Whitewater
When we give our presentations and clinics on making retirement work, one of the most common themes revolves around the notion of “transition“. For most of us, moving into retirement is one of the biggest transitions we will make in our adult lives. And as is the case with most transitions, there is a period of uncertainty.
For some of us this period of uncertainty is akin to whitewater rafting, where we move from calm waters through the tumult of whitewater and in due course back into relatively quiet waters once again. It is during this period of transition that we ask ourselves questions like What will retirement really be like? What will life be like on a day-to-day basis? Will I be able to maintain my current friendships and develop relationships with new friends? What will my purpose be? How can I make the most of the wonderful gift of time that retirement provides? Did I make a mistake in retiring when I did?
As daunting as these questions may be, the good news is that they all have answers. For many of us, this transition period affords a rich opportunity to answer these questions. As the answers begin to emerge, we chart a course for these precious years and our inner ikigai begins to take shape. In short, we discover that the whitewater of the transition process need not be unduly unsettling, but a natural aspect of how to make retirement…work!
Rick Hearin