Retirement is a Time to Live Life Slowly

Like most people who are fortunate enough to reach retirement age, I spent decades working in a fast-paced environment where every project was a “top priority”, every problem a “crisis” and every task “very important” to the bottom line.  Most of the performance reviews focused on what went wrong during the year and how to correct it.  I arrived at the office early to get things done before the interruptions could start and stayed later to do some of the things those interruptions kept me from doing.  I was determined to change that when I retired because this period of my life was something I could control and live the way I wanted.  Retirement is a time to live life slowly and savor every minute and pleasure it has to offer.  I believed that on day one of my freedom from Corporate America and I believe it even more six years later.  Free time is the most valuable gift that retirement gives you and, sadly, many people don’t appreciate that fact and, even worse, don’t make the most of the time that they’ve been given.  I contend that if you don’t see that difference and learn to fully appreciate it, you’re not enjoying retired life to the fullest and that’s what this website is all about.

This morning I watched someone who is retired walk by our front window doing his daily exercise.  Good for him.  Staying healthy is important.  But what he was also doing almost got me to go out and stop him in his tracks.  He had his phone in one hand and was madly scrolling as he walked forward at a brisk pace.  Clearly this is a new disease that is affecting more and more people and obviously you can walk without watching where you’re going or for total disregard for anything that is in front of you.  We were in an airport last week and the number of people showing this same behavior was astounding.  I understood what I saw in the airport, but I cannot accept what I saw outside my window.  This was someone who was retired and could not wait to read what was coming across his phone. I will be the first one to say that I’m old, but I couldn’t wait to get rid of my cell phone when I retired. At the insistence of my family, I did get a new one, but I barely use it.  I regard it as the biggest intrusion ever invented and I get it, I know I’m in the minority, but do we really have to have it in front of us at all times?  Even when we’re walking?  First of all, it’s unsafe but it’s also a fact that civilization did very well before the cell phone became an extension of ourselves.  I happen to think that the focus on the activities of other people being shared through texts and messages has robbed people of a sense of peace and quiet and a time to savor the moment.  I know people will disagree and I know it’s hard to change a habit, but have you ever tried to do without your cellphone?  I believe retirement is a time to live life slowly and becoming a little less reliant on your cell phone is one way to immerse yourself in the moment and appreciate who is with you and what’s going on around you.  That’s the second reason to make it a point to focus on the present and slow life down just a bit – you’ll begin to appreciate the wonders of the world around you.  A slower pace gets you to notice so many things we take for granted like the clouds in the sky (which can be absolutely amazing at times), the creatures of nature (who do some scandalous things if you take the time to notice) or the person right in front of you who deserves your utmost attention.  Yes, I’m old and fighting an uphill battle but I know what happens when you slow down.  Retirement, perhaps more than any other time in your life, is a time to slow down.  Our aging bodies tell us this but there’s a very good reason for it.  Retirement is a time to live life slowly and appreciate the work of art that is your life.  You’ve spent decades filling the canvas through different events and experiences and now it’s time to step back, just like you would do with any work of art and take the time to appreciate it and figure out how to finish it.  Retirement is the capstone of your life, and it is worth taking the time to see “where you’ve been” to figure out where you want to go.

Retirement is a time to live life slowly
and savor every experience.

This website was designed to help people get the most out of retirement and to live their lives as fully as you imagined when you were graduating high school or college and embarking on a working career.  If life got in the way of your dreams, it’s time to rekindle those desires and long forgotten interests.  Finding a quiet place to reflect on your life is never a bad thing to do.  Those performance reviews that used to be a part of your job were sometimes very useful to get you back on track or to highlight those achievements that you worked so hard to accomplish.  There’s great value in doing those things with your life and to get the most that you can out of the days that you’ve been given. Retirement is a time to live life slowly and savor every moment like a fine wine or a delicious meal.

Most people live life like a dinner at a fast-food establishment.  They go in, look at the offerings, make a decision and expect the meal to be served in minutes.  They take their food to a table and are done with their meal in ten minutes, ready to go with life.  I understand how that works and that’s basically how my life went when I was doing my best to support a family and make as much money as I could.  There was probably a better way but, fortunately, everything came out very well.  By the time I was approaching retirement age, I knew the changes I wanted to make for my golden years.  My “crisis” phone calls in the middle of the night and endless business trips with time away from my family led me to the belief that retirement is a time to live life slowly.  There would be no more “fast-food”.  Life would be savored like a lavish meal featuring appetizers and an entrée followed by a wonderful dessert.  You could take your time looking at the menu while you savored your favorite cocktail and decided on the perfect wine that would be served with each course.  You’ve probably had a meal like that in your life, and you still smile when you think about it.  You can shape your retirement in the same way.

Retirement is a time to live life slowly and savor all the things you may have taken for granted.  Explore your local history and go to someplace you’ve never been to before.  Find the most scenic spot within fifty miles and have a picnic there.  Try to recreate your favorite foods in your own kitchen and learn about the world we live in.  Read (or listen to) a biography of a great person and see how it changes your perspective.  Find out how our history has led to our current events.  It’s more interesting than any movie or soap opera you could ever watch if you take the time to find out about the people involved and why they did what they did.  Make every day a chance to learn and do something new.  It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!

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