More Possibilities in Retirement
We all have possibilities that we don’t even know we have. We can do things we never dreamed we could do.
In middle age many of us get into ruts, doing the same things over and over while giving up some things along the way that we used to love to do.
Retirement presents the next phase of life’s possibilities for us. It’s our job to discover them. It may be something you have always dreamed of doing, but it could be something you never dreamed of doing.
Senior games and athletics has given me a taste of that. When I began walking at our senior center, I had never even heard of race walking, but now I compete at National Competitions. I used to run track in high school and was sure those glory days were over, but track competitions now are just as thrilling.
In our mind we grow into thinking we are limited as the list of things we will never do again grows every year. But many opportunities are there for us that we don’t seem to consider because of our age and other factors.
I have seen older athletes that really surprised me at how good they were and making me feel a little guilty that I prejudged them by their age and appearance. So it’s not a good idea to limit what other people can do either!
There are many example of people who have done wonderful things later in life. We shouldn’t let our thinking limit us, especially when we have the time to try something new and exciting.
Sometimes it takes a little courage and getting over the fear of failure to try something new for the first time.
What new things have you tried lately? This month I took pickleball lessons and started playing for the first time. I didn’t think I would like it but I found out it’s fun and as Larry says “habit forming” to play. My wife Mary Ann played today for the first time and she liked it.
Someone suggested I play on the softball team here at our retirement community and I have been reluctant. Maybe I will give it a try; who knows I may love it. Maybe I will get bonked on the head trying to catch the ball. But that would be something to play softball again, something I never thought I would be doing again.
That’s one good thing about living in an Active Active Community, there are so many activities that you can try. Maybe I should try something that would be challenging and scare me to death, like being in a play or a painting class.
When and if you do try something you never dreamed you would be doing, it is very satisfying and gives you a feeling of confidence. You begin to feel you can do more than you thought you could do and may even start to see things you never dreamed you could do as possibilities.
Expand your possibilities, like 91-year-old Betty Lindberg who set a world’s record in track (photo at top of page).
