stress! The joy that I would never, ever have to see those people again. I worked for a global corporation and any hourly employee can tell you, it's not pleasant. But surviving it did toughen me up. Nothing bothers me. I always wanted to have a job at a place like you had. It sounds like heaven to me. Enjoy your life!
I was so ready. Money is tight, but my sanity is more important.
I retired, never looked back, not even kept in contact with anyone. I moved to another state, and have been extremely happy.
I absolutely will, thanks for the sage advice!
Agree💯
Good for you! How empowering
That's such a cool office building! I think a big change like retirement is sort of like grieving a loss and the same stages in a way, especially when it is sudden and not gradual. Glad you are taking time to nurture yourself.
I agree. She does kind of sound like she is grieving. But it's good she will take time for herself, too.
Thanks. You are exactly right. It is very much like grieving
Thanks and yes I agree. It’s a tough process for sure
Congratulations on your retirement and may the memories be a source of happiness for you.
They will be, thanks so
Much
Congratulations, Laura! On to a new chapter!! ❤❤🎉
Laura, I find you such a down to earth woman. I think that comes through with your videos. I like the idea about taking time for yourself. So very important. Some people find retirement a bad word, but it does not have to be.
I agree, she is very down to earth :)
Thank you so much Michelle. It’s definitely a process but I am determined to take the time I need.
Thanks so much Brynne!
To me it was as if I was walking, like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, from a dull black and white to an open, colorful and beautiful world. I have flourished in my retirement because it is the real me.
I love that analogy. And the Wizard of Oz is my all time favorite. Now I will think of that every day. Thanks!
@@laurahillauthor It is my favorite movie as well.
A new chapter. Many new adventures yet to come. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I’m so ready!!! Time to reinvent
I can’t imagine since 1996, it’s your 53 yr old guy subscriber from Detroit, Laura. Good for you for having and being part of the family business and for your mayorship. I’m a W-2 employee that has been in sales forever and over the past 5 years have gotten in to buy and hold real estate and now have 6 units/7 doors. I was in the military long ago and worked on robotic systems, performed/sang in theater shows… there are so many personal and cherished experiences that we all have that no one will ever know, but ourselves! Life is a crazy thing and like I say, you have to sop up the gravy of life with that biscuit at every chance you can and make use of your short time on the planet. We’ll all be gone one day so you might as well make the best of it and surround yourself with loving people who bring you joy and things that fulfill us! Love your channel, my dear. Even though you’re a lady, I’m learning perspective vicariously through you. And for that, I’m grateful. Look forward to commenting again soon. Take care. ❤
Great comment! ( and from a guy!🤗)
Thanks so much. Really appreciate your point of view. And what a great path you have travelled!
So many mixed emotions when you retire. Thanks for sharing this special moment in your life.
Weird time. One the one hand, over prepared on the other hand under prepared. Figuring out the middle. Thanks!!
Beautiful
I enjoy your videos so much. I'm an artist and a mess and you seem to be my exact opposite when it comes to personality, but I can't but be in awe of your elegance. You are the human equivalent of silk. I wish you all the best for this new chapter!
I’d rather be an artist! I don’t have a creative bone in my body. So I admire your craft. I guess we all look at others in a bit of awe, it is what makes us all unique. Thanks for following along
Such a bittersweet time for you and your family. Hard to say goodbye to the family business, but ready to embrace life with whatever comes next. I can tell you’ve worked hard to make sure you’re in the perfect and healthy frame of mind to begin the next exciting chapter. Thanks for sharing this milestone with us ♥️
Thanks so much. Definitely a strange time of extremes. Looking forward to finding the middle ground!
I'm glad you point out to take the time needed immediately upon retirement. So often (once the financials are set) people are assuming it's fair sailing and what a great adventure, but if you did love your work, found purpose, routine and close relationships, it is far more complicated. Whether the traditional choices work well, or if your life will require a different configuration, you are spot on in just processing, grieving a bit, finding gratitude and accomplishment in a work life well lived, and then allowing things to evolve and feelings to settle. People get there, but not when the mask of perpetual happiness is all one hears.
