Margaret felt that her life got much better once she left politics. What did you think of this transformation? Have you ever felt something similar in your own life?

Book Clubs I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home
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Margaret felt that her life got much better once she left politics. “Freed from ambition, she had the space to be, to her own astonishment, happy, and being happy gave her the space to be a nicer person.” What did you think of this transformation? Have you ever felt something similar in your own life?

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Yes! Relief comes with leaving toxic jobs and/or relationships. Even if you once loved it and dread leaving, once you do you feel peace.

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I didn’t leave politics but left public education that sure was political! The more years that have passed since those days, the more I feel freer to pursue new adventures and explore life’s offerings. No Sunday night blues, either!

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You betcha! It took me a little bit of time to adjust to not having a 9-to-5, but after a while I was soooo much more relaxed about life! If I ever needed to rejoin the workforce it would have to be a job where I had no decisions to make - like stocking grocery store shelves or something.

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Definitely leaving workplaces with toxic people makes life better. Ambition isn’t necessarily bad or toxic, but the environment in which ambition is played out can be. Ambition around things you really love never gets old.

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Great decision! These lines mirror the disfunction of our current US political situation - definitely NOT a place where the action is…
“The lords, all nearing death, decades after their last cogent thoughts…That place was the real retirement home. Sheldon Oaks was where the action was.”

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Yes I can relate - After retiring my life was so different and much more enjoyable. Also agree with the bit about the age of the ruling class

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Freedom from high-pressure high-stress is amazing. The body actually changes for the better. ( Example: I became a librarian in my 50s after 30 years of administration. I never knew that my entire personality would grow in a helping environment, ). As other group members posted, getting away from a toxic environment works wonders. Great power could easily burn up a person.

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I had the opposite experience. I was a Labor and Delivery nurse. I loved the excitement and str4ess of birthing babies. I still miss it. I no longer am physically able to do the work. I would trade this quiet peace to do it again