Hello, my name is JoAnn. I have just recently retired. I have been trying to retire now for about 9 months. Went in to fill in for someone sick last week and my boss started talking to me about how I should still work. The truth is I am a little young for retirement, I am only 64, I would be better off, financially, if I retire later. My social security benefits will be at the target if I wait until my allowed quit age of 66; that is over a year from now. Today, I canceled visiting with a friend of mine because I am now sick, just a sore throat and cough, but I think there is a relationship between being sick and questioning my decision to retire?
One of my reasons for wanting to do this blog is that I know I am not alone in my quandaries. I want to retire for several reasons:
- I am tired
- I want to spend more time with my husband
- I want to explore my own interests
- I want my time to be my own
- I want to enjoy myself
- I want to spend more time with friends/family
- I want to travel a little too
I realize that I, like most of us, want to retire and enjoy ourselves. I do not want to retire “too late”, only to find that I am too sick, too disabled or dying. I have dreamed of having an enjoyable retirement with time to spend with my husband doing things we enjoy. I realize that in order to have whatever retirement we dream of requires that we be healthy and happy. That is why for this blog, my focus will be on all things that promote good health and happiness not money matters. Health and happiness are our true wealth in my opinion.
I also do not believe in coincidences. I have Alexa in my house and this month they offer a free audible reading of the book “The Confidence Gap: A Guide To Overcoming Fear And Self-Doubt”. Just the sort of boost I needed, in the introduction it talks about mindfulness, BINGO! I am a fan. Next, it goes on to talk about values and goals. All great topics for me. I do prefer to avoid conflict, I like to be agreeable, even when I do not agree.
Long story short, retirement does not mean the end of challenges. Rather those challenges I choose to pursue become more dear, important, if only to me. Just to put the nail in the coffin, below is today’s’ quote presented on my Sudoku game. I LOVE quotes.
“While one finds company in himself and his pursuits, he cannot feel old, no matter what his years be.” Amos Bronson Alcott