Have you had time over the
last few decades to figure out what it is that makes you happy? From the minute you were born your life has
been task orientated and you lived to meet each challenge. You knew what was expected
of you each step of the way, until now.
During your working years you thrived on being a part of a “big picture”,
but what does that “big picture” hold for you now?
You may or may not have a
wildly gratifying job/career. Many
people spend their working years just going through the motions because of
financial obligations, family obligations, or just because of a sense of
inertia. If you feel that your whole
life has been spent just filling time you can either look forward to more of
the same, or you can breathe a sigh of relieve and decide that now is “your
time.”
What you decide to do with
your time now will depend on you. If
most of your needs were met at the work place you might want to hold on to a
part time position, but if you want to do something entirely different that is
okay too. It is not unusual to hear
people complain that their jobs never gave them enough time to develop any
other interests.
You can build on past
experiences or you can delve into the hopes and dreams of things that you have
always wanted to do but didn’t have the time.
Eric Sundstrom, PhD, in his book “My Next Phase,” writes about
recognizing your own personality type and using that as a springboard for
developing a satisfactory retirement plan.
Psychologists and other therapists are good resources to tap into when
it comes to figuring out a life plan.
They have spent a lifetime listening to sagas of human misery and are
more than happy to help people put a positive spin on the rest of their lives.
What is retirement going to
mean to you? Some people rise to new
heights while others settle into their rocking chairs for good. Some people embrace this last third of their
lives while others withdraw and derive little pleasure from it. You are on your own now and it is up to you
to figure out how you want to use this gift of time.
The experts suggest sitting
down and making a long list. Write down
a lifetime of unfulfilled interests, hopes, and dreams. Don’t over think this, but remember how many
times you have said “someday” or “when I have time…..” It doesn’t matter what you write down…let
yourself dream. Whether it means having
a red sports car, going back to school, working in a bookstore, joining the
Peace Corp, learning how to play the piano or even running for a political
office, now is your time and anything is possible. Fill your list with every idea that has ever
entered your mind; even include fanciful things that you won’t actually do. My list includes writing (which I am doing now
although dreams of a “great American novel” are always out there…well maybe a
cozy mystery), but my other loves are reading and painting so my decisions may
center on those instead. The gift of time is quite intoxicating, but don’t take
too long to get started. Time does have
a way of getting away from you. So, have
you started your list yet?
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