I’ve been working on and off (mostly on) for someone else for nearly 40 years. Most of my energy has been funneled into my jobs and as I’ve moved up the proverbial ladder, more of my emotional energy has also been tapped and some days fully exhausted. So, when I try to think about what I’d rather be doing, I often go blank. How can I have no idea about something so important?
As I move into retirement, I realize I have an opportunity to become whatever and whoever I want. I can recreate myself and realize my true calling. But what is my true calling? Is there even such a thing?
This last year of working, I have decided to throw myself head first into online and offline training programs, including learning more about blogging, social networking and internet business.
I’ve had so many interests over the years, such as playing guitar, acting in small theater or otherwise volunteering, singing in choruses, playing softball, building things, creating websites, photography, travel, watercolor, drawing, reading, going back to school, geology, hiking… As I write this list I realize that I could go on for awhile. It feels surprising to me but it really shouldn’t.
In fact, it’s very gratifying. As I look back, the more responsibility I took on at work, the less time I had to do all the fun things that gave my life balance when I was younger. That, my friends, is going to change in the next year and I am so excited about it. RetiredSyd posted a wonderful list of things she wants to accomplish in her first year of retirement. Life is supposed to be fun.
This week I was on travel for my job, working too many hours, eating too much food, and getting too little sleep. Today my first plan for retirement is learning how to listen to my body and take good care of myself again. And I don’t have to wait until I retire to do that.
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5 responses so far ↓
1 RetiredSyd // Jan 19, 2008 at 11:42 am
And don’t forget, there’s no hurry to figure out what your true calling is (or callings!) When you do get to the retirement finish line, just focus on enjoying it and I’m sure it will just come to you over time.
Retired Syd
2 Cheryl // Jan 19, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Syd, so true, so true!
3 Minerva // Jan 21, 2008 at 6:55 pm
I have always suspected that some of the problems Americans have with enjoying work is the unfortunate – and totally untrue! – use of “working for” expression. Amnerican bosses have a bad habit of saying … and, worse yet, probably thinking “you are working for ME”. I still remember how shocked my first American boss was when I smiling politely, corrected him: ” no, I do not work for YOU, I report to you, but we both work for this institution”. I was always equally persistent pointing out to a subordinate, who mentioned working for me, that she or he did not work for ME.
How can people “buy in”, feel like a part of a company if they are – wrongly – indoctrinated that they work for their bosses … unless, of course, they work for a small business and their boss is the owner. There a “buy in” is always difficult, due to nepotism, mostly, but not elsewhere.
I always loved working: for a cause, for a goal, to achieve something – without paying much attention to who is going to benefit. I love working … as long it is challenging, interesting. I hate boring routine… fortunately many people love it
4 Cheryl // Jan 21, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Minerva, I love the line you gave your American boss and agree completely. It’s a great line. When I get to the end of the line at this job (347 days to go), I so look forward to working for something I really believe in and enjoy rather than for the bucks.
5 Pnieto // Mar 2, 2008 at 10:19 am
Great article…I think that almost everyone that reads that can relate.