“We are at our very best, and we are happiest,
when we are fully engaged in work we enjoy,
on the journey toward the goal we’ve established for ourselves.
It gives meaning to our time off and comfort to our sleep.
It makes everything else in life so wonderful, so worthwhile.”
~Earl Nightingale
This quote describes the idea of contrasts and why it’s important to have engagement, be it in work life or in retirement. Living a leisurely lifestyle is very different than living a life of leisure, where retirement is not about substance and instead is either rest or play. Sure, at first when people retire they often answer the question about what they are going to do next, with this simple response, “As little as possible.”
The art of doing nothing can be wonderful at first. Just being and not doing is good for the soul and it is a natural early phase related to retirement. It can last a few weeks, a few months and for some, this life of leisure never ends.
However, for most in the Baby Boomer generation, the paradigm is shifting. Purpose and meaning, a reason to jump out of bed in the morning, has become an expectation in retirement. I know a retiree who comes to my son’s high school baseball field to barbeque hot dogs and hamburgers every home game. We all look forward to seeing him as he engages with parents and players over barbeque and baseball. He tells me his wife is involved with rescue dogs and this is his thing, and they both couldn’t be happier.
Another retiree I know stays active with yoga, swimming, pottery, volunteering, date days with his wife, and traveling the world. He’s never bored or boring and has this amazing vitality that keeps his ageless. He has created a routine that offers contrast and variety and he finds flow in his daily life. That’s my kind of retirement. My guess is he lives a much more leisurely life than he did during his hectic work years, yet he’s never been more content or connected.
Finding bliss and balance in retirement is not automatic. It’s a journey and one that may take a while to figure out, since it’s personal and involves reflection and practice. Coaching can help by a sounding board, goal setting, accountability and a neutral sounding board. Sound intriguing? Get started by taking the “Are You Ready to Retire?” on my Retirement and Life Transitions page on www.personalmasterycoaching.com
