Life Is Not a Rehearsal-Don't Treat it Like One.

by Ben
(KY)

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I just want to weigh in here for all of the retirees that feel like they are drifting in a sea of nothing. This isn't a rehearsal folks, this is our final stage of life, don't waste it.

It's very normal to feel a little lost during the first 6 months or so. Look, you've worked all of your life. You had a schedule to keep, people, to answer to (or people answering to you). Now perhaps you have no need for an alarm clock but you still need to take care of yourself and find some enjoyment in life.

I had an old friend who retired just a few months after I did. He hated his new freedom and missed going to work. But, he took the buyout and now he wants to just sit at home and feel sorry for himself. He has his health and he has enough money for his needs and then some.

All of my offers to join me for various events were turned down...just not into it. He'd rather just watch TV and let the candle of life burn down for him. It's as if time and his health will always be available to him...I mean should the mood someday change and he may decide to enjoy doing something.

Yes, I did say "decide", because you have to decide when you wake up in the morning if you are going to enjoy another day of freedom and find something, anything constructive to do.

To be honest, I tricked my old friend I mentioned earlier. I told him I needed to visit my father-in-law who was in a nursing home. (I said my car was overheating.) He'd been there for years and at that time there were more than a few residents I had come to know. I would visit every day and my wife and I and one of our rescue dogs would visit every weekend.

So many residents really enjoyed petting and loving on our dogs. One lady even told us once that she didn't even care if the dog bit her, she just wanted to pet a dog again before her time ran out. (of course, our dogs were very gentle and accustomed to being near wheelchairs.)

Anyway, my friend goes in with me and we visit with my father in law and a few residents on the way in and a few more on the way out.

After leaving I said to my friend of 30 years, "you may as well trade places with one of the residents." It was his first time in a nursing home for him. It changed him. He has set up a woodworking shop and makes all kinds of things. We both are trying to learn to play the guitar now-not sure who sounds worse.

The point is this it, the final chapter. Don't waste it feeling sorry for yourself. You're in a new phase of your life, deal with it. Heaven forbid you ever end up in a nursing home but if you do-I promise you-you will think of a few things you wish you could do, but then it will be too late.

Myself, I stay busy with numerous projects. In fact, I actually just finished writing a novel! It took me a few years but it's now available on Amazon. I never thought I could actually finish writing one but I did. You can do anything you want right now, you just got to get your head in the game.

The best to all,
Ben

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