Running out of money pales in comparison to running out of family, friends, good health, and time – Robert Laura
Retirement can result in a full-blown disengagement from work and colleagues, leaving those who aren’t well-prepared feeling lost, unfulfilled, and misguided. Therefore, it’s crucial for new and existing retirees to “Retire to Something” such as traveling, planting a garden or volunteering at a local non-profit, otherwise they can lose their sense of purpose and stability.
Retirement planning should focus the more personal areas of life that are crucial to creating a purposeful, happy, healthy, and connected retirement. Retirees can unknowingly put off taking care of themselves, their relationships, and the pursuit of passions and hobbies. Therefore, new and existing retirees have to take the time to discuss and plan for those things that lay beyond the scope of traditional planning.
Retiree who are financially able to maintain their standard of living can still miss the boat. Financial resources can’t buy love, health, family or friends. At the end of life, very few people ask to see their financial portfolio when they’re on their deathbeds. They want to be surrounded by those family members and friends that they love and mean the most to them.
Retirement magnifies what retirees already are, not necessarily what they want to be. If a pre-retiree is unhealthy, has bad habits, or prefers to keep to themselves, retirement will foster more of that unless those habits and patterns are purposefully altered.
Retirees need to understand that true independence and freedom come from managing life’s challenges and trials. Success in retirement is truly the result of good judgment. Only by experiencing the difficulties of life and going through the transition that retirement presents each day can retirees truly appreciate the independence it offers.
Retiree’s attitude, understandably, can play an important role in how a person acclimate to retirement. A positive attitude is contagious and can help build stronger relationships and a greater sense of purpose, as well as help an individual stay relevant and capable.
One of retirement’s greatest paradoxes is that it takes work to achieve a successful retirement. Retirees have to work at staying active, developing a active schedule that gets them out of the house, learning new things and pursuing their passion… not to mention meeting new people. Retirees have to work at replacing their work identity, keeping busy, as well as staying relevant and connected to family and friends. As a result, they need new skills, time to practice them, and in some cases a retirement coach to help guide them.
Retirees should focus on purpose, relationships, health, and well-being. They should always be on the lookout for ways to stay motivated… and continually seek out new things and opportunities. The ultimate goal of Retirement is making the most of Retirement.
Source: Laura, Robert, 7 Of The Best Retirement Quotes To Get You To And Through It, Forbes Magazine, May 26, 2017, https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertlaura/2017/05/26/7-of-the-best-retirement-quotes-to-get-you-to-and-through-it/#566a3b746c2b