Reflections on Retirement and Growing Older

Cindy enjoying retirement with Sal and their pups; Sophie and Daisy

It’s been a while since my last blog,  but now I’m back!

I remember thinking when I was about 10 years old that when I hit 21 years old, I would be older and so much wiser.    When I hit 21, I thought when I hit 30, I would understand life so much better.    Then I hit 40 and it dawned on me that one is never really grown up and you’ll never understand everything.   You may be smarter, more objective, calmer when making big decisions, but every day you grow up a little more and deal with life experiences a little more maturely.   

Now that I am retired and have the time to look back on my life, I laugh at some of the things that are so clear to me now, but I never thought of in the past.

• I used to think that my sister and I were very different.   Now I have come to realize how much alike we are in many ways.   For example, we have a similar sense of humor and both of us have a low-key approach to life.   I may be more talkative, but neither of us like to be the center of attention.   
• I used to worry much more than I do now.   It only took 60 years for me to finally realize that worry gets me nowhere.   That isn’t to say that I never worry.  I just worry less and don’t focus on the bad.
• When I look back, I’ve come to realize that some of what seemed to be the worst things that happened to me in the past, were actually good because I was forced to go in a different direction. Now that I Iook back, I see many instances where the change was beneficial.   For example, when I was laid off from my job just as we were talking about moving my Mom.     I was off for 4 months with severance and almost as soon as we were done, I got a call regarding a job interview for a position that I would not have applied for at the time.   Within the month of my interviews, I was hired.   I learned a great deal in the position and really grew as a person and leader.

That’s not to say that sometimes it is hard to deal with what in life comes your way.  I’ve had my ups and downs in life, but I always knew that I would swim and never sink.    Until I retired about a year ago, I never had nor took the time to really think on some things that came my way.   That isn’t to say I was oblivious or never thought things through, but I took the time to solve, but sometimes not resolve.

I love to think.   That probably sounds strange, but it is true.   When I walk, I never listen to music or the radio, I just think.   Sometimes it’s random thoughts, other times I have full conversations in my head.  A number of years ago while working for a corporation, I took the Gallup StrengthsFinder Survey.   It is an interesting exercise and will say that it was pretty spot on.  After taking the survey, I received the results listing all my 34 strengths from the most dominant to the least dominant.   My most dominant trait was intellection, in other words, I like to think. 

I enjoy everyday now.    I am a better listener.   I am more thoughtful.   And I know I don’t always have to be right and have the last word.     Sometimes now I just bite my tongue and think, that’s ok, just move on and I actually do it.   Not so much in my younger days.

It was difficult to make the decision to retire almost 2 years ago.   I loved my job, the people, and the responsibility. It has taken me a year or so to settle in to retirement, but now I am enjoying myself.  I have time to write my blog, volunteer, read and study, and keep in touch with friends and relatives.  Life is good.