Conversations about Retirement: Like a little reward I’ve deserved

Retirement can mean different things to different people.

In this episode of “Conversations About Retirement” Barbara shares her thoughts and experiences of being retired.

Barbara had been retired for six months when she offered these comments about her experience of retirement.

Ive had a very, very busy life, and a very busy employment.  I think my career almost made me hyperactive.   With retirement, and the coming down, I could say – I can go back to bed; do a hobby. Wow, I can go and play in the garden.  This was, to me, like a little reward.

There is a lot of excitement.  I haven’t lost that excitement.  It hasn’t gone away yet. I’m still enjoying that.

I will still read when I want to. Or, I’ll have two showers in the middle of the day when it is forty degrees.  They’re things I couldn’t do in those fifty or sixty years that I worked.  So, now I find it very, very rewarding.

I thought it was going to be hard to slow down.  But I realised that I had really talked myself around.   And, realising I deserve this rest.

I was too old to keep going.  I wasn’t too old psychologically.  But physically I was unable to keep it up.

But I really knew I deserved the reward.  And I look for the things that are rewarding to me.

For example:

• going to art classes
• joining U3A
• meeting people my own age that have like mindedness
• enjoying people’s company
• meeting with girls I have been friends with for thirty to forty years and having coffee downtown.  We do that periodically – once to twice a week
• Going to the movies in the middle of the day.  Wow, it is awesome, you know.  It is so nice.
• And then getting a train ticket (Seniors Card).  That was good.

I’ve had all these train trips, you see.  And I’ve deserved it.  I’ve worked hard for that, and I’ve enjoyed it.

I’ve always been a hard worker.  And I have worked since I was fourteen and nine months.  Then I had to educate myself and my children.  I’ve had some hard jobs, and some hard jobs physically.  But I have always taken a great deal of pride in my work.  I got a lot of self worth from that.  Where, now, my self worth comes from “Well, I’ve done that job”.  I’ve folded that up, and that was great.

Now I’ve moved onto this part of my life.  So, my life with my husband is now the reward that I got from participating in all those things.  Now it’s between him and I, and the community I choose, rather than the community I am forced to work with.  I’m no longer forced to be nice to people I don’t like.

I’m really happy to be able to look off the deck, at the garden, and think “That’s really nice.  We’re going to have some tomatoes, or spinach today”.  You know, I don’t have to rush down and get it all done before 7 o’clock, or before the news comes on.  So it’s all just a lovely reward, and I enjoy it.

And, I also enjoy the fact that I can have that little bit of money that I have, to do what I want to do.  Because, I’ve saved it.  I’ve done those things really.

Reflection:

Firstly, I wish to thank Barbara for sharing her thoughts about her retirement.

What I love about conversations is we never know where the conversation is going to go. And that is exactly the case with the conversation with Barbara. I simply asked Barbara to share her thoughts and experiences of being retired.  This is a very broad topic. Obviously anything could have been spoken about. And there was no discussion about what Barbara may speak about.

Barbara spoke about how she had worked very, very hard throughout her working life. She went on to explain her excitement and sense of reward in being retired. Being able to do as she pleases, to not rush, is her reward for all the hard work over her long working life. But, Barbara’s ability to say she has earned this reward is what really resonated with me.

It was a great delight hearing Barbara speak about her sense of reward in being retired. Why did Barbara’s comments catch my attention so? I liked Barbara’s ability to firming say she deserves the rewards she is currently experiencing. She knows the work she has put in. And she firmly believes she deserves seeing life now as a reward.  But then, I particularly like how Barbara looks for the things that are rewarding for her.  Barbara describes an ability to see everyday experiences, and appreciate them as a reward. What would it mean for me if I thought more about deserving the rewards of retirement? And what would the little rewards look like for me?

Where has this conversation taken you in your thinking about retirement? Love to hear your reflections. Please leave a comment.

Enjoy your day

From Estelle – Retiree