As we journey through the joys and challenges of Family, Career and Community we seldom take the time from 30,000′ to think about the penultimate destination – retirement.
The happy news is that 78% of Canadians over age 65 feel good about their overall health and expect to live to age 86.
The experts advise that we will travel through 5 stages of retirement: Independence/Interdependence/Supportive Living/Crisis Management and Dependence.
The new “Retirement” may happen well before or after age 65, we may not feel our age or believe that this station stop has arrived so quickly; but when it does we will focus rightly all our energy on the first stage: Independence.
Hopefully we will be able to enjoy those people; things; places; activities; responsibilities and events we have long planned or newly discovered. Retirement can be exciting as a new set of parameters awaits; but it will also be transitional, defined as: “movement, passage or change from one position, state, subject or concept to another” as a lifetime of habits change.
Suggestion One is not to expect either to avoid that transition or for it to occur overnight. Anticipate and accept some initial pangs of angst caused by this passage – any journey can be stressful – it will pass. Especially if you are aware that whilst you are building a new life – it is on top of a lifetime of “3 Foundational F’s”: Family; Friends and Focus on Balanced Life Interests.
This stage of life should be an adventure. Spend happy time with your Family. Meet new people; make new friendships; travel; change your address or have more time to enjoy your old one. Want to continue some work or consulting? Go for it! Volunteer – lend your experience of life to help others.
Suggestion Two is that we add a “4th Foundational F Forgiveness”. Let go of old slights, worries, grudges; disappointments. Let the people who matter in your life know it or any people that we might have impacted negatively – know it was with regret. It is truly a liberating tonic. As Tony Robbins once said: “Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself.
