A Retirement Shake-up

Don't we experience times when we are simply going through the motions? Every day is much like the day before. It is safe and predictable. There is a comfortable routine to the day. Nothing really new or interesting happens. There are no problems we can't handle without a little effort. Inspiration is taking a break. Life moves forward. One of my favorite authors, Richard Rohr, puts it this way: "The familiar and the habitual are so falsely reassuring that most of us make our homes there permanently."


But, is that truly living a satisfying retirement? How can I find new energy for whatever might be just around the corner?




Pay attention & shake it up

As I noted in an earlier post, I am beginning to broaden the subject matter of Satisfying Retirement. I want to write about some of the things that upset or please me. I want to write a bit more personally about aspects of my life that move me. I want to shake up what are appropriate topics for a retirement blog.

One of my best sources for renewed energy and a fresh direction is to stop long enough to look at the world around me. What is happening in the world that keeps slapping me in the face, demanding I pay more attention, take a more active role in highlighting its effect on us? 

What in my life might give me inspiration if taken in a different direction? Old photos, movies, a play or theater presentation, mementos around the house, the birds in the backyard, people at the mall, actually just about anything can inspire if my mood is right and I'm open to seeing things in a new way.

What are my attempts at oil painting, photo editing, guitar playing, or volunteer teaching 5th graders about the economy and smart money management teaching me about myself and my retirement journey?

Looking for a new angle or use of the everyday, meeting a new person or having a new experience, any of these can energize an otherwise mundane day. I might read something in a magazine that changes my perspective. Checking out my favorite bloggers almost always forces me to open my mind to some different idea. Shaking up a routine or attempting to break an unproductive habit can be just the boost I need to get moving again.


Sometimes you just have to act

There will be times when you must force yourself to take action. It would be easier and more pleasant to avoid whatever it is. But, the problem isn't going away until you confront it. Whether this is a relationship issue, a health concern, a financial upset, or even where to go on vacation you may have to simply grit your teeth and do something. Problems and opportunities don't respond well to inaction.

I dislike the "ready, fire, aim" approach most of the time. But, I have done just that at times when I had a brain-lock and had to simply "do."


Look for something fresh from others

Inspiration for your life can often comes from an outside source. Interacting with other people may be an effective way to find an answer to a problem. They may not directly address what your need is. But, by simply being with them you may find a new path toward something. Being with a group of people you enjoy can't help but make you feel better.

Joining a new club, organization, or church group may be the spark you need. Volunteering in a setting where you interact with folks who need your help and are different from those you normally spend time with can often do the trick. My seven years of prison ministry gave me me an entirely fresh perspective on people. Folks I know help with meals at local rescue missions. They tell me there are fewer ways to learn so quickly the connection we all have with each other and the simple joy of serving.


Maybe you simply need a retread

Reusing or reworking something you have done before is really what retirement is all about. A lifetime of behavior and expectations are up for review. Just because you thought one way while working doesn't mean that line of thought is best for your life now.

Was there an interest or hobby you used to love that fell by the wayside? Is it time to bring it back, maybe in a slightly different way? When you were 30 you loved to mountain bike. But, now at 70 maybe trail riding is safer and more suited to your body. You still love to bike, but you change the approach.


Kick starting your satisfying retirement really is just a case of rejecting the status quo. As our hour glass begins to run lower on sand, waiting for tomorrow to energize yourself today is probably not the wisest course.


Note: make an effort to read the January 2nd post. I am trying something I have never done before. I have no idea what the outcome will be but it is certainly an attempt to shake things up, if even for just one day.