5 Important Things That Disappear When You Retire – Are You Ready?
Today, we’re diving into the not-so-golden side of retirement. Spoiler alert: it’s not just about kicking back with a cold drink and enjoying endless naps. We’re chatting about five crucial things that tend to vanish when you retire, like your structured routine, sense of identity, and social circles. Trust me, these changes can hit you like a ton of bricks if you're not ready for them. But don’t sweat it—we’re here to help you navigate these transitions with some handy tips and a sprinkle of faith. By the end of this episode, you’ll be armed with a game plan to address those important things that disappear when you retire!
Check out the full podcast episode here
Retirement is more than just a transition; it’s a transformation! Ralph Estep Jr. takes us on a journey through the five significant shifts that happen when you retire. He discusses how the absence of a structured routine, a change in identity, and shifts in social circles can really shake things up. But it's not all doom and gloom! Ralph provides actionable strategies to help ease the transition, encouraging listeners to embrace new roles, seek community involvement, and redefine their purpose. Ralph reminds us that retirement is just another season in life, filled with opportunities to serve others and grow in faith. So tune in, because this episode is packed with gems that will inspire you to make your retirement truly remarkable!
Chapters:
00:06 - Understanding the True Facets of Retirement
03:36 - Navigating the Transition to Retirement
12:41 - Navigating Changes in Retirement
23:12 - Navigating Retirement: Finding Purpose and Structure
26:04 - Navigating Retirement: Planning for Purposeful Living
Takeaways:
- Retirement isn't just about how much cash you have; it's about finding new meaning and purpose in life.
- As you step into retirement, expect a major shift in your daily routine and identity, and learn how to navigate it gracefully.
- Maintaining a structured routine in retirement can boost your mental health and overall happiness, so keep a daily schedule!
- Cultivating new friendships and nurturing old ones will help combat loneliness and enrich your retirement experience.
- Explore new roles and opportunities in your community to redefine yourself and find satisfaction beyond your old job.
- Embrace the freedom of retirement by setting goals and discovering hobbies that spark joy and keep your mind active.
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00:00 - None
00:06 - Understanding the True Facets of Retirement
03:36 - Navigating the Transition to Retirement
12:41 - Navigating Changes in Retirement
23:12 - Navigating Retirement: Finding Purpose and Structure
26:04 - Navigating Retirement: Planning for Purposeful Living
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All right, folks buckle up because today we're diving headfirst into a topic that's
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on the minds of many soon to be retirees.
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You know, retirement isn't just about money.
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Sure.
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Financial planning is crucial, but there's so much more to it.
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Have you ever thought about the non financial changes that can hit you like
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a freight train if you're not prepared?
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Things like losing your structured routine, changes in your identity
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and shifts in your social circles.
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Today, we're going to talk about five important things
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that disappear when you retire.
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And more importantly, We're going to discuss how to navigate these changes
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with confidence and a strong faith.
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So if you're wondering, am I ready for retirement?
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Stick around because by the end of this episode, you'll have a clear roadmap to
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make your retirement truly fulfilling.
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Hey everyone, welcome to the ask Ralph show.
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I'm your financial evangelist, Ralph, and thank you so much for joining me today.
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We're here to help you escape that cycle of financial shame with
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confidence and give you a clear plan for enjoying a successful retirement,
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whatever that looks like for you.
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They say retirement, the golden years, right?
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Well, it's often seen as a time of financial freedom
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and a time of relaxation.
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But what about the other aspects of life to change?
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Today we're talking about the five important things that disappear when you
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retire and how to manage these changes.
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Whether it's loss of a structured routine, changes in your identity, or even shifts
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in your social circle, we're going to explore how to navigate these transitions
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with grace and a Christian perspective.
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By the end of the show, you'll have concrete steps to ensure a
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fulfilling And purposeful retirement.
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So let's dive in.
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Now, yesterday we discussed how to budget when paychecks are unpredictable.
