Stay Active and Engaged in Retirement
If you stay active and engaged in retirement, you will find that you will have a more positive outlook on life, more energy and passion than your counterparts and get out of bed each day looking forward to seeing friends and experiencing all life has to offer. And the best part is that it’s easier to do this than you think. If you’ve done any volunteering at all, you know that finding new participants is the biggest problem most organizations face. Whether it’s a community activity or a local theater or church, volunteers can be the lifeblood that keeps an organization running and the feeling of satisfaction that you’ll get through helping out is one that will bring a smile to yourself. Whether you realize it or not, you’re needed by somebody and you can offer more assistance than you ever thought possible.
You can start with your community. My wife is in a garden club in our local village, and she has enjoyed the activities and information that she gets at each meeting and has worked on the beautiful floral decoration that welcomes visitors as you enter our little town. She hangs garland decorations during the holidays and there are a couple of trips that are done throughout the year. I don’t choose to attend but she tells me that there are quite a few males that participate and are busy building plant stands and various other display tables and hangers. It’s just one way that you can stay active and engaged in retirement.
The local historical society is more in line with my interests, and I’ve attended a few lectures and visited a few historic sites. We’re not far from Hyde Park, the home of Franklin Roosevelt and that is a great organization that is always looking for volunteers. What would you be doing? You’d probably start by just directing people as they move throughout the site but, is you wanted to, you could be trained to give tours at some point. The same is true with Olana, which is the beautiful home and grounds of Frederick Church. It has one of my favorite views of the Hudson Valley from the porch and there are many volunteers who absolutely love being a part of keeping this wonderful property maintained and the focal point of local tourism. The executive staff of any of these historic sites will gladly tell you how important volunteers and contributors are to keep the history of these places alive for future generations. The volunteers will tell you how enjoyable their work is and how satisfying it is to be a part of such a national treasure. It’s one way to stay active and engaged in retirement and it really does make a difference.
For those who have a sense of faith, your local church is probably in great need of volunteers. Many people don’t get involved in this area because they don’t feel their faith is strong enough, but I will tell you from experience that activities like a local food pantry or thrift shop can help make your faith stronger than you ever thought possible. Anyone who doesn’t feel they have a lot in life will meet people who have even less. Volunteer in one of these places and you’ll know that you’re making a difference. It’s a great way to stay active and engaged in retirement and help others at the same time.
Stay active and engaged in retirement by volunteering at a local club or historic site.
Self-improvement is another way to stay active and book clubs can become a central part of your activities. I know a few people who are active in more than one club, and they love every minute of it. One club is dedicated to historical fiction, and each meeting has a theme related to that month’s book selection. There’s always food related to the story and some of the more dedicated members may get dressed to reflect the historical period, especially if they’re in charge of running that month’s meeting. If you stay active and engaged in retirement, your social calendar may be busier than it was during your working years. Isn’t that what retirement should be?
And for anyone who would love to have a little more money to spend, I always tell them to start a little business. It is definitely a way to stay active and engaged in retirement. My first choice for an ideal retirement business is a website. It has almost endless possibilities and will open up a whole new world that you will find challenging and extremely satisfying. You will love directing people to your own website and will get an unbelievable sense of satisfaction when you earn your first commission. If you have an interest or passion or hobby, why not explore the websites that are already out there and think of a slightly different twist on the subject that no one else is doing. There are hundreds of cooking websites out there but what if you did one dedicated to cooking for grandchildren who won’t eat anything except peanut butter? Why not? I’m sure you’d get a following and you’ll be surprised at how much fun you have setting it up. The main thing is to do something to stimulate that wonderful brain of yours and stay as active as you can. Go volunteer - they need you! It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life!
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