What's Next...

What DO you want to do next?

This is not a once in a lifetime question. It’s a question you need to ask yourself every day if you want to keep your life on target and full of meaning. And at no point in life is this more important than when we retire. Because, if we don’t ask ourselves about it, it will not get asked at all.

When we worked, there was always something to “do next.” Often there was way too much to do next. There were people clamoring for our time and asking us to do the impossible with what little we had of it. The glamour of retirement centers on NOT having anything that HAS to be done. At least at first.

“I’M BORED.”
But not having anything to do can be lethal—literally. It can get boring. Boredom can lead to depression, and depression suppresses the immune system. Once you’re depressed it’s a lot harder to get yourself jumpstarted back into a happy, satisfying life.

A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY…
So, take some time doing nothing once you retire if you feel you need it. Naps are good. Lying on the beach is a nice thing to try. But so are hikes….and trips to the art museum…and time helping kids with their reading at the local primary school.

A “RIGHT ANSWER” ISN’T THE GOAL.
It’s not critical to do the exact RIGHT thing, as you work at figuring out what it takes for you to create a satisfying silver lifestyle. It’s critical that you do SOMETHING.

So….what is your next thing?

• What sport would you like to try?
• What new area of knowledge interests you?
• How could you help your community?
• What business would be fun to start?
• Where would you like to visit?

Decide on a “next thing” and voila! A whole new set of adventures pops up as you pursue it. Make your own choices rather than relying on the default options of watching television and going to the mall. Your own next things will light your fire. And that means light and warmth for you and those you love.

Links:
Order Bold Retirement: Mining Your Own Silver for a Rich Life
Try an exercise.
Learn more about Mining Silver LLC.
A few examples of “making meaning.”

"When you can afford to not work all day every day, the real prize is not the leisure. It's the chance to begin again in a direction that reflects who you've become."