After Retirement: 5 Things I've Focused On
by johnataylor · 11 things on NewTwos
- Medium Article
- I retired last year at 62, leaving a fast-paced career for a surprisingly routine life. My days now consist of morning chores, followed by afternoons spent reading, learning, and creating until my family returns home.
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- After dinner, my son studies for a while before leaving to work out and then hang out with his friends for the evening. My wife and I typically watch the local news and maybe a show or two before she heads to bed early. I stay up later, reading or watching television with a friend who visits once or twice a week. Sometimes I spend the quiet evening hours writing. I usually head to bed around midnight.
- The next morning, it starts all over again. The only variety in my overall routine is on the weekends. So, I have plenty of time to reflect. And as I've reflected, I thought I'd share some things I've focused on now that I'm "old." As I approach 63 this month, here are five lessons to encourage you:
- There are always new opportunities for growth. I've used my newfound flexible time to learn new skills, discover new information, and re-prioritize my life, recognizing that there are always open doors of opportunity along your path.
- Always invest in people. During my first year of retirement, I've made an effort to invest my time and energy into the people I care about. This has included traveling with my mother and sister, supporting my daughter through a difficult pregnancy, assisting my father-in-law with his recovery from open-heart surgery, spending quality time with my son, and anticipating my wife's needs to make her life easier. I've also made a point to nurture my friendships with other men. Although my days are more routine now, in some ways I've been busier than I was during most of my working years.
- Deliberately create memories. I have been intentionally creating memories as part of my goal to invest in people. For example, I wrote a short story called "A Grand Adventure" for my grandchildren as a Christmas gift in 2023. They loved it! I have grandchildren ranging in age from 21 years old to 2 months old, and I have found ways to create special memories with each of them. I have created paracord bracelets for their little arms, sent regular videos, texts, and had FaceTime conversations to let them know that Grandpa is thinking of them. I have also sent my oldest granddaughter, who is now in her junior year of college, words of encouragement as she navigates her college experience (as well as the occasional unexpected gift via Apple Cash).
- Learn that adventure leads to opportunity. Life doesn't always go as planned. This is a big one. Once, during a job interview, an interviewer told me that I had an unusual set of skills, and a career that surged through multiple sectors. He asked me how I had excelled in a career that seemed to take such winding paths, and I replied, "When a door of opportunity opens, I choose to go through that door." My core values reflect a commitment to serving people, as well as walking through open doors. Being open to adventure leads to opportunity.
- Finally, remember to take care of yourself. Taking care of oneself is crucial. By prioritizing a healthy mind, body, and spirit, I've lost almost 50 pounds since retiring and joined a health club. Nurtured relationships with loved ones and made an effort to express my love, seek forgiveness, mend old wounds, and forgive those who have hurt me.
- My spiritual growth has deepened my relationships, expanded my capacity for love and forgiveness, and transformed my daily routine into an adventure. Retirement has opened doors to new opportunities for fulfillment, reminding me that there's still plenty of life to live and new paths to explore.