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We explore practical tips and strategies to help you manage
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your finances, even when your income isn't all that consistent.
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And if you missed it, be sure to check it out.
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AskRalph.
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com.
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We've got over 700 episodes for you to check out right there at AskRalph.
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com.
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So let's get started with today's question.
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And this one comes from Susan and Susan writes this, she says, Ralph, I'm
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about to retire after a long career.
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I've saved diligently and I'm financially prepared, but I'm starting to feel really
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anxious about those non financial changes.
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I've had the same routine for decades, waking up at the same time, going to
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work, having meetings and feeling a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.
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My job has been a big part of my identity.
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But now I'm afraid that without the structure and purpose, I'll
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feel lost and unproductive.
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I don't know how to find meaning and fulfillment in retirement.
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Can you help me prepare for these changes?
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Oh, Susan, let me just tell you, I feel you, I'm a couple of years away from
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retirement, but retirement can be a huge transition and it's completely normal
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to feel anxious about these changes.
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I've seen many clients struggle with the loss of structure and the
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loss of their identity after leaving their jobs, but let me tell you this
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right now, Susan, there is hope.
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And today we're going to discuss five key areas that often disappear
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in retirement and provide you with.
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Actionable steps to navigate these changes.
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I've been through this with many clients and I'm confident that with the right
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approach, you can find purpose and fulfillment in this new phase of life.
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So let's get started.
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And don't forget, if you've got a question you'd like me to answer, just
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like Susan's, you can head over to just.
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AskRalph.
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com because here's the truth.
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I love answering your questions and it's a central part of the show.
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My goal is to help you find financial peace and grow in your faith.
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So as we transition into our main content, let's start with an
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appropriate verse from the Bible.
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I found this one in the book of Ecclesiastes.
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It's chapter three, verse one, and it says this to.
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Everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
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You know, this verse reminds us that life is full of different seasons.
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I'm learning this in my 52 year here, each with its own purpose.
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And see retirement is just another one of those seasons.
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And it's important to recognize that the opportunities that.
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Retirement brings.
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Let's use this verse as our starting point and explore how we can find
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purpose and fulfillment in retirement.
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And Susan, I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my experience
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with you and my knowledge with you.
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The Lord has given me the privilege of helping many people
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navigate the complexities of retirement, both financially,
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and I'll talk about a little bit.
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I, I wear my emotional hat sometimes, and I'm thankful for the wisdom
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he's provided and the chance to use it to help others find peace.
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And purpose in their retirement years.
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So let's get started.
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Susan, let me start by sharing a story about one of my clients.
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A few years ago, I worked with, we'll call him John.
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Now, John was a six, had a successful career in finance and he was
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looking forward to retirement.
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He had saved diligently and he was financially prepared.
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You know, we had, he had planned well financially.
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And when we met, he was very proud of his retirement nest egg.
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He started saving early and, and frankly, from a financial
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standpoint, he was in great shape.
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However, as his retirement date approached, he started to feel anxious.
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He was worried about losing the structure and the purpose that his job provided.
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See, John had always been an early riser with a rigid routine that
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started with a cup of coffee and then review of the day's financial news.
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And I know, I don't know about you, Susan, but I can certainly relate to that.
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His days were filled with meetings and deadlines and a sense of accomplishment.
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That was the life he knew, it was comfortable for him, and it was a
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routine he had come to appreciate.
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But now he feared that without this structure in retirement, he would
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feel lost, he would feel unproductive.
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And one day John shared his concern to me, he said this, he
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said, Ralph, retirement scares me.
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I just don't know how I'm going to be able to break away from this routine
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I've come to know for so many years.
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And I heard what he was saying and it was, it was a deep feeling of anxiety for him.
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He was a strong guy, but this feeling was deep and it was strong.
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And I quickly reminded him, I said, listen, retirement is
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not just about leaving work.
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It's about transitioning to a brand new phase of life.
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I've said it on the show many times.
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Retirement is not an end.
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It's just a change in season.
