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Once we retire, the years seem to slip by in rapid succession. The realization hits many of us that we may not be as physically proficient in some things as we once were; but, if you notice, most of us have become more proficient in seeing what is truly important in life--good health, family, happiness, and serenity. We can extend that even further by including "making a difference by helping others in some way." Many of us have been able to become more philosophical and see life through different lenses, lenses that let light and life into our lives more frequently. Make it a point this month to become aware of just how your life has changed in a positive manner since you retired. We'd love to hear from you! Happy November, Ed and Gail
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Regrets in Life and How to Handle Them
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Asking the question, " As you look back on the significant decisions you made in the early years of your life, have there been any significant regrets?" of a retiree can often elicit strong positive or negative reactions. For example, when asking this question of his friend, Ron, who had been a farmer all of his life, Ed got an immediate, strongly stated response, "I regret I never went to college. If I had gone, I might have been a better farmer." To this day, Ron believes he should have sought out higher education rather than settling into the routine of the family business for the next 30 years. Circumstances at that time dictated his decision to stay on the farm. His father had lost his hand in a farming accident. How could Ron, in good conscience, have gone off to college knowing his father could not manage the farm on his own? Did he make the wrong decision? Or was his decision a reflection of a person with a strong sense of duty and responsibility?
If we each pinpoint a major regret in our lives, what lessons can we learn? We may look back now and realize that with some creative planning we could have had a better outcome; but, at this point, why hold onto what "could have been?" Why not, instead, look at the positives that happened as a result of choosing the paths we took in life. That is an exercise worth investing the extra time it would have taken to do it. The results may change one's perspective, realizing that what we may feel was a negative decision was indeed a positive one.
If we realize now that some creative planning, possibly woven with basic time management skills can change our direction, why not use these same techniques now to reach the goals that may seem challenging to us now?
To do this, we first have to prioritize what is important to us at this point of our lives. Do you have a bucket list? Are you looking to achieve a goal that involves physical fitness, an increase in income, ways to make a positive difference in the lives of others, stress reduction, or overall improved health?
To fulfill any or all of your goals, first analyze the time you currently spend on your daily routine. Identify those activities, and the time spent on those activities that are not associated in any way with any of your current goals.
Next, prioritize the goals that are most important to you. Now, insert activities and tasks that are associated with your prioritized goals into the time spaces formerly wasted on unimportant tasks. For example, make a list of a dozen or so non-negotiable activities for each day. I have a list that I have taped onto the back of my iPhone. Some of my non-negotiables include: daily meditation, write my intentions, control my thoughts, use visualization for my intentions, express gratitude, move hourly, avoid negative people, and another six related to health and nutrition.
Can you identify just six things you could do each day to achieve the goals you have at this point in your life? It is worth taking the time to proactively plan what you want to achieve during this phase of your life. It's never too late to make a difference-either in your life or in the lives of others. Enjoy everything that has happened in your life, but never make your perceived lack of happiness and/or success dependent on what could have been. As motivational speaker Denis Waitley wrote: "There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist or accept the responsibility for changing them."
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Thought for the Month
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"Life" is a gift to you. The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.
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| QUOTE OF THE MONTH Article Headline |
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CAN YOU NAME THE YEAR?- Average annual income in this year was $10,600
- U.S. Postage stamp was .08
- Year end close of the Dow Industrial Average was 890
- NASDAQ stock market index was introduced
- Voting age in the U.S. was lowered to 18 yrs.
- Cigarette advertising on TV came to an end
- Intel released the first microprocessor
- Email was first introduced in the U.S. by Ray Tomlinson
- Gene Hackman won academy award for his role in "French Connection"
| SEE ANSWER IN NEXT BLOCK
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A BIT OF HUMOR
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I happened to run into a senior friend of mine yesterday and could not help but notice that he seemed quite a bit more grumpy than usual.
When I asked him what was bothering him, he said he was angry that he had recently failed the HEALTH & SAFETY TEST at the local Senior Center.
The question that failed him was.."In the event of a fire, what steps should you take ?"
His answer, "####### big ones." was apparently the wrong answer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------- The answer to "Can You Name the Year" is 1971
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Gail Cassidy, gail@coachability.com; (908) 654-5216
http://www.Retired-NextPhase.com
Ed Topar, edtopar@gmail.com |  |
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