Retirement Talk for Boomers, Seniors, and Retirees

One worn out piece of advice that seems to hold true all of our life is that we need to "pick our battles". Retirement has its limits. We are older. Our bodies do not move like they once did.

Finding meaning in our lives was the topic of the previous podcast. I wanted to continue that train of thought. We know having meaning in our lives is important but sometimes we have trouble finding it. Many times It may be more of a problem of recognizing it.

Musicians fall in love with their instruments. Artists fall in love with their creations. Kids fall down and skin their knees. Football players fall down and break their necks. We need to be a bit more careful about falling as we grow older.

What brings us happiness is so very relative. If we have just finished eating food we don't like or aren't satisfied we can go crazy over something familiar and filling. If our hands are cold a good pair of gloves can seem like a god send. Happiness is all about improving our condition.

Sometimes we just want to do nothing or at least whatever it is that we are supposed to be doing. We have no energy and no impulse to try to find some. We just want to lay low. Is there something wrong with that?

Sixteen months ago my primary care doctor told me I had developed Mild Cognitive Impairment(MCI). In lay terms that means I am losing my mind. It could happen slowly over the next few years or it could happen more quickly. That seems like a life changer.

Age has a way with all of us. Time is a universal leveler. We have our day in the sun and then it is over. We learn as children that we had best prepare for the future.

Milestones are like mountain peaks - they give us a sense of where we are. We locate ourselves in relationship to them. That is what birthdays, graduations, marriages, moves from place to place, job changes, and deaths are all about. Retirement has to be one of the more significant milestones we can experience in life.

Graphs and charts: One dealt with the average life span. I still have 17 years left according to statistical data. Another dealt with how much time we have left after arriving at age 65 to enjoy good health.

People used to work until they died and for the most part live in an extended family structure where some recognition was assured. Today's retired people face a true challenge in this life quest. We must create a means of being recognized.

Is it so important - to be politically astute? We all know the correct answer to that question. Our elementary teachers taught us that democracy demands an educated citizenry. It is easy to see the need.

We try and fail at many things in life and that isn't always bad. But perhaps my old history professor was right in his thoughts concerning why we study history. Best to learn from other people's mistakes or failures.

We all grow up in our own worlds. Our experiences are different from our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, or people that live across town. No wonder we have differences with people in other communities, states, or countries. No wonder we have different reasons for retirement plans.