I got asked that question a lot.

What’s your plan for today?

The first 2 years after my retirement, forced retirement I should add, the question got me pondered. I had no idea what to do when I was not holding a job. My days back then were defined by the work and project schedules. If it was a Tuesday or Thursday, I had project meetings to go to in the morning and after lunch. If it was a Friday, department meeting in the morning and one-on-one in the afternoon. I had deadlines to meet for this project and that project …

Then the question got me depressed. Every morning, I listened to cars roaring by heading to work, and Bart zipping by every 15 minutes. Life is motion. I was in a state of motion-less. I felt that life and energy is leaving me behind. What in the world will I do to spend an entire day? I sat on the sofa, thinking of ways to kill the day. I went to the library and brought home books that I didn’t read, to give myself the sense of delusion that I had accomplished something.

Then one day, I saw life differently. Either I got wiser or I tricked my mind to adapt, but through my rosy lenses, I felt sorry people having to work, sitting in the morning traffic, facing problems throughout the day, rushing home to have dinner and getting ready for the same life routine that will be replayed the next day. And so, I no longer saw life leaving me behind. Life is actually showing me another path. Where I get out of bed whenever I feel the call of coffee is strong enough (or the call of nature :). Where I can do anything I want, my heart and purse permit. Most of the time, I just let the universe surprise me and I marvel at what will be unfolding during the day.

Today, I see the question as a silly question. My answer is the same every time. Simple. I have no plan. I just live.

This morning, I watered the tomato plants, connected with friends and family, then biked for 40 minutes to the nearest Noah’s Bagel, had a bagel with smoked salmon schmear and coffee, then biked home. Feels so good to see people on the trail, young and old, fat and skinny, all breathing in the same air and life that I breathe.

Now, what’s your plan for today?