Shedding Sunshine

Let the Sunshine Out!

Posted on by sheddingsunshine

Alas! I’m a bit of a failure at retirement!! You’d think succeeding at NOT working would be much easier than working 8-10 hours a day for 45+ years!

When people asked, “what are you going to do once you retire?” (amongst seeing my grandkids, traveling with Tony, volunteering, etc.), I would always say, “Now that I’ll have the time, I want to read for leisure, learn to watercolor, and write ‘who knows what…but just for the joy of it!'” Well, it’s been almost 4 years since I retired, and I’m WAY behind on the goal trifecta! Scoring myself on my little report card below, my GPA is 1.58! Barely a D+!

READING: C

WATERCOLOR: B-

WRITING: F

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Reading: C

Not a particularly stellar effort on my part in achieving this goal! Sure, I’ve read a few books, but not enough. I don’t carve out time on a regular basis nor grant myself permission to read. If I wait until bedtime, I’m usually too tired and nod off. Ugh. I don’t want to be a C student in Reading!!

Just found this stunning book by Ruth Chou Simons nestled on the top shelf of my bookcase! It was gifted to me by my dear friend, Peggy, a few years ago, and I finally started it! Beautiful artwork, inspirational, encouraging. Highly recommend!

Watercolor:  B-

Well, in the beginning of YEAR 3 of my retirement, I dove into learning to watercolor. “Dove in” is probably an exaggeration. I get an A+ for researching watercolor, watching tutorials, purchasing books, and getting stocked up on paints, brushes, and paper. But again, back in the C- range for actually picking up a paintbrush, dipping it into water and paint, and then applying it to paper. EVERY time I do, however, I feel exhilarated, even amidst the frustration of currently being rather bad at it! I am just loving learning again! There’s a creative side of me just begging to come out and play!

This was my first “real painting attempt” back in January 2023. As the saying goes, “I’ve got a long way to go and a short time to get there” before I die, so I better get practicing!

Writing: F

Epic fail. Other than writing and editing a few operating procedures for our church, I’ve written NOTHING. Til today. (Well, one day I inked a couple of paragraphs on a page of a beautiful new journal my friend Connie gave me for my birthday, so I guess NOTHING would be a lie, but you get the picture.) This, from a woman who LOVES words, LOVES writing, and who has done it my whole career…policy manuals, in-house company-wide communications, newsletters, website copy, silly poems and songs. You name it, I’ve always been writing. Heck, I used to even write a pretty mean Christmas letter! (“mean” = adjective: excellent, very skillful or effective. Not, “mean” = adjective: unkind, spiteful, or unfair.) But, for the last almost 4 years – nada, nil, nothing of import.

Writer’s block is real!!

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But TODAY, akin to Spider-Man, words and sentences are shooting like webs from my fingertips to the keyboard! Words that have been stuffed inside, mulling around, with no place to go, are finally escaping. And dang, it feels great!

And what, pray tell, has caused this fountain to flow forth? (She saith with an Elizabethan accent.) My new She Shed. (What?!! That’s your inspiration for writing?) Partially. Read on.

Yes, I’m getting my very own She Shed, and I’m so thankful to Tony who has been encouraging me. It is being built the day after Tony’s birthday (Aug 31!)…lucky him! (insert eye rolling emoji!)

I’ve been envisioning my shed as a place to proactively pursue and enjoy those pesky (ha!!) retirement goals. I’ve designed the interior placement of an L-shaped desk where I will paint from one side and write from the other…both spots with lovely views out windows. I’ve been researching (of course!) a couch vs comfy chairs, from which to read a variety of books that will sit in some attractive array on a bookshelf that will reside on the one of the walls.

My She-Shed-To-Be! (Sans the window on the right)

This cheery new spot of mine needed a name, and it came to me a few days ago, She’s going to be christened Sunshine Shed. Double entendre. It will be my “happy place” with plenty of natural light, but it also will be named after what my birth surname SHOULD have been. Yes, I should have been named Dana Sunshine (not Dana Gray). Long story for another writing marathon!

Excited as I am about my She Shed and naming it, THE thought that got me typing away this morning was thinking about the “what, where, why” of me writing. For awhile now, I’ve been tossing about the thought of writing a BLOG. (Like the world NEEDS another blogger. HA!) And who would read it? Would anyone? Would I care if they did/didn’t?

My season of Facebook is petering out except for lurking and learning from my Watercolor groups. I have over 600 “friends” and see posts from about 4 of them amongst a barrage of ads. Most everyone has moved on to Instagram. But neither FB or IG are the vehicles of expression that I need as I am a woman of MANY words! That creative fountain of thoughts and words inside of me has to have a place to flow. Unlike many bloggers, I don’t think I qualify to be an “influencer” of any sort, have no desire to sell products, won’t become famous, nor will I make money off my blog (although wouldn’t THAT be a kick!). For me, it’s really just a catalyst to write, to create, to be satisfied with the journey, and to have a “home” for the words to land as they leave my head!

Sooooo….back to my morning inspiration. Yes! I’m going to write a blog! And, If I’m going to blog, I need a NAME for it! Since I’ll be writing from my new Sunshine Shed, why not incorporate the name somehow?! (Can you feel my silly excitement building? My kids would now be rolling their eyes!) 🙄

At first I thought, “She Said from the She Shed”…cute, but it would be a long internet address: shesaidfromthesheshed.com. (And that’s a LOT of S’s! Ugh.) That won’t work, charming though it may be. I threw a number of other ideas at the wall. But none of them stuck.

