July 15 was the anniversary of my first day of retirement – it has been 9 years! Then, July 27th will be the anniversary of my blog (8 years!). In some ways it feels like no time at all, and in other ways, working at a full-time career feels like ancient history and my blog writing feels like I’ve always been doing it.
Some of the things I’ve realized in retirement –
- If you retire “early” (like I did), at some point you catch up to everyone in your age range being retired. It no longer feels odd to say, “I’m retired”. Did I grow into it or just get used to it?
- You will go through different phases of retirement and that is perfectly fine! You might want to travel and then not. Or not travel and then plan to. Or never plan traveling at all. You might want to work and then not. Or not work and then take on a part time job. You might decide to change your retirement vision completely (example: planned snowbirds to full time Florida residents). Life might throw something unexpected at you and you will need to shift your path forward. Retirement Life is a series of transitions, just like normal life.
- What’s ideal for me is not ideal for anyone else. And what’s ideal for someone else is often not right for me. But letting go of “Compare & Despair” and being judgmental are both mind-sets that take time to shift.
- Getting to know myself better and working on personal growth has been one of the best things I’ve had time for in retirement!
- Learning about positive psychology in retirement and intentionally putting it into practice in my life has made a huge difference (see link here to my positivity practices blog). Learning how to slow down and just be is not easy! I’ve recognized I need to have structure and a routine. And that it is perfectly fine to “plan unscheduled time” to be.
- Letting go of old habits and habitual ways of thinking takes intention and repetition, lots of repetition. I continue to be a work-in-progress.
I still use many of the tools I discovered or created and put into my book Retirement Transition (see link here). I’m still happy with the retirement lifestyle vision statement that I’ve evolved into:
Active Body, Connected Heart, Creative Spirit, Contemplative Mind.
If that lifestyle vision statement begins to feel wrong, I’ll simply refine it, just like I talk about in my Retirement Transition Process (link here).
I look back on the person I was while working and really do like the person I am now so much better!
Picture Credit -me – a hot sticky July twilight.
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Hi Pat! Congratulations on your retirement anniversary. And your insights are VERY helpful too. I remember when you were just starting your blog (and I was just a bit before you) and as you say, it is ALL ABOUT transition. We change, things change and they keep changing. Of course the best change is our own personal self discovery as you say! Fortunately I look forward to reading and following along on your many changes in the future! ~Kathy
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Thanks Kathy. I could never have imagined back then where I am today… including still blogging and having connections all over the world with that activity. I also look forward to reading and following you … you always make me think!
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Congratulations on two big anniversaries, Pat! I appreciate the retirement insights you’ve shared here and in other posts.
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Thanks Christie. I look back and could never have imagined where I am now. I can only hope that maybe my insights will help others on their journey.
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Hi Pat! Congrats on 9 years retired and 8 years blogging! I’m about 1.5 years into retirement and I’m still getting ‘settled’. We keep saying we want to travel more but haven’t done it…hmmm, maybe we need to revisit that idea! I’ve read all your posts about your transition and they’ve helped me immensely – thank you so much for sharing your journey 🥰
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Sharon, Travel has been a conundrum for me. Part of me thinks I “should” want to travel because I love new places and new foods and learning about other cultures. And then there is the part of me that hates many aspects of travel – the lines, the crowds, the delays. I’m coming to realize I like the creature comforts of my home a lot too and the routines of daily living keep me grounded and happy. It’s hard to give up travel as a should – almost every retired person we know travels and they always ask us where are we going.
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I feel all the same “shoulds” around travel…the idea of it is appealing BUT the reality feels exhausting 😉
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Congrats on both milestones. I still haven’t taken the total plunge yet but my very casual employment means I like myself more as well. It’s just easier when 40 to 60 hours a week aren’t sucked away.
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Bernie, I can’t imagine going back to working 55-hours a week…. I like too many of the hobbies I’ve picked up! Blogging being one. LOL.
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Hi Pat, the thing about ‘early retirement’ is that you get to tick off all of your ‘realizations’ and more well before actual retirement age. You are far ahead of your newly retired counterparts. Just imagine those poor folks who are just beginning the journey at 60 or 65. Keep writing these kinds of encouraging posts – there is a whole new crop of retirees who need your guidance.
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Thank you Suzanne for the encouragement to keep writing about this topic. Sometimes I wonder if I’ve said it all! But then I hear someone talk about not being able to image how retirement will be, and think, maybe there is more I can do to encourage. I’m feeling some posts gurgling in my brain!
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I’ve just had my 9th anniversary too. Here’s to the next 9 for both of us and many congratulations on what you’ve achieved and experienced so far.
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Happy anniversary to you too! And yes, here’s to the next 9!
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Congrats on your retirement anniversary and blog anniversary and more importantly on liking “the person I am now so much better!” That’s really my takeaway from this. Yay you!
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Thanks Ally. I enjoy looking back on milestones and this one made me realize, I really am doing better at living in the moment and being happy in it.
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Happy Anniversary! And what a journey! I’m thrilled that you like this person you have become! I like her a lot and miss her!
My anniversary was 5 years on July 12 and I have benefitted from your book and some of your tools. I, too, like the person that I am now better than the person I was or, at least, I have come to like her at least as much as I like the other one. It is certainly a journey.
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Candyse, OMG- 5 years?! I recall when you were in the slow down stage (fewer days working) and we were having fun doing play dates. I was just telling someone about my first attempt at hands-free texting in my car (Tim is learning his new system for this) … and it was with you on one of our play dates! Gosh, I miss you too. I never really knew the working you, but I adore the retired you.
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Such a lovely blog! So clear that you are self-accepting and non-judgmental of those choices. Inspiring. Affirming. Grounding.
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John – thank you for those kind words. I try hard to be self-accepting and non-judgmental… and don’t feel successful on that often! So kind of you to notice when I am.
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Happy Anniversary! I’ve caught posts here and there but will go back in time to read about your transition. My husband is much closer to stepping out of our business than I am because I just can’t envision it.
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Nancy, Looking back, I could not have envisioned where I am right now at all. I used many tools to figure it out when I retired – all covered in my book…. and early posts here on my blog. Blog started in 2015… book published in 2019. I hear many folks who say they can’t imagine not working and I understand, because I was a work-aholic myself…. but now I can’t imagine working! Good luck to both of you as you figure out your transitions.
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Hi Pat – so many of your dot points apply to my retirement journey too. I’ve stopped, restarted, and stopped again with work, I’ve managed two significant operations, unlearned a lot of unhelpful assumptions from childhood baggage, and learnt that it’s okay to “be” and not to be productive every minute of the day. I like retired me a LOT more than working me!
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Leanne, I do believe I have grown more (as an individual) in the last 9 years than the previous 32. Your stop/start/stop working was one of the inspirations for my insight comment about phases. 🙂 I have learned from many of my blogging friends…which has helped me in my own “retirement realizations”.
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Congrats! 🙂
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Wow. I didn’t realize it had been 9 years!! 11 for hubby and I. The time goes so fast! Interesting that you like the “retired” you better than the “working” you. I too like being much less stressed and results oriented. Haven’t missed working for “Big Corp” one single day.
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The time really has gone by fast! And like you, I really do not miss working!
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