While I am a newbie to retirement, the last 18 months have helped me understand one important aspect of being retired. If we are able to choose the time and circumstances of our retirement, we can experience a sense of freedom that makes it all worth it. This is especially true when it comes to retirement. This does not mean we do not face challenges or problems. It does not mean we can do whatever we want, whenever we want, or however we want. We still live within same the constraints that have always been with us. But, within the limitations (time, money, ability, and society) we have a greater freedom to be who we want to be and do what we want to do.
However, this will only apply if we have claimed our retirement. If we allow others to determine the nature and scope of our retirement, then we will not be able to experience the freedom that it brings. I am not talking about the limitation or boundaries that we choose and for which we have accepted responsibility. I am referring to those spoken or unspoken limitations that we may have with family, friends, previous employers, or promises to people who are no longer in our lives. This becomes especially difficult when you use your retirement to try and keep everyone happy by meeting their needs, even when the conflict.
Claim your retirement and make it your own! Accept responsibility for your life in retirement. Acknowledge that you will likely make mistakes but use them as an opportunity. Allow them to help you see where you need to make positive changes and use the hope generated by the opportunity to give you the energy to move forward. There will be good gads and bad days. Ride both of them out with your eye set on getting the most out of that moment.
In retirement we are not simply waiting around. Hopefully we will be actively living our lives recognizing that every single day is a gift. Yes, we know mortality is on the distant or not so distant horizon. But the one thing I learned from my years as a hospice chaplain was that living our life with hope is always a choice, even to our last breath.
Embrace the opportunities that retirement brings. Live every moment with gratitude. Explore, enjoy, and be who your body-mind-soul wants you to be. Cultivate love and trust, joy and hope. Claim your retirement and make it your own!
Blessings,
Bob
However, this will only apply if we have claimed our retirement. If we allow others to determine the nature and scope of our retirement, then we will not be able to experience the freedom that it brings. I am not talking about the limitation or boundaries that we choose and for which we have accepted responsibility. I am referring to those spoken or unspoken limitations that we may have with family, friends, previous employers, or promises to people who are no longer in our lives. This becomes especially difficult when you use your retirement to try and keep everyone happy by meeting their needs, even when the conflict.
Claim your retirement and make it your own! Accept responsibility for your life in retirement. Acknowledge that you will likely make mistakes but use them as an opportunity. Allow them to help you see where you need to make positive changes and use the hope generated by the opportunity to give you the energy to move forward. There will be good gads and bad days. Ride both of them out with your eye set on getting the most out of that moment.
In retirement we are not simply waiting around. Hopefully we will be actively living our lives recognizing that every single day is a gift. Yes, we know mortality is on the distant or not so distant horizon. But the one thing I learned from my years as a hospice chaplain was that living our life with hope is always a choice, even to our last breath.
Embrace the opportunities that retirement brings. Live every moment with gratitude. Explore, enjoy, and be who your body-mind-soul wants you to be. Cultivate love and trust, joy and hope. Claim your retirement and make it your own!
Blessings,
Bob
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