Finding a Purpose in Retirement
Category: Retirement Planning
By Craig Blouin
April 13, 2018 — The warm, inviting glow of retirement on the horizon motivated me as I moved toward it during my last years in the workaday world. I’d put a good many miles on the roadway of life up to this point and now there was a sweeping curve up ahead. I sure wanted to have a look at what was around the other side.
Those last few miles seemed to take an inordinately long time to get through. But then I was there, the promised land: Retirement! After a rousing send-off by my work colleagues — either sad or delighted to see me go — finally it’s the first day of the rest of my life. Great! … So now what?
I’m not usually a goal-oriented sort of person, even though many years ago I’d attended a Covey Institute intensive workshop at the Sundance
Comments on "Finding a Purpose in Retirement"
Barbara Peter says:
Craig, you inspire me. I’m totally stealing your Purpose Statement! It’s great!
Elaine C. says:
Inspiring! I think it is good to list accomplishments, something I often forget once I've completed them. Maybe an annual list to use for reflection and confidence building.
Jasmine says:
Thanks, Craig for an impressive article. I am amazed by everything you have accomplished in your six years of retirement. Definitely an inspirational article for me! When I retire I will definitely make my own statement of purpose. I so enjoy reading everyone's personal comments about their retirement plans as I prepare for my future retirement in San Diego. Happy Retirement!
Shelia says:
Love it and I'm stealing it too!
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Robert sent in this comment:
I am writing in response to the "Mission Statement" retirement article I just finished reading. I enjoyed it very much. I am 23 days from my own retirement and it gave me insight on how to adjust or at least navigate into the next chapter. I too am a cancer survivor (5 years now) and this reading really hit home. I will contemplate my own mission statement over the next few weeks to help me prepare for whatever is "around the next curve". Thanks again for the article I look forward to receiving my weekly Topretirement articles.
Robert
Eagle River, Alaska
ljtucson says:
Craig, What a great article. I faced this myself and crashed many years ago. I wasn't prepared but understood how to turn it around quickly. The rest is history and a happy outcome. I also did all the Covey stuff during career and thought I was more Principle Centered, but I learned that I was a bit too career centered. That causes the retirement blues and crash - no one needed me - the phone stopped ringing - what was I accomplishing! Once I relaunched into a new productivity cycle which involved volunteering, learning to golf, part time consulting, family, stuff like genealogy and fitness I wondered how I ever had time for that silly career. Your article is good for all those ready to retire, continued good luck down that road - let it be fun and rewarding both.
Sherwin says:
Thank you, I started my retirement life on 3/31/18. I will definitely start keeping track of my achievements. I am in a different state right now looking for my retirement home.
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Nice! Being able to track accomplishments that are of value to you is definitely a plus for retirees who frequently may be somewhat unstructured or "at loose ends" -- perhaps for the first time in their lives. Everyone tends to be motivated and to get satisfaction from different things -- some are people/support related, some are "thing" or activity related (cooking, home theater, golf), etc. Consider what you enjoy and what matters to you in identifying accomplishments.
ljtucson has a bit of everything with his list (volunteering, learning to golf, part time consulting, family, stuff like genealogy and fitness).
I also think he hit the nail squarely on the head for a definition of successful retirement: "I wondered how I ever had time for that silly career". It was a good feeling for my wife and I 15 years ago when, six months after retirment, we both decided that neither of us was still considering part-time work because we couldn't figure out how we ever found time to work during the previous 35 years.
David Erikson says:
Craig,
I'm retiring at the end of this school year. How timely of you, old friend, to give me your advice at this point. I am trying to make this last few months of teaching sixth graders my best and they are an enthusiastic bunch so it is joyous, but also facing disappointment because the administration is planning to buy new STEM curriculum without looking at what I have created over my eleven years. I suppose it will all seem unimportant in a year or so, but right now I am pissed.
There is so much I hope to do in retirement, but I haven't done much contemplative planning, so thanks Craig for the thoughtful nudge. I hear your voice it every word and that adds a warmth and weight to what you say.