When our family would visit my mother in-law in Sun City, we referred to it as the Golden Prison. It was designed to be a playground for retirees. The original community was built in the early 1960’s, and we would drive there in the 1980’s. Many of the original owners where getting on in age. It always struck me as odd that we never saw people out and about, other than going to stores and restaurants. My mother in-law lived in a condominium surrounding a courtyard. In all the time we were there, I never saw any of her twenty or so neighbors.
Baby boomers are looking for a new retirement. They want to experience life to its fullest, but that than can be a challenge. People don’t realize how difficult the transition to retirement can be. After enjoying the first few months of the new vacation, apathy can easily turn into depression.
There are three evils that you must fight against during the first months of retirement. Acknowledge if you have adopted any of these and then start to follow simple steps to turn your retirement around.
1. Indifference – Have you become indifferent about what happens to you, your spouse, family members the community you life or the world around you? Begin to find something that you care about. Be willing to explore and try on new activities if you don’t have any hobbies or other interests.
2. Escapism – The biggest myth about retirement is the idea of relaxation being the primary goal. Happiness and fulfillment come from being engaged, connected and involved in meaningful activities. Are you indulging in addictive behavior; watching too much television, eating or drinking to excess, shopping out of boredom? What gets you riled up and excited, even passionate? If you were to die today, what would you want your legacy to be? These are not are easy questions to answer. It’s not an easy process, but the willingness to look at what you’re doing to sabotage your life is the first step to the journey.
3. Resignation – A cynical assumption that nothing can be done. You might not be able to change the world. But, you can control how you show up in it and you can change many things about your corner of it. A big part of a successful retirement transition is saying good-by to your old life. Youth and vigor may be gone, but they can be replaced by quiet and thoughtful wisdom.
If you are guilty of any of the items above, accept that retirement is not easy. It takes work and effort. Realize you are part of the first group of people in the history of man to live in this amazing period of life. Just like all the other transitions you made before, there are growing pains, challenges to confront, but ultimately rewards to be had.
Don’t give up!
Cathy Severson, MS helps you make the most of your retirement. Baby boomers understand this isn’t your parents retirement. Find out how to make the rest of your life the best of your life with the complimentary e-book 7 Ingredients for a Satisfying Retirement at http://tinyurl.com/8moymb.