Retiring Well -by Ester Ferry
We look forward to retirement and the closer it seems, the more we look forward to it. It’s a big change. Some of the things we first notice:
We can catch up on all the undone things in life.
We can fully participate in our hobbies and pastimes.
We have plenty of free time.
Doing nothing gets old.
So, when the novelty wears off, what do we do? There are of course individual differences, and we all have some limitations. We don’t have unlimited money for example!
Here are some ideas of general strategies for retirement.
Self-Care.
This seems like something we have always done. But consider how during working life, there was never enough time for the details like regular manicures or finding that hairstyle that fits your age. Now is the time! Along with improving our grooming, we can take better care of our health, something that all too often becomes a necessity as we age and require more “maintenance.”
Personal Reflection.
We have the time to look back on how our life has been, the choices we made, the things that happened. It’s important to keep a positive, or at least balanced view of the past. Certainly, none of us can look back and say that everything went perfectly smoothly, nor did everything go wrong. But whether in smooth times or rough, there are lessons to be learned and insights to be gained. Journaling is helpful in reflecting.
Nurturing Relationships.
This important area of life is too often neglected during our working years. Whether it’s a family member that you can’t relate to or just someone you never had enough time to really have a deeper relationship with, there are relationships we can work on. If relationships have been a challenge throughout life, it’s not too late to learn. Self-help books, seminars, and just making time to socialize can all improve our relationships.
Sharing Wisdom. While we are improving relationships, why not share some of the wisdom of life? This is particularly fun with younger family members or neighbors. Storytelling and gentle reminders of what has worked for us are great ways to share. Our personal reflections will help us identify those lessons learned. Whether we learned from mistakes or successes, we have wisdom that comes with age.
Mentoring Others.
Besides sharing wisdom, we can connect with younger people by mentoring them and sharing our skills. We can volunteer at schools or with youth groups or mentor younger family members or neighbors. What do you know that you can share? Cake decorating, wood turning, gardening?
Even though our working years are past, we still have many avenues for achieving and gaining satisfaction. This is just a quick overview. I’ll explore these and more ideas in future blogs.
Esther Ferry is a retired Technical Writer who honed her craft delivering complex information in a clear, straight-forward style. In addition to writing, she enjoys sewing, gardening, and genealogy. She and her husband Jim have lived in the Fort Collins area for over 40 years. They love history and traveling – and combining the two!
Esther transitioned from writing to speaking through her 10-year membership in Toastmasters International. Besides crafting speeches and engaging audiences, she mentors and supports shy, reluctant speakers in discovering self-expression.