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But at that moment, John needed a friend and not an accountant.
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And over the years, I've come to realize that I wear many hats.
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And that day, I was a life coach.
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We talked about the importance of establishing a new routine.
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One that aligned with his values.
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Align with his passions.
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You see, john had always been active in his church and he decided to
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dedicate more time to volunteering and mentoring young professionals.
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And I gotta be honest, it was it was neat seeing that spark in his eye when
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he when he talked about his mentoring.
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Over time, John found that this new routine brought a
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different kind of fulfillment.
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Honestly, it was a fulfillment that he wasn't really expecting.
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He really came to enjoy the flexibility and the opportunity to serve others.
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And his whole identity shifted from being a successful financial
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professional to being a valued member of the community and the church.
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John had found his new purpose.
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And Susan, let me just tell you.
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You can find that purpose as well.
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Let me tell you about another client.
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We'll call her Mary.
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Mary faced a very similar challenge.
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Mary had been a nurse for over 30 years and she had built her
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identity around caring for others.
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I have many clients that are nurses and they are just caring people.
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She loved to be of service to those in needs and it truly defined her
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and she found her purpose in it.
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So when she retired, she felt a deep sense of loss.
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She missed that structure of her work days, that sense of purpose
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that came with her profession.
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And after she retired and, and we were meeting one day to do her
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annual taxes, she asked me for help.
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And listen, I was honored.
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She asked me and I, again, grabbed my coach hat off the shelf and we got
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started and Mary and I worked together to create a new routine that, and that new
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routine included volunteering at a local hospice, taking long walks in the park.
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And, and she really got a lot of enjoyment out of joining a Bible study group.
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And these activities not only filled her days, but also
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provided a new sense of purpose.
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See Mary found that she could still care for others, just
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in a completely different way.
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She didn't have to worry about that nine to five, or I think in
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her case, she worked shift work.
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It was just a different way.
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And in her faith.
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Her faith became a central part of her new routine and she found joy.
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She truly found joy.
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I remember her saying this to me.
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She said, Ralph, I found joy in serving God and serve in my community.
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And Susan, these are just two stories of many.
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I've seen firsthand how this retirement transition has affected people.
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It's affected them in a positive way.
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And I've, unfortunately I've seen clients that have been affected in a negative way.
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So Susan, let's dive deeper into what I'm going to call the five important
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things that disappear when you retire.
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And let's talk about how to manage these changes with practical strategies.
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Let's start with number one, loss of a structured routine.
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One of the most noticeable changes in retirement is the
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disappearance of the structured routine that defines your workday.
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For many people, for decades, you, your life revolved around set
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wake up times, schedules, and a daily task dictated by your job.
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And that initial freedom from the structure can be liberating.
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But many retirees find that the novelty eventually wears off.
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And here's an interesting I found when I was preparing for the show today.
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According to the study by the University of Washington, retirees who maintain a
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structured routine report higher levels of mental health and overall well being.
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So that was a study, like again, University of Washington, but
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what they found is retirees who maintain a structured routine.
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They reported higher levels of mental health and over all well being.
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So let's talk about some practical strategies to help
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deal with that situation.
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One of the things I'm going to recommend highly is to create a
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daily schedule, just like your work days, how to schedule, create a
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daily routine for your retirement.
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This is not the time to just lay in bed and wonder what's going to happen next.
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I'm going to encourage you to include specific times for waking
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up, you know, still set that alarm.
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Maybe you don't even need to set it.
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I know I'm 52.
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I'll be 53 in September.
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I feel like more and more.
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I don't even need the alarm clock, but I'm going to encourage you, you know,
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include specific times for waking up.
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Include specific times for meals, build in that exercise in that relaxation routine.
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I'm going to encourage you to dedicate time for, for spiritual growth as well.
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Set aside time each day for prayer.
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This is a great time to join a Bible study or really focus on
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a devotional that you enjoy.
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So really take root in the Bible and start to reflect on it.
