Steve & Shirley
When asking people what to write about someone suggested writing about how to handle retirement? WOW… I don’t retire until after Sunday. I don’t have a clue on how to handle it. But people have been giving me advice. Remember at my roast Glenn said I would find out in retirement that I have too much wife. I am finding that out already. (Excuse me, I, Shirley, may find out that I have too much husband. Maybe we can pretend to be newlyweds and CAN’T have too much of each other.) Actually we have spent more time together in preparing for this move than we have in any of the rest. Some have said take the first six months and travel everywhere we have ever wanted to go. We can’t do that because we care for our grandchildren. We may take day trips to do some ancestry research and reconnect with family. But that will be about it. Our first six months to a year will probably be taken up in digging out of super hoarder-ville.
Perhaps we need to first come up with some understanding of what we want from retirement. Many people I know, after a few months, volunteer at the hospital, food bank, Urban Ministries, or some other place where they can take some free time and make it meaningful time. I have been doing some thinking and have come to know that one thing I do not want to lose in retirement is a meaningful, purposeful life. I want to continue to matter.
So, I am going to find something that brings me meaning… something that matters to me and others… something that will bring them meaning, as well.
I do plan on fishing, having fun, sleeping when I want to, exercising and living healthier. I plan on relaxing and taking things easier. But the meaning has to be there or the other stuff will lose their significance… and so will I.
As you approach retirement find out what you want to be… what you need to be. Don’t lose yourself in retirement… find yourself in retirement and you will enjoy each day more and remain more alive as long as you live.
Grace and Peace
Steve
How about sharing what you may want to do in retirement. It just may give the rest of us some really good ideas.
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: inspiration |
The Journey 
So glad you decided to do this. I was really missing your devotions and comments. You and Shirley have touched our lives in an extremely meaningful way. It would be awful to loose the powerful words you express and contact with you and Shirley even though it’s from this blog…….
All of God’s best to you as ya’ll retire. I know you will find just the perfect avenue to share yourself and all that God wants for your life. He gives us the desires of our heart as we serve Him. I know the Door will open for what ever you want to do. I think that’s what retirement is about. Redirecting your life to finally do some of the things that you always dreamed of doing. That you could not do because of other responsibilities. No set day to day that “make a living”. Just get down to the LIVING that we sometimes forget to do while we are making a living. We forget to STOP and listen to God or Go Fishing or REST or just Have FUN. Retirement is about all of those things. Stopping and as you said in you blog Make a difference, but just in a different way….. so thank God that He has allowed you this incredible opportunity to Retire and redirect. All God’s love and best to you and Shirley…… Angie and Steve