Purpose Doesn't Retire When You Do

Retirement changes a lot of things. Our schedules change. Our responsibilities change. We're no longer defined by a job title and a workday. But one thing doesn't have to retire when we do—our sense of purpose.

I used to think of purpose as something big. A career. Raising a family. Accomplishing a goal. Usually, it's "all of the above". But I'm beginning to see it differently.

Purpose can be much simpler than that. It can be how we use what we've learned, what we have, and who we are—right now. That knowledge hasn't gone away. We still have plenty to do with it.

Purpose Changes With Us

Then life happens. Children grow up. Careers end. We retire. And suddenly we may have something we haven't had in years—more time to slow down a little, try something new, or think about what we want this part of our life to look like.

Retirement doesn't erase everything we've learned, either. I spent more than 40 years working in health care. I don't work in that world anymore, but I still have all those years of knowledge and experience.

From time to time, I help someone understand Medicare or navigate the process of choosing a plan. I'm not doing it as a job. I'm just using something I know to help someone who doesn't.

I'm pretty sure that's how purpose changes with us.

Purpose Doesn't Have to Be Big

Purpose doesn't have to mean starting a business, volunteering twenty hours a week, or setting some enormous goal for yourself. You don't have to reinvent your entire life. Sometimes purpose is much smaller.

It might be teaching your granddaughter how to crochet. Having lunch with the girls every Wednesday. Taking better care of yourself. Finally taking that photography class you've always thought sounded fun. Or simply being the person who notices when someone else could use a little encouragement.

We might be putting too much pressure on ourselves to figure out our “purpose”. It doesn't have to be for the rest of our lives. Sometimes it's

having something—or someone—that matters to us.

What Purpose Looks Like for Me

My own idea of purpose has changed, too. A couple of experiences made me think differently about what I want from the years ahead.

My sister spent time in a nursing home near the end of her life. Visiting her was difficult, and it made me think seriously about my own future. I wanted to stay as healthy, strong, and independent as I could for as long as I could. My daughter once told me she would always take care of me, but that I had to do my part, too. She was right.

I'd always pictured myself becoming a snowbird someday when I retired. Then “someday” arrived, and I had to admit I hadn't prepared financially like I should have. That one stung a little.

Neither lesson was particularly fun, but both taught me that the life we want later doesn't just happen. We have to make choices today that help pave the way.

That's really where Forever Fabulous fits for me. I'm paying more attention to my health, what makes me happy, how I can keep learning and growing, and what gives my life purpose. I certainly don't have it all figured out. I'm learning as I go and sharing what I learn along the way.

I want to be Forever Fabulous, so that's my purpose now.