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This can be a quiet time in the morning, or maybe for you, it's in the evening.
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This is whatever works best for you.
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Another thing I'm going to encourage you to do is volunteer and serve.
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The thing that I've seen with most of my clients, when they get involved
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in volunteering and serving, they really find fulfillment in that.
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So you can incorporate volunteer activities into your routine.
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This could be things like helping at a local food bank, mentoring
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youth, or assisting at your church.
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See, serving others can provide a profound sense of purpose.
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Another thing I'm going to encourage you to do is explore hobbies and interests.
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Use your newfound time to explore hobbies you've always wanted to try.
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It's going to be something like gardening, or painting, or writing, or maybe
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podcasting, or even learning a new skill.
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I'm also going to encourage you to get involved in social engagements,
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schedule regular social activities.
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This is not the time to become a hermit.
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You know, you can do things like meeting with your friends for lunch.
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Maybe you join a book club or maybe you participate in community events.
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And let me share this.
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I remember working with a client, we'll call her Sarah and she was
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Always joking about how she'd never had time to learn Spanish, but
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once she retired, well, guess what?
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She enrolled in a Spanish class and now speaks it fluently.
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She even started a language exchange group at her church.
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Talk about turning a hobby into a meaningful activity.
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Well, let's move on to number two and that's changes in identity.
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Talked about this in your question, Susan, another significant shift
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in retirement involves your sense of identity for many of us.
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Our profession is deeply intertwined with how we perceive ourselves and
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how others recognize us and when this professional role comes to an end.
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A lot of retirees experience a loss of identity, and that leads to feelings
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of decreased usefulness, decreased importance and, and really can
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really shatter your self confidence.
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Here's another interesting statistic.
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Research shows that up to 25 percent of retirees experience a loss of
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identity, and this can lead to increased feelings of depression
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and increased feelings of anxiety.
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So I wanted to share some practical strategies to help you get Pass this.
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The first thing I'm going to tell you to do is to reflect
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on your identity in Christ.
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It's so easy to get caught up in my identity of what I, what my role was.
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But remember, your primary identity is in Christ.
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Spend time in prayer and spend time in reflection.
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Remind yourself of God's love and the purpose he has for your life.
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This is also a time to explore new roles and embrace new roles such as mentor or
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volunteer or maybe grandparent or maybe active member in the church community.
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These roles can provide a new sense of identity and truly give you new purpose.
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Nothing I'm going to encourage you to do is a redefine yourself through activities,
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engage in activities that align with your values and align with your passions
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because now you've got time to do it.
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This could be teaching a Sunday school class, maybe leading a Bible study, or
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even becoming a community event organizer.
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These are great things to do.
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Nothing I'm going to encourage you to do is seek community involvement.
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Get in, get involved in your community through that volunteer work, maybe local
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clubs or, or community organizations.
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Because this can help you redefine your identity and contribute to your community.
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Another thing I'm going to highly encourage you to do is this is a
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great time to pursue personal growth.
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Use this time to pursue personal growth opportunities such as attending
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workshops, maybe taking some classes, or maybe learning new skills.
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Because this can help you discover new aspects of your identity,
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maybe some you didn't even realize.
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I've had many clients who've gone back to school in retirement to learn a new skill.
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Here in Delaware, there's something called, I think it's the Academy of
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Lifelong Learning, where you can actually attend the University of Delaware for
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free once you reach a certain age.
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One of my clients, Linda, was a high powered executive, and when she retired,
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she felt lost without that title and without those responsibilities.
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But she found a new purpose by becoming a mentor to young women in the community.
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She was that person that had forged ahead.
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And now she was working with young women in her community.
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And now she leads a mentorship program at her church and feels more
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fulfilled in ever in this new role.
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Well, let's move on to number three.
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And this one is vital and that you're going to see
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shifts in your social circles.
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Your social suckers are also going to undergo a transformation in retirement.
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The workplace often serves as a major hub for your daily social
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interaction with colleagues.