And then, while brushing my teeth, it came to me: (Spit, Rinse, and Dramatic Drumroll Please): Shedding Sunshine! (Yes, you read that correctly: shedding, not spreading!) You know, like “shedding light” …not “shedding of antlers, fur or skin” …though, as I age, some of that has been happening! 😊

Thesaurus/dictionary-type explanation: Shedding Sunshine: a.) Shedding (writing from my shed…duh!) and b.) Shedding (to pour forth in drops as in “shedding tears” and, to give off or out as in “shedding some light on the subject.” a.) Sunshine (my “shoulda-coulda-woulda paternal surname) and b.) Sunshine (radiant, emanating light and warmth).

And there you have it, I’ve just finished my first blog entry! Wanna come along with me for more? I’ll be shedding thoughts, novice watercolor efforts, sneaking in a pic or two of the grandkids, and who knows what else from the interior of my Sunshine Shed. Find me at sheddingsunshine.com. (Note the almost perfect, succinct internet address! Boy am I smugly happy with myself!)

Let the sunshine out!

Sooo…for now, this is my “Site Logo/ID” in blogspeak. Why? Because it’s happy and inspirational…and…Sunshine and Gray are in the same sentence/quote/image! How fun is THAT?!

50 thoughts on “Let the Sunshine Out!”

  2. I can’t wait to read what comes next. We have a bit of history together and I look forward to sharing our future as fellow retirees as well.

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  3. I love this, Dana! You are not retired…you are re-purposed and doing a wonderful job at it!
    Looking forward to reading future blog posts and gaining some tips on watercolor painting.

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      1. You are definitely a ray of sunshine, Dana! Always have been, & you have such a beautiful smile! I think your 1st watercolor is beautiful. And I love your ideas!
        You make retirement look pretty wonderful! I have a couple/three years to go, but can’t wait!

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  4. Hi Dana, Michelle Feltz here. Not sure you remember me. Calvary Chapel Fern Ridge. I enjoyed seeing your blog……. Interesting—- I love writing, but not my thoughts. Just writing. I’ve been writing down scripture. Chapter by chapter, verse by verse. 🤷‍♀️. And since I have retired I’ve started watercolor. Love it.

    Lookig forward to seeing more of your blog.

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  5. Looking forward to reading your blog, my ‘ol sunshiny friend. Great job on on your first rays! I’ll be waiting for the next post.

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  6. Dana. This great! Love reading it and I will love fallowing you through this new adventure.

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  7. I’m happy you made the choice to blog. Yay! Go Dana. You are such a talented writer. 🙂

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    2. Oh Dana Dana,
      What a wonder you are my friend. Can’t wait to visit your she shed with my paints in tow!

      👩‍🎨🎨🧑‍🎨

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  8. Hi Dana,
    You are a great writer. Look forward to reading more on your blog. Be sure to post pictures of your She Shed once it’s up and running. How fun! Miss seeing you.

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  9. Dana! Love, love, love this! I heard your voice as I read. Your joy and laughter. Beautiful words from a beautiful soul sprinkled with silliness and love. I’m excited to follow along ☺️

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  11. No grades, no pass/fail. Enjoy your journey and thanks so much for including us on the trip❤️

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  12. Good for you! I look forward to reading your, as always, SUNNY words! I too watercolor, but my brushes have been dry for a few years…🙄 I’m always thinking about starting again… how on earth do I fritter away days, weeks and months?? You are inspiring!💗

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    1. Hi Marsha! How long have YOU been doing watercolor? I’d love to see your stuff! Yes, I agree…the days, the years do get “frittered away…” I LOVE not working, but at the end of each day, I’m a bit sad that it’s over, as I can’t get it back. That’s why I need to “get busy” with the things that bring me joy…coupled with reasonably paced frittering! 🙂

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  14. Yay! Great first read, looking forward to more. And can I just say that your first attempt at watercolor was pretty darn impressive! Most of the stuff in galleries looks like they heaved a pop tart covered in paint at the canvas and whatever mark it made was good enough. I like your art much better. Keep at it!

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  15. Congratulations on your new, very fun blog! We need more shedding of sunshine in the world! I look forward to following along with my very favorite birthday twin!

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  17. Dana, what a great beginning to your new endeavor! I look forward to absorbing some of your sunshine! Way to go!
    Love you,
    Connie

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  18. Sunshine Dana! You are my very 1st blog reading! 💖 Wow! I don’t know if that’s the proper way to say that, but you are an amazing writer. Especially love all references to the 🌞 since that is my guiding light through retirement 2X. Can’t wait for more charming enthusiasm coming from your new She Shed! Hugs to you!😊sandy

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  20. Well done my beautiful friend. A quiet place is a must. I still have written words from you from high school. So cool. You and Kent are the same person. Which is why I love you both.

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  21. Love the name you came up with and reading your blog. You’ve found your happy place in words and I throughly enjoyed it. Keep it going. I want to read what’s next!

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    1. Thanks, my MHS friend! Yes! Words are my “gig” just like your AMAZING photos are yours! ❤️
      PS…I think you can sign up to follow my posts by clicking a button at the bottom of the page!

      Reply

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