Open door

There are lots of ways to view retirement – as a new start in life, as a rebirth, or just time to reschedule one’s usual activities. Whatever the viewpoint, and whether or not you want to change your way of life, it is a crossroads in living and choices have to be made. Of course it would be easier to drift into retirement and hope everything will work out, but that approach fails to take advantage of the many opportunities provided by being retired.

There is an old saying: As one door closes another one opens, and this may provide the best approach to thinking about retirement. Your next phase of life will be different from the previous, which means new goals, new behaviours, new attitudes, new opportunities and probably, because of the new circumstances, the making of new friends and a changed relationship with your family.

When you were a teenager, you probably viewed your future life with excitement: What will I learn?; Where will I live?; What job will I do?; What friends will I make?; What new experiences will I have?, and so on. Moving as a youth into adult life is a transition needing major changes in all aspects of living. Retirement is no different. With good luck and reasonable health you have a quarter of your life ahead of you, it is essential to make the most of it.

So as one door closes, don’t look behind, but see the opening and step through it with excitement and enthusiasm. There’s a great new world out there to be explored. After a lifetime of work and raising a family, you deserve it.