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You know, they say that water cooler talk and retirement
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naturally leads to a significant reduction in these interactions.
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And this can result in feelings of.
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Loneliness and isolation.
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I got to save right now.
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I'm gonna park here for a second.
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One of the main things I hear from retirees, especially those who
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are unmarried or, or maybe their widowers is that when they retire,
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they had this overwhelming fear of loneliness and, and isolation.
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And here's an interesting statistic that goes right along with this.
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According to a study by Michigan medicine, 33% You heard me right.
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33 percent of older adults report feeling lonely some of the
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time or often after retirement.
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And this loneliness is a huge issue for many, but listen, I've got some practical
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strategies that help you battle that.
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First thing I'm going to encourage you to do is nurture
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those existing relationships.
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Hey, make an effort to stay connected with the people that you used to work
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with your, your former colleagues, your friends, and even some family members.
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Maybe this is a time when you can actually connect with family members
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that you weren't able to connect with before because you were so busy working.
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Yeah.
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And I'm going to say something.
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Schedule those phone calls, schedule those meetups or video chats.
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Maybe you put them on your calendar.
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I know one of the things that when my grandfather had worked for what
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he called Uncle Doopey in Delaware, the DuPont company, he always looked
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forward to that annual picnic.
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It was a time to go back and see the people that he had worked
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with and the people that he interacted with on a daily basis.
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And I'll tell you what my grandfather found great.
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Create amount of enjoyment in that.
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Nothing I'm going to encourage you to do is join community groups.
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You can join local community groups or, or clubs or organizations
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that align with your interest.
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Maybe this is a book club or a gardening group, or maybe even a fitness class.
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Here's a nothing I'm encouraged to do.
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This is a Christian show.
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Get involved in church activities, engage in church activities, even if
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it's small groups or, or find service opportunities because these can
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provide a strong sense of belonging and help combat that loneliness.
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I'm going to tell you right now, there are people that go to my church that once
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they retire, man, they have no time for anything because they dive in headfirst
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and get involved in those church things.
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And listen, this is the truth.
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Most churches are looking for what I'll call well seasoned volunteers.
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So volunteer in these faith based organizations, they can align with
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your values and this can help you build meaningful relationships
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and support your community.
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Nothing I'm going to encourage you to do in retirement is to
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cultivate new relationships.
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I see this a lot in the commercials that I see for these 55 and older
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communities where people are saying, you know, we made friends here and
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we did this, but I think it's vital.
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Be open to cultivating new friendships.
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Go out there and attend social events, join classes, maybe
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participate in community activities that allow you to meet new people.
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I remember I had a client, we'll call him Tom, who was known as the office jokester.
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I mean, Tom was always the one that had the joke.
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And when he retired, he missed that daily laughter.
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He didn't have those people to run around the building saying,
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how did you hear this joke?
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And did you hear this joke?
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He was just, he was lost without that laughter and camaraderie.
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So in his case, he actually started a comedy club at his local senior center.
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Now he's the life of the party again and his social circle is thriving.
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Let's look at another thing and that's number four on my list
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and that's loss of purpose.
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The absence of a regular paycheck can also lead to a feeling of
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lost purpose because work often provides a sense of accomplishment
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and a sense of contribution.
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And this feeling can be particularly pronounced for individuals whose
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identity was closely tied to their career or, or maybe they held
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significant responsibilities.
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Susan, just think of how many of us think of ourselves based on our roles.
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You know, I'm the accountant, maybe the person's the lawyer or the plumber.
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That list just goes on and on.
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And here's a really interesting statistic.
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A study by the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health found that
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retirees who engage in purposeful activities report higher satisfaction
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and lower levels of depression.
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So let's talk about some practical strategies.
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One of the things I'm going to highly encourage you to do is
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seek God's continued calling.
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This is a time to reach out to God and say, God, what would you have me to do?
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What is my purpose?
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Actively seek God's continued calling on your life in this
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new season that we talked about.
