What aspirations do you have for your later years?
I had an interesting conversation with a friend recently. Our discussion was about retirement and our plans when we decided to make that jump. Do we stop and enjoy the years we have left? Do we move on to something new? I know that I’m nowhere near retirement age and my friend has plenty of years before retirement but it’s not bad to think about it. In our conversation we posed the idea of wanting more out of life. I think it is awesome that we can adapt and change directions at any time if we choose to. We all chose a certain path or picked a career. Yes, this recent conversation with my friend was about those retirement plans, but it is also about exploring new opportunities and adventures.
Many people work their fingers to the bone for many years and then enjoy a short retirement. What if we moved from our career or job into something fun and fulfilling? Better yet, what if we started that new endeavor earlier than our retirement? We could dabble in this new endeavor by exploring and researching whether it is for us. We could find something that brings us back to what we enjoy. Now, if you are completely fulfilled in your job and it brings you great joy, then good for you. I honestly believe that by looking at an endgame or retirement, we are selling ourselves short. We all have more to offer the world and we can still find something that gives us purpose which in turn benefits others.
When individuals decide to call it quits by retiring, they still have relevance to the outside world. They have value and purpose they could share with others. Unfortunately, some of them forget that. Each person must decide what they are going to do after they retire or change careers. If an individual wants to stop working, travel the world, and spend time with family; that is perfectly fine. No one is suggesting that we must start a new adventure, but we must be engaged and focused on what direction we choose. To often we hear of people retiring later. Only to experience sickness of a spouse or themselves. Continue living a life filled with purpose and happiness.
As we talk retirement, we can’t forget the people who are not of retirement age that want something else, a change, or an evolution of themselves. This is where my mindset resides. I hope to evolve, as many others wish to do. We must consider those of us who want more. Yes, we are all living great lives, but we also have other aspiration or goals we want to achieve. We have chased goals that we met and ones we haven’t achieved yet. We want to continue to grow and evolve our dreams into something magnificent. We are the nonretirement group, who wish to look at our growth as never ending and relentless. Sometimes at the end of a path, there are new adventures that fall into our laps. So, pick it up and run with it!
Everyone should reflect on life from time to time, but when was the last time you did a complete audit of your life, career, and even your personal beliefs. I’m currently engaged in an audit of myself. What are my values, goals, and wants? We all change throughout life, and we also change our belief systems which in turn makes us want something new. I have always joked that I haven’t figured out what I want to be when I grow up, and I’m 50 years old. This is healthy if I’m being honest. Sure, people will question whether I know who I am and what I’m doing, but I don’t care. No matter what age you are, it is good to look at what you’re doing and evaluate whether you want to remain there or move onto something that is more rewarding for you.
Are you seeing an end to whatever path you’re on?
How do you stay relevant or engaged in life?
What changes to your life-path or career are you considering?
When was the last time you evaluated your current plan?
The thought of retirement for me seems so far away. Instead, I choose to view my path as endless and ever changing. Change is inevitable for all of us, but we need to view those changes as opportunities to grow and remain engaged in our communities. I hope you take a moment to look at the later years or even your current situation with an open mind. Thanks for taking the time to look at this post and I hope you contribute to the conversation by leaving a comment below. Have a great week!
Steven C. Bucks- Leading Conversations
~Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member~
