Retirement is a Second Chance

Most of us work so hard to make a living that life becomes a blur.  With a family to support, children’s events to attend, saving for college and (hopefully) our retirement, we can reach our post-working days and wonder how we survived.  Corporate America can drain the life out of you.  With today’s technology, you can be on call 24 hours a day.  I remember cancelling two family vacations and vowing to never let it happen again because, as it turned out, I could actually have gone on vacation each of those times.  Was there a word of apology or a nod of appreciation?  No.  I was paid very well but basically owed my life to the company.  Perhaps that is your story as well.  The good news is that retirement is a second chance.  You can take control of your life back and plan your time without being overridden by a manager who doesn't really care about your personal life.  Retirement is totally managed by you.

Retirement is a second chance to live the life your always imagined.

There are almost no limitations to what you can do in retirement.  Some people start a second career, and some people start a business and, if there was something you always wanted to do, that’s a great reason to “start over” because retirement is a second chance to do anything that you want.  Many people revisit their childhood fantasies of becoming an artist or a writer.  They doubted their ability to make a decent living at these activities but, now that they also have a retirement income, the financial side doesn’t carry the same weight as it did when you needed to support a family.  Retirement is a time to explore those hidden desires like cooking, woodworking and traveling.  There were many times that I became so frustrated at work that I would have loved to quit and go on an extended road trip to see as much of this country as I could.  I found out that road trips can be a great way to spend your time in retirement.  We live in the north so escaping the cold during the winter months gives us a perfect opportunity to explore those warmer spots.  Florida, Hawaii, California and even Australia and New Zealand have provided wonderful winter escapes.  We can spend four, six or even eight weeks at a time without any worries about a job.  It’s a wonderful feeling.  Retirement is a second chance to live life to the fullest and savor every day and all that it brings.

We know quite a few people who have made their retirement years a true Second Act in terms of a career.  Some have gone back to school while others have participated in workshops to sharpen their skills.  Whether it’s poetry or songwriting, woodworking or golf, they have become determined to become accomplished in one of their passions and I don’t know anyone who regrets their choice.  A few people in our community actually run podcasts out of their homes and at least one has a YouTube channel that not only keeps them occupied but actually puts a few dollars in their pocket.  In fact, starting a website is a very popular activity among retirees.  I actually think it should be something everyone approaching retirement considers because it’s a way to fill your day with a challenging exercise that can be fun and mentally stimulating.  Artificial intelligence will continue to grow with many jobs being eliminated so why not get on the right side of that trend?

Whatever you choose to do, you should make it something you’re interested in.  I was one of those people who evolved into a job by following the money without too much thought about whether I liked what I was doing.  Retirement is a second chance to avoid that mistake.  And, if money is not a concern, you don’t have to do anything.  You’re allowed to just enjoy your time off and relax.  After decades of work, you deserve a rest.  But, if you ask me, it’s always better to stay just busy enough to always have something to look forward to.  Whether it’s a cruise or an extended road trip, take the time to plan it out and make the most of every day.  I love to research restaurants and find those little spots that just the locals seem to know about. 

Retirement is a second chance to make the most of every day and every experience.  We live in a wonderful world, and we plan to see as much of it as we can.  I suggest that you should do the same.  It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!

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