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Spend time in prayer, spend time in reflection.
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Ask God to reveal his purpose to you.
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Maybe he's gotten you to a point where you've got financial wellbeing.
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You're, you're set for that.
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Now he's, he's given you an opportunity to use your time to build his kingdom.
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Which leads me to the second thing, engage in ministry, explore
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opportunities for ministry within your church or your community.
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Listen, churches and community are looking for people to lead Bible studies, to
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mentor youth or assist with church events.
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You might say, why would they ask me?
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Because you've got a ton of life skills.
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You've got a ton of things that you've been through that you
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can help mentor other people.
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You're going to have a perspective that someone who's young might not have.
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Another thing I'm going to encourage you to do here is volunteer your skills.
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If you've got skills, utilize those skills and wisdom for God's glory.
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Maybe you're a good carpenter and you can, you can volunteer in areas
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where you can make a difference.
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Maybe you're a teacher.
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Maybe you're a counselor or maybe you're good at providing administrative support.
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Hey, I just had the church secretary in yesterday.
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She says, Ralph, this has grown to a full time plus position.
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She would love to have somebody help her and volunteer in the church.
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Nothing you can do here is mentor others, share that knowledge
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and share that experience that you accumulated over your life.
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Mentor young professionals, provide guidance to those in need, or
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offer support to your community.
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Another thing that I'm going to tell you is crucial in this stage is set goals.
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You can't just stop having goals because, well now I'm
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retired, I don't need any goals.
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You need to continue to set short term and long term goals.
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Intermediate term and longterm goals.
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Just make sure they align with your values and your passions because now
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you don't have that must go to work.
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You don't have that must do this.
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This is a time when you can choose to do things.
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This might be things like learning a new skill.
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Maybe you're going to complete a project.
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Maybe you want to build that, that raised garden in the backyard, or
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maybe this is a time to start knocking off things on that bucket list or
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achieving a personal milestone.
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I remember one of my clients, we'll call him Bill.
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He was a successful engineer his whole life.
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I mean, he could look at stuff and he could engineer it from beginning to end.
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But when he retired, he had this loss of purpose.
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I remember him saying to me many times, Rob, he says, I just don't
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know what I'm going to do now.
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So what what Bill did was he found new meaning by volunteering his skills to
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build homes for low income families This is something he loved to do.
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He was like Ralph.
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Guess what?
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I'm not getting paid to do it, but I'd like doing this more than when
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I was working And so now Bill leads a construction many Administrate his
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church and he feels more purposeful than ever when somebody needs help,
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maybe a widower or an older person in the church, he's able to go help them.
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Maybe they had a fire or maybe they had a disaster at their home.
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He is leading something and it's giving him a great deal of purpose.
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And finally, let's look at number five.
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And that's one that a lot of retirees struggle with, and
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that's managing unstructured time.
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This sudden abundance of.
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Unstructured time and retirement can present both opportunities and challenges.
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It's kind of like the coin, you know, there's a heads or tails.
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Now, the freedom is welcome, but if you don't manage it well, it can lead to
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aimlessness and a lack of fulfillment.
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I don't know how many times I've seen recent retiree clients
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say, Ralph, I need some purpose.
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I need some structure.
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You know, you did the same thing when you were financially budgeting.
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Retirees also need to be intentionable about budgeting their time and their
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energy towards meaningful pursuits.
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I've had many clients who've been, who shared just how busy
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they are now in retirement.
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I don't know how many times they've said to me, they said, I
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don't know how I ever got all this stuff done when I was working.
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So listen to this interesting statistic.
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According to the survey by the National Social Life Health and Aging
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Project, retirees who manage their time effectively report higher levels of life
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satisfaction and better mental health.
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Think about that for a second.
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The study found that retirees who manage their time effectively, now
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effectively is going to depend on your circumstances, but those people
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who said that they managed their time effectively reported higher levels of life
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satisfaction And better mental health.