Such wonderful advice! Thanks for sharing this
Thank you so much Lauren for sharing your last day in that special space with us. It’s a bittersweet moment for sure. We are all at a stage in our lives where saying goodbye and things ending are far too frequent. However, I share the same sentiment as you, one of gratitude. I’m a big journaler. And I’ve spent many years journaling about different jobs, experiences, troubles, and victories. I often go back and reread those journal entries, and they fill me with love and humor.
I got a little choked up watching this. I hope you had a therapeutic cry at some point. What a wonderful experience to have worked at the same place for so long, especially with your father. New experiences await you and all of us, Brava, my friend! ❤
Thanks so much. Appreciate your kind words. What a journey we are all on!
Great video! I was just forced to retire from my career of 35 years. I miss the relationships and am working through the grief. I also am taking a break. People keep asking me what are you going to do now and I say…I don’t know but time will tell! Enjoy your break!
You too!! So empowering to own your schedule for a bit. But yes the struggle is there. Thinking it will get better every day.
Wow that’s amazing thank you for sharing ! I can imagine the relationship you had at work with you dad so so cool, with your pups and the trains and the donkeys with the view it will give you quite the smile when you think of those times !Thanks Laura ❤️enjoy ❤️
Thank you so much!
Your company will live on until the last employee’s memory fades & that’ll be a long time coming
So true and fortunately with social media we can atleast stay up to date with what everyone is up to. We were like a big family and there are a lot of wonderful memories. Thanks!
Wishing you all the Best .Love your Donkey s and there Names.
Thanks so much!
Take one day at a time ❤️
Agree!
Congratulations on your next chapter. enjoy.
Thanks so much, ready for whatever comes next!
You are a very wise woman ❤
That’s very kind. Thanks so much
Hi Laura, could you make a video about grandmothers who keep bringing up the subject to the grandchildren? I don’t have any grandchildren myself, which I find very sad. I also hear this from other grandless children women. Why do those grandmothers do this?😢
Thanks for the great topic suggestion. I’m thinking about a video about dealing with our grown children and this fits in perfectly. Thanks!
❤
Thanks for this spécial vidéo, congratulations..
Thank you so much! Looking forward to sharing my new normal
Congratulations are in order for you. We were in a partnership in building and maintaining townhomes in a suburb here in North Texas in which this ended after 25 years in December 2014 This is a very long story but I will make this short. My husband designed and built 4-plexus for a man that we met by renting one of his 1 bedroom units at the time in which turned into a long term friendship due to my husband’s experience in construction. This man was on planning and finance at TI Dallas in which he had his own financing to move this project along to which this turned into a partnership long term for 25 years, long and short he screwed us around at the end and just left us high and dry. We both became sick and disabled over this and still today suffer from this. We lived on the property and never took 1 vacation for all them years because we loved it so much up till the end. He always told us that we were to nice. I will stop there because this story has many arms and legs to be told. I would just be ranting if I went on-sorry, so much to say, Anyway congratulations to you, we wished this could have been us telling the same story. Happy for you 🎉. Thanks you for this video it brought good memories and also tears. Robert and Judy 10-24-2024
Thank you so much for sharing your story. Business relationships can tear your heart out. This was really the reason I came to work for my Dad, he had had some very bad experiences with partners and was taken advantage of. Life is so full of ups and downs. I hope you are both doing better
However the echo sound when you talk its very sad😢. Says it all.
Oh my isn’t that so true. I hate not having quality sound but I thought it was so appropriate. Speaks volumes about the ‘end’ of this chapter
What kind of business was it?
County telephone directories (the yellow pages)
@@laurahillauthor Oh! If you mean the printing of them, I know about printing. If it was selling ads for them, I definitely do not know anything about it. I am not good at sales. Thanks for the reply and sorry if I sounded nosy, which I guess I was….. but I just wondered. Glad I found your channel because this is the phase of life I’m navigating and not doing so well at all.
Not nosy at all I enjoy the questions, and yes selling advertising, producing the directories and delivering them but hired a company who actually did the printing.