When you hear the term “retirement”, your mind immediately imagines a room filled with admiring colleagues and the gift of a gold watch. Perhaps retirement is the end of your working life. This is the most significant change you will experience since your birth. It will not be all about “What do I do?” Retirement allows you to become the best version of yourself. It is more important to be who you are than what you do. “
When you look at your retirement, remember that “who” is more important than “what you do”. You will have a happier and healthier retirement if you make a small change in your beliefs.
Are you afraid of change? Are you averse to change? Why? You haven’t experienced so much change since your adolescence. Change is the essence of retirement. Major changes are inevitable. Before you run screaming out of the room, think about this. You can embrace change and it can be very beneficial. If you want to enjoy the retirement you desire, you must embrace change, even if it is difficult to love.
When you hear the words “retirement”, you picture a room filled with admiring colleagues, gentle retellings of famous times, the president’s toast, and finally the gold watch. Perhaps retirement is the end of your working life. This is the most significant change you will experience since your birth. It will be no longer about “What do I do?” That’s a gift. Retirement allows you to become the best version of yourself. It is more important to be who you are than what you do.
Even if you have the gold-watch experience it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are done with work. According to an AARP survey, many Americans aged 50-70 plan to continue working well into what was traditionally considered their “retirement years”. Nearly half (45%) of pre-retirees expect to continue work into their 70s. This group included 27% who said they would continue working until they are in their 70s, 18% who said they would work as long as they can, and 20% who said they would be “80 or older” or “never stop working.”
You will have to find something to do with all the hours you don’t spend working. The search for the best way to spend your time can be a challenge. Wilma worked as an executive secretary for more than 40 years. She dreaded the day when she would have to stop working so much that she didn’t plan for it. She was always conscious of her appearance and dedicated her life to preventing the aging process. She shopped, wore makeup and enjoyed beauty salons. She had Botox and a face-lift. Her life was radically transformed when she began to explore breast enhancement. She was diagnosed as having breast cancer.
Ironically, her decision to try cosmetic surgery led her to early detection. She was back on her feet within a matter of minutes. She took her life seriously, and soon became the local coordinator of Y-ME (the national breast cancer organization). She found a passion in helping other women with the disease and became involved with them. It was a passion that gave her a purpose and meaning that went beyond her work years.
Another major retirement decision is the change in your location. It will be a big change if you move from the four-bedroom home where you raised your kids to an apartment in the city. Are you moving to a warmer area or closer to your grandkids? You may even make a radical change. If you are looking to retire, this is the most significant change. You won’t have the health advantage of being around people of all ages.
How can you embrace change? Change your attitude from one that is hostile to one that is accepting. Delight comes later. Think about your daily routine. You don’t have to go the same route to the supermarket every day. Try a different route. Try putting both socks on first before you put your shoes. You can add variety to your favorite activities. Explore new trails or try a new restaurant. You can learn to follow the flow. All things are changing all around you. Stop fighting it.
You can make a real change if you are looking for a partner. This is a great time to find a partner if you are single. If you are happily married or living in partnership, it is still possible to expand your network of friends by looking for new friends. You can take the initiative and call the woman you liked the most at the last garden club meeting. You can also attend the lecture at club to see who else is there. Do your best to greet someone you don’t know.
This retirement thing will change everything if you are happily married. The old saying, “I married your for life, not for lunch,” is true to a large extent. Talk about the future of your relationship with your spouse long before you reach retirement. You can either plan activities together or agree to spend some time apart. You must not let this change slip by.
Remember Bob Dylan’s words: “The times are changing.” There’s nothing you can do to change it. So smile, be happy, and open your arms to welcome in new things.
To get started , think about the greatest change you anticipate in retirement. Then identify three steps that you can take to embrace it instead of resisting.
