Your Retirement Should Be a Work in Progress
Your retirement should be a work in progress just like you. You shouldn’t stop learning or trying new things at this point in your life. Your working career may be over, but the best is yet to come. Just like the musical act that has left the stage to a standing ovation, you’re being called upon to come back and do more. There are new things to be discovered and new skills to be acquired. This is the time to do the things you didn’t have the time to get to because of the demands of life. Now, your daily attendance at the workplace is no longer required but that shouldn’t mean that you stop “showing up” for life! We live in magnificent world in an incredibly challenging time. Retirement shouldn’t be the time in your life when you withdraw from society and shrink off to the sidelines. You’ve spent a lifetime gaining wisdom and experience and your skills were put to use by the organization that you worked for. Why not put that learning to use for your own purposes? During our working careers we all learned how to “get things done” so why not apply that to your retirement “wish list” and start making those dreams a reality? Your retirement should be a work in progress, and you should always have a "wish list" to work on.
If you don’t have a retirement “wish list”, you should sit down and create one. Make a list of the places you want to see and all those wonderful activities that were once dreams and fantasies but have faded into just a passing memory from your youth. Did you ever want to learn to play an instrument, fly a plane or cook a gourmet meal? Did you ever want to write a novel, build your dream house or see a game at every stadium in the country? Those things can all be done (or at least pretty close) if you really put your mind to it. Your retirement is a work in progress and should be viewed as an ongoing project being managed by you. It’s an exciting way to look at life and has more possibilities than you can imagine.
Your retirement should be a work in progress and crossing things off your "Wish List" should be a big part of it.
I can hear some protests already. Those negative thoughts from people who look only at the obstacles are saying that they’re too old, don’t have the money or, worst of all, there’s nothing that I really get excited about anymore. If you’ve spent any time on this website, you know what I’m about to say. I don’t agree with any of those objections. If there’s nothing that excites you anymore, I don’t think you’re giving life a fair shot. I know there are times in everyone’s life when they flounder a bit and lose sight of their purpose. This can be especially true if you suffer a loss. Perhaps a partner or a child is no longer part of your life. That can be a tragedy and should never be underestimated in how it can impact a person. But I also know that time and seeking help and support can turn your life around. Our world is filled with wonderful people who will be there to help if you give them a chance. If you’re just bored with life, however, then I think you’re taking a lazy approach to living. Go out into nature and watch a sunrise or sunset and tell me it’s not beautiful. Look at a snow-covered mountain and tell me how you can’t be amazed at the beautiful world we live in. Go to the internet and look at all the things that happened on this day in history. Look at who was born on this day and who died. If you can’t find a subject that you want to learn a little more about, how did you get through life? You have to be curious about something. You have to be interested in someone or some subject or skill or I just don’t think you’re being honest with yourself. You’re not allowing yourself to live a full life. The only one who can change that is YOU, but you have to make the effort. Your retirement should be a work in progress, and YOU are the one who will manage it toward success.
For those who think they’re too old (or too young for that matter) to try something new, history has a lot of evidence that says you’re wrong. My favorite example, for some reason, is Harlan Sanders who started Kentucky Fried Chicken after he retired and realized his pension was not going to be enough. And that also addresses the most common objection: I don’t have the money to travel or do the things I want to do. You may be correct in not having the money right now, but there are ways to correct that situation so that you have money in the future and Harlan Sanders leads the way as an example of someone who said that nothing is going to stop me from doing what I want. Your retirement should be a work in progress and when you accept that premise, anything is possible.
A lack of money might be the easiest obstacle to overcome. Retirement jobs are always a possibility and downsizing your residence to cut costs and free up some cash is always something to consider. You should consult with a competent financial advisor before making a big move but exploring the options may have a very favorable impact on your financial situation. The other possibility is to start a little business of your own like many retirees are doing. Creating your own website is easier than ever and I can personally attest to the amount of enjoyment it can bring into your life. What started out as a hobby has turned into one of my favorite things to do. I even post things to the website when we’re on vacation if an idea pops into my head. It’s a lot of fun, satisfies my spirit of creativity and I never object to bringing a little extra money into the bank account. Don’t sell yourself short, you have what it takes to do this and there’s a company that will guide you step by step through the process. A new challenge in your life might be just what you need to recharge your batteries. Your retirement should be a work in progress, and you should never be afraid to try something new. If you find it's not what you were looking for then move onto something new.
If you’re willing to take a creative look at the items on your wish list, even the seemingly impossible ones can be brought closer to reality with just a few adjustments. A friend of mine who is over 70 always wanted to get a pilot’s license. Clearly his age is a barrier, but he modified his dream a bit and got a drone that is equipped with a small camera. He can “watch” his flight and is having a great time learning to navigate this amazing little contraption. He has also found a local pilot who would love to defray his fuel costs with a paying passenger on board and, together, they’ve created a win-win situation. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone isn’t allowed to take the controls to get the feel for flying. Almost every dream can be modified to get some sense of achievement and to capture that “feeling” of what it would be like to do something you always dreamed of doing. Your retirement should be a work in progress just like you. Hopefully, we’ll never stop growing and never lose that sense of wonder about how magnificent this world is. Go out and take your first step towards making your dreams come true. You'll be amazed at what you can achieve and how much fun you can have in the process. It’s time to Enjoy Retired Life.
Thanks for visiting. If you like what you see here, please tell your friends. If you haven’t done so already, be sure you take The Self Discovery Challenge for Retirement! It’s designed to help you make the most of this wonderful time of your life because, as we've said before, your retirement should be a work in progress just like you!
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