Great Retirement Advice

Thought provoking New York Times article What Does Retirement Really Mean? Short in length but long on wisdom…

My takeaways from the article are shown below. The first observation is what is most relevant to me at my age.

“Growing old is a process of giving things up. The trick is to not dwell on what you have lost, but rather focus on what remains.”

CONRAD REYNOLDS, CHICAGO

“Old age is like the fourth quarter of a basketball game. Time for the stars to really shine.”

HAL REICHARDT, BEAVERTON, ORE.

“The best sentiment I have heard on retirement was expressed by Serena Williams: She was not retiring from tennis, she was evolving.”

CYNTHIA WAGNER WEICK, CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA, CALIF.

“If the joy of your work has left you, it is time.”

CHRISTINE ROBB, ISLESBORO, MAINE

“I had to learn to be comfortable in the uncertainty of my future.”

PAULA SANTA-DONATO, HARTSDALE, N.Y.

Thoughts on the Fly

Close friends, family and even spouses may know 60-80% of who we really are. No one knows 100% of us, not even ourselves.

Emotionally it is easier to give help than to accept it. Giving is an expression of the heart;  accepting often requires the surrender of ego and pride.

The endings of most friendships and relationships are not mutual decisions decided concurrently. Often one of the parties finds it an unpleasant surprise…

Strangely enough in retirement, what I miss most are not the paychecks or the benefits but the memories of the joys and anticipations of a two week vacation from work.

A very useful and unique skill I possess is the ability to quickly retrieve my wife’s train of thought, without prompt, from a conversation or point she was making from a day, weeks or months before.

Does anybody remember the excitement and feeling of accomplishment from the first time they were able to ride a two wheeled bike? Does anyone remember their first bike like they remember their first car?

A great coach teaches not only how his team should win with class but also to lose with dignity.

After one retires, does one really need a watch? It’s like a prison ankle bracelet that serves little purpose once one escapes the confines of working 8 to 5.

Sage wisdom from a New York Times Article 7 Questions 75 Artists 1 Bad Year

I’ve made peace with myself. I chose to no longer stress over the things I have no control over.

Tiwa Savage, musician

I have to have a thousand bad ideas before I can get to a good one.

Aaron Sorkin, writer and director

I’m writing a book, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve started over from scratch. But the bad ideas lead to the best ones. Sometimes you have to break down to break through.

Amanda Gorman, poet