Green Light Journeys: Episode 3/Retirement life beyond the honeymoon

What do you do after the initial stages of Retirement! and Freedom! wear out? I recently faced this realization. I have kept myself busy thus far—taking culinary classes to achieve certification and Italian lessons to travel to Italy. I have lists of things to accomplish around the house, and hobbies, etc., and happily did so for a few months. But then the doubts came creeping in—most of the time in the form of subtle questions like–Should I be working? Should I be feeling guilty for not working? Why do I feel let down? Well, believe it or not, this is indeed one of the emotional stages of retirement that most people go through. Most of us had an identity through our work or career—for me, a career that spanned forty-five years. And before that working in my family restaurants. When you work most of your life, then all of a sudden you don’t, you’re bound to question who you are now, and what your purpose is or will be.

It’s good to remember that retirement is a huge life adjustment and there will be stages of acclimatization. It helps to know this is a whopper of a transition in life and to think of retirement as a journey. And with that, allow yourself to experience a wide range of emotions and look for healthy ways to deal with those feelings. Questioning what your purpose in life is beneficial to consider but make sure you move on and know that it’s all part of a process that will take time. During this time, don’t forget to have fun along the way and remember to support yourself with self-care, network with friends, eat healthy, and stay active.

Try walking, reading, writing, yoga, and think about what milestones you want to try from your bucket list. In addition to your bucket list, creating a retirement life storyboard can help you hone in on what might be next, especially if you’re a visual type of person. Here’s an example of my storyboard, below. As you can see, it’s easy to tell that travel was utmost on my mind. I created this storyboard digitally, but feel free to create yours by hand, gathering examples, or quotes that speak to you. And remember, just like your bucket list, your storyboard is fluid and can change. Like your bucket list, no one needs to see your storyboard unless you want them to. Have fun creating it and you might see what moves you forward.

If you haven’t already, check out episodes 1 and 2 of Green Light Journeys on this blog to get started on your own bucket list. Happy listing and storyboarding!

Green Light Journeys: Episode 2/Pick an Item (or 2 or 3) From Your List

Now that you have your bucket list started (see Episode 1 on this blog), it’s time to do something about it. Pick an item from your list and actually do it. It can be the simplest item—like starting a journal, or the item you dream most about—like training for a marathon, riding in a hot air balloon, or adopting a puppy.

I have several things on my list that pertain to one dream in particular. Let’s start with the individual items. I’ve wanted to go to culinary school for many years. I want to brush up on my Italian, and go to Italy (an Italian girl who hasn’t been to Italy? That won’t stand!) And, I want to write a cookbook. Whew—that’s a lot on my wish list. It might take two-three years to accomplish, but I’m doing something about it. I am currently enrolled in culinary school and am taking online Italian language classes, as well as researching my Italian trip. Among other places in Italy to experience, I also hope to spend time in the region where my grandparents were born, and learn all I can about their regional cooking specialties. Hopefully this will all culminate in my dream of writing a cookbook to share with you all. More about all of that in episodes to come.

Now it’s up to you to take the first step and look over your list for something that’s doable and attracts you, and simply start! And remember, your bucket list is fluid—you can add or delete items at any time. (I recently added this item to my list: #36 Hike a fourteener in Colorado—Class 1, of course.) Embrace your list!

Green Light Journeys: Episode 1/The List

Welcome to my new retirement blog, called Green Light Journeys. My reboot began on March 25, 2022, the first day of the rest of my retirement. I’d thought about retiring for some months, deep thoughts in fact. The first thing on the retirement to do list, of course, is to put your financial stability in place. The rest is the fun stuff.

Figuring out what to do with the second half of your life, defined by you, is the next step. So, I made out the ubiquitous bucket list. Bucket lists are everywhere and have even become somewhat of a joke. But, I used the act of making out the list as an important tool to help figure out some important questions. What have I always wanted to accomplish? What do I want to see and experience in person? What activities or skills do I want to learn and try? Use the list to help clarify your dreams, define your passions and interests. To get started you can go online and review numerous types of bucket lists. Some of these are targeted, some are everything from A to Z, and some are 1,000 things to do before you die.

Getting back to your list, remind yourself to not edit the list, to not limit yourself. Like brainstorming, anything from the practical to the crazy is worth consideration. Take your time to develop the list, but remember that items can always be added to and deleted. And, it doesn’t have to include skydiving or running with the bulls in Pamplona. The list just needs to be absolutely you. Feel free to write down your passions. After all, it’s your choice to share it or not. No one needs to see it but you. You may be surprised at the themes that develop. What subjects resonate with you? What seems particularly exciting at this time? For me, I found definite themes like food, travel, and art. Not surprising since I had a 45-year career as a graphic designer and art director, and my fondest hobby is cooking. Also, no surprise that I love to travel. Those themes rang out loud and clear on my list.

Good luck and have fun comprising your own bucket list. And, stay tuned for Green Light Journeys: Episode 2.