Retirement is a Game Changer

Retirement is a game changer.  Every day there is something new to appreciate.  It almost always begins with the morning and the luxury of enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee.  For so many years my morning was an hour-long commute on a poorly named Long Island Expressway.  If there was moisture of any kind you would have to add at least another fifteen minutes.  The sad part was that I was out of the house by six every morning to try to get ahead of the traffic!  If there was snow, you were looking at ninety minutes at least.  All of this to get to work by seven to answer e-mails and make calls.  When I was commuting to work, I was traveling and catching a plane or renting a car.  It was not a lifestyle that allowed anyone to relax.  I continue to marvel at how different retirement is and I am grateful every day for that difference.

This morning much of the northeast awoke to a significant amount of snow.  Did I worry about shoveling? No. As I said, retirement is a game changer. I took in the wonder of a fresh snowfall and how beautiful it looks.  I heard the noise of snowplows and just smiled, staying warm in my bed for a couple of more minutes.  Winter can be gorgeous if you have nowhere to go.  We live in a beautiful part of the country, and the snow-covered mountains are spectacular.  The frozen, snow-covered lakes with trees glistening in the winter sun are one of the most beautiful scenes in the world.  They look exactly like the Currier and Ives prints of another age.

Retirement is a game changer if you're open to a new perspective on life.

Retirement is a game changer.  It allows you to slow down and appreciate the hidden pleasures of life.  We spent most of our lives struggling with money and saving for college for our children and our own retirement.  Now, the saving part is done, and we have more money than we ever did during our early years.  We can afford to have a younger and stronger person shovel our driveway who is trying to support his own family, and it feels good to be able to help him do that.  It feels even better not having to shovel the driveway!

We are extremely fortunate to be able to reach this point in our lives, and we are truly grateful for that.  Maybe it’s the years of living that give you that perspective but it’s something we should be aware of and appreciate.  It helps you make sense of this journey of life we’re all on.  Retirement is a game changer.  It gives you the time to examine your life and make changes if you need to.  Every year I take the time to read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and to watch my two favorite versions of it.  For a long time, the 1951 production with Alistair Sim was, for me, the only one to watch. Then, in 1984, George C. Scott re-shaped that role as part of a special television production.  That is now my favorite version and the subtle facial expressions by Mr. Scott make me appreciate the craft of acting but, more importantly, give the words a depth that stays with you long after it’s over.  The story is the best of Dickens and portrays the better side of the human spirit.  It never fails to affect me in some way and to make me realize that we all can have an impact on more lives than we realize and, as we pass through our fifth, sixth or seventh decade, it becomes even more relevant and meaningful.  Retirement is a golden opportunity to reflect on these things and make changes going forward. 

I read many self-help books in my day and one of the exercises was to attend your own funeral and imagine what would be said by those who knew you.  What would you be remembered for?  Would your memory bring a smile or a frown?  Our busy lives prevent us from taking the time to think about those types of things, but retirement can be that time.  This can be the best part of your life.  All of the things that you ever wanted to do can be brought to fruition in some way.  Retirement is a game changer, and we should never forget that.  It’s time to live life to the fullest. It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!

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