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Hello and Good Day! Hope You have been enjoying your summer -and- the days have been good to You, providing many special moments with your Family and Friends!
As always, I greatly appreciate You taking some of your time to visit ‘Terry’s Thoughts’ and read my articles. This article is #26 in my series on examining the experiences with the transition to our ‘Encore’ (and should You be a first time reader, this is my reference to our retirement time of our life)… not to be confused with a “do-over.” Rather, it’s the opportunity to appreciate your life which You have created with the pleasure of enhancing your life!
As I thought about the topic for this article, I have been thinking about this mindfulness state of mind -and- seeking our authentic life, we should be embracing…. vis a vis identifying our (individual) purpose as we live this phase of our life.
Admittedly, I seldom concerned myself with mindfulness -or- struggled with what was my authentic life as I was moving through my previous decades. Maybe, I just did not know that it required a discipline to dig deep -or- that I was not living my authentic life? Whatever, here we are.
I read somewhere; “Mindfulness is about our mind being and becoming our best friend.”
I am certainly no expert -and- must confess this is an area I continue to work on because I am my own worst enemy. My mind seldom shuts down, even after 3 years of not having to be concerned about priorities, deadlines, back-to-back-to-back conference calls/meetings consuming my day, etc.
My Son, (Justin), addresses the importance of seeking your authentic life in his Life Planning work with his Clients and his mentoring of other Financial Advisors. He provides great perspective and insightful guidance. You should check out some of his work in his “Daily Notes” at; https://justincastelli.ck.page/
Retirement is not just a change in routine; it is a transition in identity. Many of us have built our sense of self around careers and achievements. Some folks I have spoken with even delay their retirement date for fear of not knowing who they will become or what they will do when they retire.
Retirement can bring about new challenges and potential feelings of failure. It is essential to prepare for this phase by discovering our true selves. We can find happiness and joy in retirement by replacing that need of feeling some level of achievement because of our career development and behaviors with one that aligns with our authentic selves.
Retirement is not just a time to stop working, (but it certainly does feel good)… it is an opportunity for more self-discovery and embracing a new sense of identity and purpose. We now how the time to focus more on ourselves and develop a more authentic and fulfilling sense of self by recognizing we have enough life experience to build our (next) life plan. We can embrace our identity and purpose in retirement -and- find happiness, joy and well-being in this new chapter of our lives.
Life is about growth, understanding, and wisdom. No need to stop now just because we have retired. Yet, more often than not, we stumble upon important life lessons a little too late. The most important point to remember is: Life is happening right now. This very moment is all we truly have.
Values are at the root of mindfulness; they guide how we are in the world and what we say and do. And just as important, they guide what we don’t say or do. If family is a foundational value, this shapes choices and even lives. Faith provides a set of values that can provide a sense of belonging and meaning.
Everyone’s story involves learning a set of values. For me, it was my Father’s hard work and Family ethic running his grocery store, as well as my GrandParents, Aunts/Uncles influences upon me. Throughout my Father’s life he provided selflessly for us through hard work. I know he regarded being able to leave as much as he could for my mother as a key part of his life work, even though he was never able to enjoy his later years in his life as he passed away at 63. ( If You would like to learn more, You can check out article # 8, June 19, 2023; “Lessons Learned From The Kitchen Table Talks” )
I guess my lack of connecting mindfulness and seeking our authentic life was driven by the appreciation to explore our values and how they can guide us. To embrace our values and be courageous enough to value what is truly important.
Leading the life we want means waking up and paying attention.
Attention is one of your most important resources. What You focus on shapes what You think, your decisions, what You feel, and, ultimately, your reality. It’s like the spotlight that shines a spot light on certain conversations, people, successes, problems, and feelings while leaving others in the shadows.
There are a lot of pulls on our attention, and this can give us a sense of being fragmented. With all the demands on us, it’s easy to react by checking out and sleepwalking through life. Zoning out can be comfortable, but there are many good reasons to live with a sense of being fully awake.
Leading the life we want means waking up and paying attention -and- alignment with who You are and the life You want to live.
Every moment is already here, waiting for you to pay attention to it. In a sense, You don’t need to do anything differently in this Encore phase. It is more of an adjustment in how you approach your day, choosing to pay attention on purpose, with attitudes of curiosity and friendliness.
I normally end ‘Terry’s Thoughts’ -and- the podcast with Justin, ‘The Next Episode’ with the following: “Never quit searching, never settle and never give up seeking your greater purpose!“
Today, however, going to end with two other thoughts… the first is one of my favorite song lyrics from a Temptations song that I have used in a past article; “Love the Life I live and Live the Life I love.” -and- the second thought; “Yesterday is forgotten, we need to be the best version of ourself today.”
Please continue to take care and make the most of your days.
Terry's Thoughts 
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