Finally, beginning to settle down and embrace this Encore phase

Hello and Good Day! Hope You have been doing well and enjoying your summer. Appreciate You taking a moment to stop by and check out the article(s).

It’s August 3rd and the summer time has come to an end for my GrandKids -and- Daughter. They are back to school. Seems like we were just celebrating the 4th of July and here we are. Good Luck to the GrandKids in their new school year! Congrats to my Daughter, (Kristin), on the start of a new journey in her teaching career. She begins this school year at a new school and in a new career path — Special Education! I am very proud of Kristin achieving her special education certification and stepping up into this new role/opportunity! I know she will continue her teaching excellence and making the Difference in so many children’s lives!

Now, where was I on this article’s theme; “beginning to settle down and embrace this Encore phase.” I’m moving through my 18th month of my Encore phase and beginning to feel I am understanding and embracing this phase a little more. I know, You are saying: “it’s taken him 18 months?” (ok, my Family and close Friends can stop laughing as they know how I over think matters; just a bit – lol).

I have written in past articles of what the experts reference as the phases of retirement, how our social network changes and the reflections we pause and consider of our past years working/living to begin looking ahead on how we would like to enjoy/live this next phase of our life (our Encore). As I also addressed in previous articles, there is a very good chance we could live another 30 years so this Encore can be another lifetime! So, when we consider; “what’s next,” we do have adjustments to consider/make.

Please, don’t immediately get me wrong at this point of reading my thought, this phase is a blessing and one helleva good time! Just don’t be like me and over think it!

During your first few months after leaving the work world, You have no problem becoming adjusted to not working… no “Sunday Scaries,” no more back-to-back-to-back-to back meetings/conference calls, unrealistic deadlines with scarce resources to complete major projects, the never ending emails, etc. etc. How could You not adjust to loving your days of freedom to make the day, your day?!

Although as time passes, and it does not slow down, You may begin to feel the impact of the community You created over the years shrink. You may begin to feel You don’t know who You are or what You wanted. This “new life,” without those foundations, may be challenging You to figure it out, and You may flounder.

Should this ‘feeling’ happen to You, please stop and consider You didn’t have time to really consider how You want to spend the rest of your life. We are far too busy in our lives when we were working. I read somewhere; “it’s perfectly natural to feel that there may be no point to anything you’re doing, because you don’t have to do anything in particular right now.”

This statement along with encouragement, (well, more like loving, harsh words from my Wife, Son and Daughter), resonated with me, and slowly I have been able to adopt a more positive mindset: In this stage of my life, it was OK to do whatever I wanted, especially if it brought me joy, relaxation and contentment.

We learn about retirement, (and other phases of our life), in a linear fashion -and- from observing how others like our Parents, Grandparents, Family members and Friends live those phases.

For me learning about retirement was watching my GrandFathers, Uncles, Father-in-Law and Family Friends retire from the steel mill at 62 after working mostly 40 years and for many, they lived long lives. These Gentlemen enjoyed their retirement years putzing around their homes, visiting with their Friends/Family each evening at the Italian Club in our town, (St Anthony Club), which was founded and built by my GrandFather and his Friends. My Father-in-Law was an avid golfer, he refereed high school football games and enjoyed fishing. This was retirement in a small steel town.

My Father did not have the good fortune to retire. He died at 63. July 23 would have been his 93rd birthday, ( You can read my previous article; “lessons learned from the kitchen table,” to learn about this amazing man/father). My Father missed having the joy to watch his GrandSon and GrandDaughters grow up -and- would have so deeply enjoyed his Great GrandChildren! This would have been the meaning of retirement for my Father.

So, my learning of what retirement would mean, had to take on a different learning curve….

Research says we need meaningful purpose to feel satisfied in life, and without work, many retirees struggle to find that. I am grateful, I am not one of those struggling to find the basis of feeling satisfied in life defined by work! Please don’t let work define your purpose and providing the satisfaction in your life.

I’m lucky that my Son has provided me with an opportunity to join in his firm, (RLS Wealth), to help out with projects which makes me feel productive and connected. Like those Gentlemen in my life, I putz around the yard, I enjoy being outside and caring for the house, my wife, (Denise), and I work out each day; including now our yoga sessions, and most importantly, cover our GrandSons games, (basketball, baseball, soccer, football) -and- watch our GrandDaughter’s dance recitals and cheerleading at games. Dare I say, there is a ‘routine.!’

However, more than that, what going to give my Encore phase purpose is a sense of calm and a sense of contentment

I’ve found that the best advice for this Encore is to be present and in the moment. Without outside expectations and schedules, with your time finally fully your own, at last you can try to create a new version of the life You always wanted.

So, it is now time for me to begin taking my own advice (even if it has taken me 18 months)!

“Never quit searching, never settle and never give up seeking your greater purpose!“