Dear LPG

 
It is funny, but so many humans living in the Western world were born with or have cultivated a positive sense of confidence.  One which has helped us as we have negotiated our way through this journey that we call life.  

When we think that things are just right, we feel calm, and it becomes relatively easy to work out the next step as the many routines, schedules, and restrictions that make up the ritual of life present themselves. Within the national set of directions we need to adhere to, we take the time to opt for a self-imposed set of rules that bring order to each of our individual lives without really thinking about it at all. 

The irony is that while we view retirement with a spectrum of attitudes, many look forward to it and see it as a time when we can do anything we want whenever we want. However, when we find ourselves with all those extra choices, we usually do one of three things.  

After the initial post-retirement ‘honeymoon period,’ during which we contemplate all the possibilities of our future life, we might take that holiday we always promised. Then, the proverbial golden handshake of pre-retirement life will commence.  

Nearly immediately, some of us will do it again; without thinking, we will put a whole new set of rules in place that are entirely designed to accommodate our families' daily lives; after all, they will all assume that we have nothing but time on our hands…    

Others will never have a milestone moment to reflect on as the official beginning of retirement. They have swayed from youth to old age without even realising it, and with unchanged rules, life will, for the most part, continue. 

Then, there will be those of us who get lost in all the freedom presented under the third optional umbrella. Even if you have lots of family and friends around you, it can feel lonely because everything will have changed for you. At the same time, they all continue with their busy lives, leaving you feeling a little lost and experiencing that ‘on the outside-looking-in’ feeling. 

Throughout my life, I have learned that no one size fits all regarding any aspect of existence. I hope most of us are content with whatever life we have carved out for ourselves. The most important thing to remember is that complacency is not the best way to ensure your life’s quality remains as high as possible.

I suggest you take an objective ‘step back and look’ now and then to ensure no possible self-improvement opportunities are missed. This will keep your life on its proverbial toes. While tolerance of the people around you has to be respected, I believe that moving forward with a plan is vital no matter how old we are.

QF, Crofton Park