I’m back to my retirement series profiling the lives of area residents as they ease into their golden years which I believe they can be if your health holds, you saved some money and your love and belonging needs are met. This week’s interview was with a long time area resident who is a new friend. After a very customer service oriented professional life and losing her husband in the first year of retirement she had lots to say about her first six years of freedom. First and foremost, she is relieved to be away from all consuming work stress but is quite grateful for both the computer and communication skills her work life provided which are very useful to her now.
She spends part of most days working off project lists directed toward management of a large proper which, as a widow, is no small feat. However, she feels strongly about taking advantage of spur of the moment opportunities that allow her to spend time with others either engaged in an activity or just visiting. She loves to walk in the early morning to enjoy the sunrises either alone or with friends and appreciates the ability to smile or laugh at simple things she encounters or thinks about along the way. I think this is a great example of being able to “live in the moment” where most meaningful life experiences occur.
She has an all-consuming desire to learn through education, reading and being exposed to new ideas and she continues to enlarge and expand on her hobbies which include wood carving, pyrography, teaching silversmithing, embroidery, landscaping and flower gardening. The physicality of these hobbies require her to move at a slower pace at this life stage but she commits to learn, think and do something positive and interesting everyday which leads to happiness, energy and the desire to be and stay independent. Personal goals for the future involve more travel, especially if it involves different food experiences, getting back on her bike this spring and reading books from new authors. I believe this kind of lifelong learning is one of the keys to a rich life in retirement.
She is overjoyed to have met someone new at this stage of life with similar interests and enjoys having the time and energy to develop the friendship. She has a newfound realization of the strong independent person she has become and enjoys sharing her wisdom and knowledge with others who respect her in the same way she respected those who mentored her over the years. I wish I had more of this which I probably would if I weren’t such a recluse.
Her advice to the young is to cultivate friendships with both the young and the old be they short or long in duration. Keep an open mind to new ideas and technology; don’t be afraid to speak out but do it with positive solutions/ideas. Treasure your free time and spend time on yourself even if it is only for a few minutes a day. She also believes volunteering is a great way to meet new people and learn new things. She encourages others to “be kind” because small town and/or rural living requires unity and helping others to survive and thrive. Don’t forget your small town values of integrity and resourcefulness and “agree to disagree” in the life you choose in a world filled with too much animosity right now. I think this friend’s insights are relevant to young and old alike and I am honored to be one of her “new friends.”