Taking time for reflection is something many people don’t do. That’s very sad. Slowing down a bit and savoring every experience can increase the pleasure of our experience in a way that is almost impossible to measure. How often in life did we reflect on something that we thought was a strange coincidence and have it turn out that it resulted in a significant change in our life? Writing about these experiences can enhance your understanding of how you got to this point in your life, but it can also give you a clue about how to direct your future. Start your retirement journal today and you’ll start to create a record that helps you recapture the pleasant memories as they occur and guide you through some of the troubled times that we all experience. We don’t question the value of a textbook for a course that we’re taking. In many ways a journal can become a textbook for our life and serve as a reminder of what we’ve done and what our reaction to it was as we were experiencing it. At least two very beneficial things will happen when you begin to record your thoughts and activities and it’s possible something else will happen to you as well.
The first benefit when you start your retirement journal is the record of all of your activities and the importance of that can’t be overstated. We all know that our memory isn’t quite what it used to be so the fact that you record your activities ensures that there will be a way to recall what you did and when you did it. It may even improve your memory because writing something down is a way to reinforce the ability to recall an event. We started our retirement journal on our first winter journey and you have no idea how often we refer back to it to recall restaurants, meals, things that we did and ideas for the next time we come to an area. We have found some true treasures in the places that we’ve travelled to and have found that a little research into an area can yield some great experiences. If you’re faithful to the process, you’ll soon discover that you are doing a lot more than you thought and the action of writing it down is a simple but effective way to keep those memories alive.
The second benefit that you’ll experience when you start your retirement journal is how thought provoking some of your experiences can be. We visited a landmark site in Florida where the historic house had actually been moved about a mile to save it. What it makes you realize is that the past deserves to be honored and preserved. Not every part of the past, of course, but preserving the important pieces can make a time period feel much more real and you can appreciate the progress that we’ve made that we sometimes take for granted. Looking at the first telephone installations in some of the homes reminds you that there was a time when a phone was a luxury. I remember we got our first telephone when we moved in 1960 and that was a very big deal for a nine-year-old. Thoughts like that can be recorded in your journal and will probably trigger other recollections from your youth. My wife and I often talk about our childhoods and how we lived. We’ve been inspired by those conversations to look up other places to visit or books to read to answer any questions that the experiences of the day may have triggered. A retirement journal can be a diary of your questions and curiosities about life. We should never stop learning and being inspired by the world around us.
Inspiration may be the biggest result you witness as you start your retirement journal. Not only will you discover how interesting it is to record your activities along with your thoughts and inspirations for future travel, but you may actually find that you enjoy writing as well. The exercise of writing has always been enjoyable to me, and it’s been a source of mental, emotional and even spiritual contentment. The act of putting words on a page forces you to organize your thoughts and gain an understanding about what you’re feeling. It’s possible that no one will see what you write. That your audience of one is all that you require. I know that feeling very well. There are things that I write that I know will never see the light of day let alone the eyes of another person. It’s also possible that you’ll feel the urge to share your thoughts and wisdom with others. I’ve chosen to do that through this website which has provided more enjoyment than I ever thought possible. Especially when you get a little positive feedback and you see that the daily visitor count is gradually increasing. But the truth is that I would do this even if I knew no one would come by. I like organizing my thoughts and presenting a little essay on different topics that I think are important. Every day is new. I can write about whatever I want, and I don’t have to worry about losing my job because I don’t have one! This is still a hobby to me and probably the most enjoyable one I’ve ever had. If you start your retirement journal, don’t be surprised if the same thing happens to you. Writing can be fun, rewarding and provide you with more satisfaction and fulfillment than you ever thought possible.
So why not start your retirement journal today. Go out and see the world and then record your experiences. Start your own review of trips, cruises, historic sites or restaurants. Develop a readership if that’s what you want to do. Retirees are doing it all the time and some of them are making excellent money doing something they truly enjoy. Give it a try! It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!
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