The Rewards of Reinventing the Familiar

1. 

   There was once a buzz word called reinventing. It became such a cliché  that I would hear it every time I attended a conference. Yes, we have reinventing the wheel, reinventing the steel, reinventing the business model and reinventing yourself.

   
   

   Everyone was jumping on the bandwagon and the over usage of the idea bored me to smithereens. One of my bosses even said he had to reinvent himself so he would be ‘useful’ to the new leadership. I am not sure whether that was clever or hypocritical.

   
   

   Before I knew it I found myself actually living out the process of reinventing myself, not to chalk up a longer resume or to impress anyone, but rather getting to know what I can do besides teaching.

   
   

   Reinventing involves change.

   
   

   For some people it is a drastic swing from what they were familiar with, to something completely new. Reinvention gurus say that the first step is to have a game plan. A timid person may want to go all out to be an orator and therefore the first step is for him to enrol for a public speaking course.

   

   
   

   For me, reinventing myself is building on what I already know or have, so that I can find great satisfaction in those fields. It is not based on a schedule within a time frame with goals to be achieved. Rather it is a free and easy type of reinventing, with me engaging in new things and taking stock of life experiences.

   
   

   Having left the active workforce four years ago I knew that I would be spending the bulk of my time at home and not in the office. So, the game plan is to be able to enjoy the new found time to the utmost – productively, but not in the sense of reaping in loads of money.

   
   

   

   
   

   Recently I attended my friends’ tenth wedding anniversary at Bulgaden castle in Kilmallock. It was a beautiful affair, with the couple looking radiant and surrounded by their four lovely children. I was looking at her lovely wedding dress and remembered that I had helped her do some minor alterations. Word has got round that I could sew and I was very pleased to help her.

   
   

   

   
   

   Then I heard another lady telling her friend about my chocolate cake and rhubarb crumble – desserts to die for. Another person came by and said she had heard about my garden and was quite happy when I invited her to come by to check it out. One more person asked whether I could give her children painting classes?

   
   

   I am not an expert in anything but it is nice to know that when we put effort into what we enjoy doing, there will be results. I am forever learning from the internet, from attending courses, from reading printed materials and from others. It is amazing that there is so much knowledge out there to be tapped.

   
   

   I have heard of friends who have retired and suddenly found themselves at a loss. Over time they lost the excitement of dressing up or learning more or simply making new friends. Some spend hours checking the face book, watching soap operas or playing computer games.

   
   

   Interestingly enough when I venture into new territories, I find that I also develop character. Volunteering is big in this part of the world. It is energizing and rewarding. because I engage with a diverse range of people from all backgrounds and walks of life.

   
   

   Just the other day I agreed to baby-sit three lovely children thus allowing their mother to take some time out for herself. This was a new territory in itself as I have not had young children around me for a while. Surprisingly, the hours just flew by and there was so much  laughter as the little patter of feet resounded through the whole household. Some things are just too precious - watching the little girls play house with the occupants of my dollhouse and the boy playing ball with my dog.  It was such a pleasure to be surrounded by excited voices and incessant questions that only children could create. The fact that the children enjoyed their stay made it all the more beautiful.

   
   

   And these are the small things that build up a new life.
2. Source: 
3. http://www.nst.com.my/node/17927
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