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August 16, 2004
Your life's story may include retirement and it truly is the opportunity for you to do something you have always wanted to do.
When I asked my own husband, who will soon retire, what his idea of retirement was this was his answer. "Watching television, play games on the Internet; read my books and walk the dog!" I looked at him and replied, "Not in my house!" Our conversation is probably like most every couple in the world who haven't really given much thought about what "retirement" would be like for you both. So, let's take a close look at what your retirement options might be.
Perhaps retirement will allow you to do something you are good at and love too. Start by thinking about your personal interests, i.e., golf, animals, books, crafts, garage sales, bicycling, whatever you might enjoy more than anything else. Maybe you have had a very successful career in some particular field, like accounting, writing, counseling or teaching to name a few and want to keep your fingers in that field during those golden years.
Chances are you might find you can earn money by turning your passion into a new source of revenue and you don't have to stay in corporate America to find your own niche either. Just start your own company from home; lots of older Americas are doing this today.
You might even find you have a talent you didn't know you had in retirement. I loved to write letters when I was growing up but I had never thought about writing for a living until now. Now I write poetry, scripts for my radio and television shows, magazine articles, newspaper columns, and I am working on my second and third book simultaneously. I am doing what I love in "retirement", writing words on paper!
To help you look for other ideas, think on these things:
- Book lovers could sell their used editions on line through eBay or Amazon.com.
- My granddaughter hunts for stuff at garage sales, department discount stores, and flea markets. She has no advertising budget, no boss and stays home with her baby! She turns a profit on eBay by doing what she loves to do best…. shop!
- If you are gifted at crafts, you can participate in craft fairs in your community centers, even at city and county fairs. You can build a customer list and continue to sell directly to them after the craft shows have come and gone. Sound marketing, you bet!
- Team up with a travel agency to become an independent agent to see if this business is for you. If it is, you can always get a license somewhere down the road.
Hint: Be sure to register your business according to state law and acquire the license that allows you to do business, even if it is out of your own home.
These are just thoughts to peak your interest for making a hobby or a business out of something you love to do in your retirement. You will meet new people; keep your life full and interesting, and maybe make some serious pocket money too.
So remember, the first half of the equation for retirement is: Stay mentally challenged or you will get a disease and die. So a second go at something you would love to do makes sense. The other half of the equation is simply this: Physically you are what you eat, and you must take care of the earthy suit you were born in. So for heaven's sake…challenge yourself to eat right, walk and exercise in retirement too.
We were definitely created to move, utilize our talents, and communicate with each other all our lives. So there you go! Take a look at your options, it is up to you to enjoy the things you love as you take a deep breathe, continue to write and propel yourself into the second half of your "Life's Story."
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