Greetings to anyone who is reading this blog for the first time as well as anyone who may have followed me in the past. It's been a while since I have written on a regular basis and to be honest I miss doing it. I began writing during my working days. Most of what I wrote was intended for co-workers and friends using an ever growing email distribution list. I originally created this blog in 2006. Everything I have written from then till now is still available for anyone who wants to read reflections I wrote in the past.
Why do I want to start writing again?
I worked almost every day for approximately 50 years. 32 of those years were for the same company. Most of these years were with the same people. Many of us began working together when we were young and many of us stayed until we were old. I finally retired in 2018.
Retirement has been a mixed bag for me. I believe retirement is overrated. As I like to say, being retired is not the same thing as being on vacation. Vacation is concentrated time when you have prepared to be carefree and adventurous. It is also of a usually short duration. Retirement for most people is normal daily life with many new and old challenges usually faced with a lot less money. In the time I have been retired I feel as though I have aged significantly. I also feel as though my life and my world became much smaller and less fulfilling. I think like many people I didn't realize how important the work environment was to me. Let me clarify that I do not miss the "work". What I miss are the people and the social interactions I had with people. I also miss the sense of purpose I felt and the many affirmations I received.
In the time I have been retired I feel as though I've been withering on the vine. I have felt lost with no sense of direction. However, it hasn't been all bad. I enjoy sleeping till 8:00 AM every day. I love my leisurely mornings, afternoon naps, and occasional lunches with friends. I love the freedom to do or not to do in most cases. All of this is great for a day or a week or even a month but for years? Let me also correct a misconception that many young people have about retirement. Retirement doesn't make you wealthy. Most people don't have the resources to travel the world extensively. Life doesn't get cheaper for older people. If you haven't spent your working years saving money for retirement you may not even be able to retire.
I want to write more but not to simply complain about life. Life is always hard. I can't really remember a time when life was easy.
My goal is to write regularly. The contents will hopefully be positive observations and reflections about the more meaningful experiences of my life and life in general.
Wish me luck! If you have been a fan of mine over the years, I sincerely appreciate your support.
7 comments:
Dear Michael, I commend you for dipping your toe back in. I also feel that working satisfied so many vital parts of myself. I so miss the camaraderie of the people and that feeling of being a part of something that was contributing to something larger than this little pond of retirement. I look forward to reading your thoughts and hopefully it will inspire me to get up and do more creative projects. As you know me being an Enneagram 7, I can't take isolation. Again congrats on doing this.
I am so happy you are writing again! I have missed your reflections and humor. Your musings were always thought provoking and usually enjoyable. Good luck as you get back to it!
Glad to see your back at it! I hope it gives you a little bit of a sense of purpose again … along with “virtual” socialization. Speaking of - let’s do coffee soon. Maybe week after next? Xo
So glad you're back!
So glad you’re back!
I appreciate you and your wisdom! Looking forward to reading more! I am also planning to dip my toes back into the video content creator waters, so this inspirede to get back at it. I hope to make it to retirement and to make the best of it. Thanks for setting a great example of that.
Your words have guided me through many of my life highs and lows in my journey through the path. I appreciate you and the light you shine on all of us.
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