Remain Patient

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Hello and Good Day! Hope You have been doing well -and- that Spring has arrived in your Neighborhood.

Here in Indy, we continue to be ‘teased’ with a few lovely, warm days -and- then smacked in the face with winter-like weather, ( we just had a hard frost following a couple of days in the 70’s ).  Although, our grass, trees and shrubs are green and in bloom -and- I have cut my lawn twice in the past two weeks, so Spring must be here! 

This is the ‘Terry’s Thoughts’ 42nd post! Stepping back and reviewing the previous posts, we have covered quite an array of topics, feelings, questions and challenges as we continue our transition in our Encore phase of Life!

A (nagging) experience so far in my Encore phase has been to face the adjustment of recognizing that somewhere along the way I might have had the idea that I was supposed to have a clean plan mapped out for the future once I entered retirement.

The initial euphoria of our retirement time may feel that our freedom fades, replaced by a sense of emptiness and a nagging feeling of…well, lost purpose. Roughly 25% of retirees experience a period of adjustment after leaving the workforce, according to a 2022 report by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies.

I am recognizing that retirement is a work in progress. Just as when we became adults and began on our career -and- then if we got married -and- then if we had children, nobody gave us a manual. We just approached these life changes and did the best we could and hoped for the best.

My challenge has been I always approached Life thinking I should know what’s next and if I did not have all the answers, I’ve fallen short.

Even when we think we have things figured out, reality has a way of proving otherwise. We make plans based on what we know now… maybe clinging too tightly to a specific plan which could lead us to something that no longer fits us at where we are in our Life’s journey. We may ignore opportunities and resist change.

Even in our Encore phase there is a kind of freedom in admitting that we don’t have it all figured out. We can than explore growth, options we never have considered. It takes the pressure off and reminds us that we don’t have everything mapped out to be moving in the right direction.

If You are feeling uncertain, take a breath, You are not behind or lost. We might just be in the middle of our story and that is exactly where we are supposed to be.

Warren Buffet provided this piece of advice from Rudyard Kipling’s classic poem “IF.”

“If You can keep your head when all about You are losing theirs… If You can wait and not be tired by waiting… If You can think -and- not make thoughts your aim… If You can trust yourself when all men doubt You… Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it.”

As I addressed in the previous article, ( ‘What Now?,’ 4.2.2025 ), when You reach retirement, it is not a decline, far from it. Our Encore phase can be the start of the most joyful and fulfilling years of your life, if You know how to navigate them.

As we have experienced throughout our entire lifetime, it all comes down to habits. Simple, daily practices that can transform your Life post-retirement into a period of happiness and contentment.

We begin to understand more than ever during our Encore that happiness isn’t about having it all, but cherishing what You have and can still find joy in simplicity.

Reaching our Encore phase isn’t about ticking off a checklist. It’s about living life on our own terms, “marching to the beat of your own drum.”

Our Encore phase truly sets us apart and permits us to embrace Life, to continue learning and growing, to pursue new experiences, and to live authentically!

It is no longer about achieving perfection. It’s about embracing our unique journey, cherishing the simple moments, and celebrating the extraordinary person that we are, (today)!

So, as we always close; “Never quit searching, never settle and never give up seeking your greater purpose!“