So there you are, on your deathbed, waiting to die, and someone says: “Is there anything you would like to have done in your life, but didn’t get around to it?” What will be your answer?
That is a long time off, we hope; but the question still needs an answer. Will your response to the final question be: “I have had a fulfilling life and have no regrets” or will you say: “I always wanted to….” or: “I would have liked to be able to….” or even: “I was passionate about…. but never got around to exploring/learning/understanding it”
The benefit of creating and experiencing a thoughtful retirement is being able to tackle unfulfilled dreams, wishes and ambitions. Here are some possibilities which may resonate with you: I would like to be able to: speak another language, sing in a choir, play a musical instrument, see the Taj Mahal, write an essay or a novel, learn how to scuba dive, help in a hospital or refuge, assist refugees to adjust to their new country, mentor a young person, enroll for a university degree, learn first aid…..and so on.
Your job is to complete the following statements :
- I want to learn………
- When I was younger I yearned to….., but never got around to it
- As a child they stopped me learning about/studying for/being interested in……….
- They said I would never be good at…….
- Now I am free of commitments I can……..
- Retirement means I am free to……..
Renaissance not Retirement 