As the years slip away, many think about "retirement."

Fear of Social Security benefits going broke, many feel panic ebbing at their peace of mind.

Economic tides erode many safe shores of savings, securities, retirement funds, and plans of going on a perpetual vacation called, "Retirement."

Many factors weigh heavily upon our futures - health, jobs, family, marriage, divorce, and the list goes on. We cannot control our future anymore than we can change the past. However, our outlook and attitude towards growing older can mean the difference between discouragement and contentment with a peaceful tranquility.

An old gentleman told me that many of his friends had died. He said that when they stopped moving, they began dying. He was almost ninety years old and walked nearly everywhere he went. He had no plans to retire. He wanted to do something all the time.

Since my divorce over ten years ago, I started planning to grow old. In those plans, retirement was not an option because that divorce ended all securities for that perpetual vacation. I don't mind. I would rather be busy doing something the day death knocks on my door.

Writing novels is something I plan to do in my old age. I may never be the top ten, but it is something to do in my late years that has potential to bring in a few bucks. I have more than enough ideas (WIP stored in my head and computer) to last me beyond centurion age.

Without seriously planning a course of building a business, it appears to have presented itself rather rewarding: Alterations and sewing for other people. With a history of sewing since early childhood, I have realized how much I enjoy it. It is another way to earn when I am beyond "useful" years of punching a clock at a job.

You see, I do not plan to retire as the world thinks of retirement. I plan to work the rest of my life. I enjoy working at something. Boredom is not a part of my life at all. I don't even own a television.

I don't plan to retire. However, I do have plans for growing old. One goal I have already accomplished: Debt Free! Without debt, I have options. Debt-free means that I can enjoy life with the freedom to adapt and adjust to economic tides easier than those who live life on the edge where every wind of opportunity blows just beyond reach while even the gentle breeze of mishap blows them away.

Now, where did I put that bucket list?

Often, we dream of our goals, we begin with a fever to run the race. Some days, we feel we can never make it to the finish line. Other days feel like the more we run the race, the further the goal seems to be.

Sometimes, we need to sit back and take a look behind us. How far have we run in the race? Is the goal really farther away, or have we continued to expect more in our final destination?

Writing novels can feel like the more we work at it, the further it is away - that thing called success.

Today, I visited my own website, made a few changes, and then checked my emails. Then, I sit back and thought about the very first book I ever had in my hand that I could say I wrote it all by myself. I have come a long way, baby. I am living my dream. I am striving towards my goal, the finish line.

The goal seems further away because I am busy running the race and I do not want the race to ever end. I am not ready for it to end. The race itself is my goal: I am a writer.

A rose has never complained of having been named a rose...nor does it desire a  different name to dimenish the fact that a rose has thorns

If you think that evil is so obvious as a vampire, a black hole, or oozing monster, then the beautiful and quiet evil will devour you before you know what hit you.

The worst kind of evil appears innocent and beautiful.

Perception is a delicate point of view changing faster
than the weather and is slyer than a fox.

My eyes do not choose what I may see. I have the power over my eyes to decide what they may see, or to turn away from. Seeing is not evil, nor is it good. Our choice determines the goodness of the blessing of sight.