Fear or Fun at Retirement

By Diane Zorn

 

As my retirement fast approaches, I feel the same mix of emotions as I did the first day of school: excitement, anticipation, apprehension and fear. Has my career really sped by so fast? Will I enjoy the time to myself as much as I expect to, or will I quickly find myself bored and wishing I had decided to work just a few more years?

We baby-boomers have typically had the good fortune to have attained more material possessions, enjoyed better health and planned for retirement earlier than our forefathers. As a woman, I have had more options for careers than my mother or grandmother could have ever hoped for. In fact, like many career women, I have changed roles several times during my course of work, thus making my life richer and more rewarding because of the growth. I like to think that I embraced change and grew with each new experience.

Retirement is only that - a new experience. So why do I hesitate when the time draws close for me to leave my job? Maybe it is because of the question I keep asking myself - did I accomplish most of what I expected to? In all honesty, I must answer no! But then I never got straight A's in school, either. Should that stop me from moving forward? Indeed not, there are new challenges waiting out there. In fact, in this new millennium, we are so fortunate to have so many choices.

When I consider the opportunities I will have to fill my day, I begin to feel excited again. Learning is a life-long experience, so there are lots of courses out there I can enroll in. For example, I have the chance to improve my computer skills - only, this time, for my benefit instead of job advancement. I could build on that accomplishment to start a home business. I could volunteer to instruct others how to apply the same skills I have learned, or mentor young people in the community.

Just like I chose options from the semesters offered in school, I can now make selections that appeal to me. Maybe it is time to learn a new art medium, participate in a writing group, study nature through the lens of my camera, or see if I can understand the intricacies of line dancing. Wow, there might even be time for me to tidy my recipe boxes, sort through my material stash and even organize all those photos I have avoided for years. Wait, that might prove too much like work! After all, I am going to really enjoy myself in this new phase. Oh boy, oh boy, where is my skipping rope, I can hardly wait to get started!

Diane Zorn has a certificate in Human Resource Management. She has over 15 years experience operating 2 retail businesses and has started a home-based e-commerce site http://www.beyondhandbags.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Diane_Zorn