What's Next?
Have you ever looked up the definition of retirement? We have and here are some of the, to be quite frank, depressing definitions:
"Withdrawal into privacy of seclusion. Giving up work.. Solitude. Retreat. Go to bed, hit the sack, call it a day, hit the hay. Phew! Well, we here at Healthy Aging® say no to “retirement” … Don’t “retire”… “hit the hay” … instead, ask yourself: What’s Next?
Yes, what’s next? That’s what you will find in this column. Lots and lots of ideas for what to do next with your life. Profiles on interesting people around the world who are saying no to “retreating” and are moving forward to the next passage in their life with passion. Check back regularly for new profiles. And, if you know someone who you feel should be profiled, please send us a paragraph describing that person and a photo. We will consider them for a future column. Click here to submit your suggested profile
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Living What I Preach – Author, Kevin Price, Shares His Secrets for What’s Next in Life…I’ve written a book on the importance of staying intellectually, socially and physically engaged in retirement. I’ve even been bold enough to title it: The Successful Retirement Guide: Hundreds of Suggestions on How to Stay Intellectually, Socially, and Physically Engaged for the Best Years of Your Life. It becomes reasonable to ask: Am I living what I preach? Since “retiring” from life in a big corporation, I have written a set of goals for each year. I divide them into categories of intellectual, social and physical with usually six to ten goals in each category. I monitor my progress throughout the year; add, delete or modify goals as conditions change; and I give each goal a rating of “accomplished” or “not accomplished” at year-end. Goals that were not accomplished may be carried over into the following year. |
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I LOVE THE COWS. Having grown up on a Vermont farm, 75 year old Jim Ide he has a lifelong love of animals and farming.
After “retiring”, he decided he wanted to stay active. Following his love of cows, he joined the staff at the Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock, Vermont, one of the great operating dairy farms in America and a museum of Vermont’s rural past. He has been working at Billings Farm & Museum for the past 9 years as an Interperter.
Jim looks at his next passage as, “I came back for the cows. I grew up on a farm, went into regular business and retired. But now I am back to the farm. I like the cows.” Click here for more... . |
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GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. After 33 years in the academic world, Carol Samuelson retired from her teaching position. Her strategy for what to do next was to take a year to explore activities that she liked and to narrow the list down to what really interested her. Now, 12 years later, Carol is co-director of Family and Youth Programs for the Chester County Historical Society.
Carol’s tips for Healthy Aging: " I am fortunate to be surrounded by young people … which keeps me young at heart. I think I learn something new every day. My tip is to try to surround yourself with upbeat, positive people." Click here for more... |
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FRUITS AND VEGETABLES PROVIDE INSPIRATION . For Stan Johnson, vegetables are not only healthy to eat but are healthy for his spirit. He has worked in the produce business for over 40 years and has never stopped loving it. Stan, who turns 77 on October 3rd, has followed his passion and has no plans for giving it up. Continuing his passion, he works with Pete's Produce Farm, Westtown, PA. Stan shares his secret for Healthy Aging, “keep active and do what you like." Click here for more... |
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FROM BIG BLUE TO BUSINESS COACH Twenty-nine years at IBM and a recovering cancer patient since 2005, Paska Nayden came to realize that the corporate world was no longer an option while battling a disease. After returning to work for a few months, Paska could not handle working for more than a few hours due to her body’s weakened and vulnerable state. Her colon cancer and treatments were impacting what she considered normal life, and the once glamorous work environment of high-demand and stress was long gone. Click here for more of her story...
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