Sometimes, I wake up in the morning and think,
'What do I need to get up for?'
You know, the answer is always the same, 'Nothing!'

Sometimes I wake up in the morning and think,
'What purpose do I have in life?'
You know, the answer is always the same, 'None!'

I used to wake up in the morning and think,
'What a glorious day it is!'
You know, 'It usually was!'

I used to wake up in the morning and think,
'Another day, another dollar!'
You know, 'I went out and earned it!'

I can't go out and earn anymore,
And you know what,
'That really pisses me off!'

CC welcome, good bad or indifferent. 
Jeffg7brj

That's a wonderful poem, because it made me reflect on my own life.  ;-)  

After retiring, I traded in the word "earn" for "create", which is why I get up, and my purpose in life.  Each day is glorious.  That doesn't mean I couldn't use some "earnings", just that it isn't who I am anymore.  Actually the word "create" was always there, I just didn't have the energy or time after "earning" to live the true purpose of my life.

Looks like "create" is a good word for you from what I read.

I agree with ZannZen except in my case it wasn't retirement..I became disabled and couldn't go out and work.   I went thru the period of depression that you are probably going thru and one day I came across a free 3D program called Daz Studio.  It gives me a way to be creative and keeps my mind off of the past and on the here and  now.   :biggrin:

Mine was forced retirement due to ill health, I had an accident in 1972 and have never been 'right' since, I was registered disabled in 1976  the medical proffesion told me to relax, I would never work again.  But I ignored them and carried on working up until two years ago, when my back went again, this time I have torn a disc and it is protruding and agrevating a nerve and so now I suffer with nerve pain.  The above thoughts are not constant, but I have thought them quite a few times, somebody elses words jolted my memory.  I am never idle when I do get up, its just that I do not have a clear cut purpose anymore.

This is the first time I have ever writen my thoughts down and looked at them constructively.

I went thru the depression caused by the final realization that my life had changed and wouldn't be the same as it was...ever again.   One thing I did in the beginning was alienate everyone in my family...I don't regret that because my family was, and is, dysfunctional.  I'm talking bros and sisters and we are all over "middle age"  lol.
The next thing I did was start writing it all in a journal with the intention of writing a book.  I may never get the actual finished book out of it..but writing it all down is like getting it all out and clearing the negative thoughts from your mind.   Now I concentrate on my art and the friends I've made since.
If you just reach out there is always someone here who will help you

Jeff, When I first read this a couple of days ago, I thought how frustrating it must be for you.  Or for anyone in a similar position.  You tell it well and powerfully.  I especially love the last line, that really brings it home!!
marilyn

Sorry about that terrible color choice, I tired to edit it and nothing happened.
Even I can barely read it.  So, I"ll write it again---
Jeff, when I first read this the other day, I thought how frustrating it must be for anyone  in a similar position.  You tell it well and powerfully.  I especially love the last line, that really brings it home!!
marilyn

This is a powerful piece of writing, and it touches on so much.  I'm in good health (so far) and CAN work, but what strikes me is something a friend of mine once said.  "There is no reason to get up in the morning, there is no purpose in life."  It sounds cynical and depressive on the surface, but what I noticed is the incredible amount of freedom embodied in that sentiment.  There are no reasons to get up in the mornings, there is no meaning to life...this doesn't mean that it's not worth it to get up and live, it just means that the universe/world is kind and gentle enough to let us all come up with our own reasons!  We have no obligations, no real ones anyway...and so to get up and to live is actually a choice, and each time we do it for our own reasons, we give meaning to those things that are inherently meaningless.  Humans are pretty darn good at that.  THIS is why I like your poem so much; it reminds me of that, and it lets me see that as long as I (or anyone else) continues to strive, I'm (or we are) giving meaning to so many different things.

Great work here!