A new way of life

Two years ago I was working 50 hour weeks, dreading the 6.30am text saying that someone couldn't come into work.  When that happened I would have to leap out of bed, in the shower and out, breakfast and out of the door by 7.20.  Even when I went down to 3 days a week in that job it would still be the first thing I thought about when I woke up and the last thing I thought about before I went to sleep.  I never relaxed and, although I was never bored (my greatest fear), I was permanently exhausted both emotionally and physically.  We didn't go out in an evening because I was always too tired.  We didn't do anything at weekends because it made my time off go too quickly(!!!).  When I moved to my current job life improved so much I couldn't believe it.  I worked fewer hours, the responsibility was far less and the load lighter.  Now life has changed again.  I work 2 days a week (although if a job needs finishing I will finish it and if something extra is required I'll do it) and life is even less stressful.  I was thinking about this as I deadheaded the roses in the sunshine this afternoon.  For the first time in many, many years I have a suntan in the summer.  One that isn't the result of a holiday somewhere hot but of pottering in the garden at home.  I have time to meet friends for lunch, I can go out in the evening without fear that I will be too tired in the morning to function and generally life is fun again.  If it wasn't for the circumstances life would be perfect.