What’s your image of retirement? Does it match what the world tells you retirement should look like? Or are you a retirement rebel, charting your own path? Read on to get started on painting an image of retirement that’s as unique as you are.
It has been almost two years since I left my primary career behind. When I decided to retire, I saw this time of life as a new chapter—a time of growth and exploration. In the back of my mind, though, was a small seed of concern about being made to feel irrelevant thanks to the negative stereotypes of older adults in the world around me.
Reject retirement stereotypes
Despite the fact that many people remain active and healthy in their later years, western culture clings to outdated views of retirement and aging. This reality hits me every time I look for pictures for my website and blog posts. When I search for “retirement” or “older adults”, the pictures reinforce outdated stereotypes of life in our later years. They’re far from inspiring.
By far, negative images outnumber positive ones. Many portray feeble white-haired people walking with canes. Others show older adults sitting in rocking chairs or armchairs. Money is a recurring theme in many of the images. One of the strangest graphics I’ve seen is of an older couple sitting on top of a pile of money. Who does that?
Almost exclusively, the more positive images of retirement relate to travel. I’m sure you’ve seen the images of smiling couples strolling on beaches—perpetuating the vision of retirement that involves endless travel to exotic destinations.
The message is clear, retirement is a time of decline and dependence. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Where are the more realistic images of older adults starting businesses, volunteering in their communities, playing with their young grandchildren, running marathons, writing books, or pursuing passion projects? They’re hard to find, so let’s create our own!
Paint your own image of retirement
Retirement is a blank canvas. After a lifetime of serving others, it’s a time to cast aside stereotypes and decide how you want to live out your remaining years.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I challenge you to take a few minutes to dream a little and create your own image of retirement.
Start by grabbing a blank piece of paper. Treat it as your blank canvas. Fill the page with pictures of what you want your next chapter to look like. If you’re not artistically inclined, use words instead of pictures. Or find pictures in magazines or online to create a vision board for your retirement.
Then, think about what might hold you back from achieving your vision. Start creating an action plan to get you from where you are today to where you want to be.
Finally, put your image of retirement where you can see it every day. Make a date in your calendar for a month or two from now to revisit and adjust your action plan. Even if retirement feels a long way away, there’s no time like the present to start working on your plan.
Don’t let the world define what your retirement should look like. Get started today on creating a Second Life Vision that’s as unique as you are.
If you need help creating your image of retirement, join my free webinar to learn seven non-financial questions to help bring your vision into focus, or contact me to learn more about my workshops and retirement coaching packages.
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