Photo courtesy of Steve Sober Photography
Retirement is often called the “Golden Years,” and for good reason. If we are fortunate enough to have reasonably good health and are not totally destitute, the retirement years can truly be the BEST time of life.
Perhaps the most important factor of all in determining whether our retirements are golden or miserable isn’t our degree of health or wealth, but rather our attitude. The happiest senior adults are those who look ahead and not behind, who focus on others more than self, and who see the cup as half full, not half empty.
In this new blog, This Retirement Life, you will from time to time read inspiring stories about retirees who are proving the truth of this statement. You will also read about travel opportunities that are ideal for more mature travelers, and beautiful 55+ communities where you can live year-round or seasonally. You will read about how to manage your retirement portfolio and better deal with Social Security, IRAs, and other common financial concerns. You can also expect to see occasional articles about perhaps the greatest part of this stage of life, being a grandparent. (See “Making Christmas Traditions With Your Grandchildren”). We will talk about faith and values, and the legacy we retirees hope to leave to future generations.
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Making your retirement years ‘Golden’ ones
What exactly makes retirement the “Golden Years” of life? Provided you approach retirement with that positive attitude mentioned above, here are three reasons for believing that retirement can be the BEST stage of life:
# 1 — You are more in control of your time and life than ever before
When we are kids living at home, parents, guardians, and school teachers told us where to go and when to sit or stand. We had zero control over our lives. Even as adults, the reality of life dictates that most of us worked hard and long weeks for 40-plus years to bring home enough money to keep the family fed and happy. Bosses told us where to go and when to sit or stand. We still had little control.
Retirement is different. For the first time in our lives, we have considerable control over our daily routine and future plans. Play golf? Enjoy a bargain matinee movie? Volunteer our time with a local nonprofit? Travel? Babysit the grandchildren? It’s all up to us. Even if some of us choose to continue working, as I have done on a part-time basis, it is more likely at least in part a lifestyle choice rather than a purely financial decision.
Being more in control of our time and life is a great feeling.
#2 — You can fulfill dreams and pursue a greater purpose
Once a person retires, especially after a long career he or she enjoyed, it is common to experience an emotional letdown in the first few months because of a perceived lack of purpose. Depression and anxiety are not unusual among recent retirees. Without a job, what is the motivating factor that drives a person to get up each morning and face the world? Without a paycheck, how do we measure our value to family and society?
But let’s look at it from another angle, with a more positive attitude. Retirement can be incredibly energizing. Suddenly, we can act on what matters the most to us and fulfill long-term dreams. We no longer have to do what the boss says or stick with a job we don’t enjoy. Earning a paycheck is no longer the most important driving factor in life.
In retirement, perhaps for the first time in our lives, we are free to travel, further our education, spend time with the grandchildren, volunteer at a nearby school or hospital, or get really good (at last) at a sport or other skill. Whatever our hearts desire and our pocketbooks can afford, we can do. We are in control.
In retirement, we can choose to pursue higher callings, whether that be motivated by our spiritual faith or a desire to give back to the community and world. We may even launch a new business, like Colonel Sanders did with his chain of fried chicken restaurants (see below). This may be our final performance, but the play’s not over yet. We’re not only wiser and more confident than we were younger, but we now have more time on our hands. It’s time to dream big and make every day count.
Everyone has different retirement dreams, which is fine. Some retirees will be content to just sleep late, putter around, and watch TV. For Kathy and me, and I bet for many of you who are motivated enough to read this post, retirement is a time for choosing what matters most and how we can use this final great chapter of life to make a difference.
As retirees, we all live with the realization that time is limited. Given good health and good fortune, however, those of us in the early years of retirement may have two or even three more decades ahead. What if our best accomplishments are still in the future?
Sometimes the final act is the best performance of all
Think I’m exaggerating about how much you might be able to accomplish in your 60s and beyond? Look at these examples of people who are best known for events late in life, and be inspired!
- Col. Harland Sanders launched the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) franchise when he was 65, using his Social Security check.
- Diana Nyad was 64 when she became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without the help of a shark cage.
- Renowned artist Anna Mary Robertson Moses, better known as Grandma Moses, took up painting at the age of 75.
- Benjamin Franklin signed the Declaration of Independence at age 70.
- Donald Trump became President at age 70. His opponent, Hillary Clinton, wasn’t much younger. She was 69.
- Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, is 88, still working, and highly respected as one of the nation’s shrewdest investors.
#3 — There’s never been a better time to be a ‘senior’ adult
Life not only used to be shorter, but much harder for older adults. We’re fortunate to live in this time in history. Healthcare advancements are amazing. Infirmities that once sidelined older adults no longer do. With doctors’ help, Baby Boomers aren’t slowing down. Replace our joints, implant a pacemaker, and watch us go! Technology also is making life better for seniors, allowing us to stay independent and drive longer than previous generations. While it’s true that some retirees will be burdened early with poor health, overall our generation of senior adults is healthier than any previous generation, with expectations for increasingly long average lifetimes.
The opportunities to enjoy life, live in community with other active senior adults, and travel have never been this good before. Retirement communities that resemble high-end resorts now dot the landscape, especially in Sunbelt states like Florida and Arizona. Cruise lines and tour companies cater to retirees. Luxurious motorhomes and RV’s are selling well, and the vast majority of them are being bought by (you guessed it) retirees.
Be thankful everyday that you live in the times we do. Sure, society has lots of problems. Our nation and world are changing in some unsettling ways. Some things may be worse now than in the “good old days,” whenever they were, but in other ways life is better. Overall, there’s never been a better time to be a senior adult.
With the proper attitude and a little planning, retirement truly can be the BEST time of your life!
Thank you for reading this post from the blog, This Retirement Life. We welcome your comments in the space below.
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