by Rochelle
Goldberg
From the time
we are very young, people start asking, “What do you want to be when you grow
up?” At first, the answers are simple
– firefighter, astronaut, princess. But over time, those childhood dreams fade
and, bigger more complicated questions emerge: How can I make a difference? How can I build a career doing something I love – or at
least something I’m good at?
Now, as I
approach retirement, I find myself staring down that very same question – but with a twist: What do I
want to do with the rest of my life?
I’ve been
lucky. I built a career I love, teaching. I raised a family. I even managed to
squeeze in time for community projects. But now what?
See, I’m not
the type to instinctively know how to retire. I need my routine, my schedule,
responsibilities, people and projects that need me. I need a reason to get up,
get dressed, and – here’s the
kicker – leave the house! Otherwise, I spend half the day wandering around asking,
“What should I do today?” and pretending that reorganizing the junk drawer
counts as productivity.
So, I need
help. Maybe you do, too.
And that’s the
point of this column. I want to hear from you – yes, you
– the successfully retired, active, engaged person who’s figured it out. Are
you out there?
Or maybe I’m
not alone. Maybe there are lots of us standing at the edge of retirement – excited but unsure, eager but
hesitant – trying to
navigate this uncharted territory. I want to hear from you, too.
So, I’m starting
what I hope will be a fascinating interactive column. I’m asking you to write
and share your stories. Offer ideas. Ask questions. Tell us what’s worked and
what definitely hasn’t. Let’s create our own “Senior Retirement LinkedIn” – a space to exchange ideas,
inspire each other, and walk into this next chapter with purpose, excitement,
and maybe even a little humor.
Because
retirement isn’t the end of the road;
it’s
just uncharted territory. And if we navigate it together, we might feel less
lost.
Please send your ideas, questions, and stories to retirednowwhat58@gmail.com.
