Skip to main content

Refire! Don't Retire

In this episode - Refire! Don’t Retire . . .

It's 2024, and I'm feeling overwhelmed with all the talk about New Year's resolutions, goals, exercise, and spiritual growth. On top of that, this year marks the 50th anniversary of my graduation from Cuba High School. Some of my friends have been suggesting that I take a break and enjoy the simple pleasures of retirement.


Imagine sitting in a cozy rocking chair on your back porch, watching the beauty of nature unfold before your eyes. Being able to pull out that old camera and explore the creative world of photography, travel again, explore the Sierras, or just spend some time with family and friends.


You’ve heard it said that it’s important to prioritize your well-being and find joy in the little things, so why not consider retiring and taking it easy for a while? Doesn't this sound inviting? Be careful what you wish for.


Recently, while meeting with my primary care physician for an annual physical, he asked, “Do you have any questions?”


Yes, "I was wondering what’s the typical health of your retired patients? I'm considering retiring myself," I asked. 


“That’s a very good question,” he said.


"I hate to say this, but a significant number of retirees suffer from boredom and a lack of mental stimulation due to the absence of hobbies, exercise, and friends. This often leads to a rapid decline in their health. My suggestion is to keep your mind and body stimulated to maintain a healthy life.”


“What hobbies do you have?” asked the doctor.


“I consider myself pretty active; I produce a weekly podcast, maintain a Blog, do distance cycling, walk 30 minutes a day, play guitar and piano, and now I’m learning to play the ancient Chinese game of GO.”


“Sounds like retirement would suit you just fine,” said the Doctor.


My listening friends, my laundry list of activities is not about me; it's about how you have a choice to do what inspires you to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Don’t wait to start thinking about these things as you approach retirement, Start Today! How you ask?


My suggestion is get the book "Refire! Don't Retire–Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life” by Ken Blanchard and Morton Shaevitz from your local library, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon. This book is a motivational guide that encourages you to reinvent your approach to aging and work.


In this small book (143 pages) Blanchard suggests a different approach to retirement where individuals remain active and involved in their lives by finding renewed passion, purpose, and enthusiasm. This book emphasizes the importance of staying curious, setting new goals, developing new relationships, and maintaining a positive attitude to lead a fulfilling and rewarding life beyond the conventional retirement age.


Each chapter ends with a summary page titled - Pause, Reflect, Take Action.


For example, Chapter Three, "Love is the Key," poses the following questions:


Pause, Reflect, Take Action

  1. What might you do to reach out to someone close to you–a spouse or good friend–to revitalize that relationship?
  2. What new people can you reach out to and make a part of your life?
  3. What can you do to let others know you care about them?
  4. What is your plan for making the world a better place?
  5. Tell a person that you appreciate them.

So, I’m revising my action list, reading more, getting out the door to exercise, and reaching out to old friends to see if they would like to sit on that porch for a while and watch the beauty of human nature unfold before their eyes.


I’m Patrick Ball. Thanks for listening! See you in the next episode.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most Popular of All Time

Sunflowers, French Steel, and the Yellow Jersey

Watching Le Tour de France this year, I found myself transported back to August 1983 as the Peloton in Stage 10, Bastille Day, flowed through the French countryside like a brightly colored ribbon. I was in my twenties, visiting family in the Charente-Maritime region of France, completely obsessed with bicycle racing—and convinced I was much stronger than I was. My connection to cycling—and to France—runs deep. I was born in France, and my very first real road bike, at age fifteen, was a Mercier . To me, it wasn’t just a bicycle; it was a work of art made from beautiful French steel. I rode that bike for miles, through high school, into college, and until the day someone decided they needed it more than I did. I hope they at least appreciated the craftsmanship. Its untimely disappearance led me to a Schwinn Voyageur, and later, when I started racing around Illinois, to a Raleigh Competition . But during that summer of ’83, while staying with my Uncle Jean Paul in Lagord, just north of L...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Big Rip and the First Tee

The telescope (Celestron) sits quietly under its cover, temporarily blinded by Southern California's annual meteorological hostage situation – June Gloom. Somewhere above that thick gray ceiling, photons that began their journey before humans appeared are streaming across the cosmos, only to be intercepted by a marine layer that seems to have veto power over astronomy. Instead of observing the universe, I find myself imagining – The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) by physicist Katie Mack. According to modern cosmology, the universe may eventually end in a Big Rip, a Big Crunch, Heat Death, Vacuum Decay, or some other catastrophe that sounds suspiciously like a rejected heavy-metal album title. Astrophysicists spend their careers calmly discussing the possibility that reality itself could suddenly cease to exist because a quantum field had a bad day. It's a remarkable way to start a Saturday morning. One moment you're contemplating the ultimate fate of spacetime...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Places You'll Go . . .

Well, the time has arrived. Yes, July's drawing near, And somehow I've managed to last seven years! I've analyzed forecasts and studied the trends, While spreadsheets multiplied without seeming to end. We've planned for the sunshine, the storms, and the load, while Mother Nature kept changing the code. But through all the numbers, the forecasts, and charts, the best part of Cenergy's always been hearts. The people beside me, year after year, Made even the toughest challenges clear. To the bright, talented folks reading this today, The future is yours now—you're well on your way. And unlike my era, here's the key: You’ll work with AI just as smooth as can be. The reports that took hours may take only minutes. The models you build with intelligence in it. The data will flow faster than ever before, While AI handles tasks that are mostly a bore! But here's my advice as I head out the door: Technology changes, but people matter more. AI can predict, calcula...
Post a Comment
Read more

Rediscovering the Magic of Summer . . .

Summer mornings, especially on a holiday weekend, have a special magic. The air is cool, the world quiet, and the day full of possibilities. This July 4th weekend, Lori and I decided to capture a bit of that magic by beating the holiday traffic with an early morning bicycle ride. We went through our usual pre-flight checklist: Stretched out the morning stiffness. Filled the water bottles. Strapped on the helmets. Checked the tires. Three tires passed inspection. The fourth had apparently declared independence. The rear tire on my e-bike was flatter than a Kansas highway. “Well, it looks like we’re not riding today,” Lori said, with the calm acceptance of someone who had already mentally promoted coffee to the day’s main event. “Why not?” I replied. “I’ll ride my old bike.” She gave me that look —the one that safely translates as, "Are you sure about this? " “Absolutely,” I said. “Why not?” I dragged the bike stand out and surveyed my options. One glance at the aggressive gear...
Post a Comment
Read more