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So you might be saying, Ralph, how do we make that happen?
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Well, Susan, I've got some ideas for you.
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One of the things I'm going to say first is set daily and weekly goals.
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You probably had this when you were working, you may have had a
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goal every morning that here's the things I'm going to accomplish.
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I'm going to suggest you do the same thing in retirement and set those daily and
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weekly goals, because this can provide you structure and it can give you direction.
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This could be stuff like completing a project, maybe learning
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a new skill or maybe you're achieving a personal milestone.
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Maybe you always wanted to run that 5k or you wanted to climb this
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mountain or anything like that.
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Just depends on what you want to do.
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Use that new found time to explore hobbies and interest that could bring you joy.
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This could be, and I mentioned this a little while ago, this could be
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things like gardening or painting, writing, or, or learning a new skill,
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but you've got to start figuring out how to structure that time.
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One of the things that I'm going to definitely recommend that you
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do is engage in physical activity.
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So, I know that a lot of my retirement clients, I had a guy in just past this
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past Saturday and he was a high school, uh, administrator and now he's retired.
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And I said to him, I said, Hey, what are you doing with yourself?
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Now?
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He says, I go to the gym every day and he says, Ralph, I love it.
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I go there.
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I spend about three or four hours a day.
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I get my body working out.
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I get in the pool.
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And he is finding a lot of fulfillment in this.
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He, he's one of these guys that likes to ride bikes.
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And he said, man, I don't miss that wind blowing at me outside this time of year.
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So incorporate physical activity into your routine.
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This could be things like walk in or jogging.
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Maybe you're swimming.
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It depends on where you live.
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You don't be swimming around here right now, or maybe joining a fitness
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class or a fitness club that my client did, because here's the truth.
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Physical activity can provide both mental and physical stimulation,
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and you need to keep doing that.
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Nothing I'm going to tell you to do is pursue intellectual stimulation,
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engage in activities that provide that intellectual stimulation.
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This could be reading, maybe attend some workshops, taking classes, or
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participate in educational programs.
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Up to the day he passed away, my uncle would do the daily New York
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times crossword and a Sudoku.
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I don't even like to do Sudoku now.
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And I certainly wasn't 88 years old, but he said to me many
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times, he said, Ralph, this.
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Helps me stay focused.
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This helps me stay on point, but you got to balance this with rest and
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activity because you are not 25 again.
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So find a healthy balance between that rest and relaxation, and then
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build in that purposeful activity.
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reflect on the biblical concept of Sabbath rest.
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You know, that's one of the things that you can study and use this
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time to rejuvenate in the Lord.
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But here's the thing.
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Ensure that this rest is balanced with continued engagement and service.
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Don't let this become a time where I'm just going to say, you know what?
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I'm retired.
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I don't have to accomplish anything today.
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That is a bad plan.
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In fact, I had a client.
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We'll call her Jane.
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She always dreamed of writing a book.
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So when she retired, she finally had the time to do it.
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So what did Jane do?
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She set aside dedicated writing time each day and she completed
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her first novel in a year.
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Now she's working on her second book and she's loving every minute of it.
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So Susan, these are just five areas where things are going to change
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and there are going to be more.
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I couldn't possibly list all those things.
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I'm not going through retirement myself.
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I'm just telling you, this is what I've seen as I've worked for the past 30 years
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with clients, but it's vital that you plan for these and you start building
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that plan for retirement so you're not just doing it at the last minute.
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You got to build a plan.
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It's not just focused on the money side.
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Yes, that's important, but also the lifestyle you want to live and
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the purposes you want to pursue.
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Now, if you found today's discussion helpful, I want to encourage you
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to subscribe to our newsletter.
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You can do that by going to ask Ralph podcast.
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com slash newsletter, because listen.
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Our newsletter is packed with valuable insights, it's packed
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with tips and resources to help you navigate your financial
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journey with confidence and faith.
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So let's get to our reflection questions for today.
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Start with number one.
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What aspects of your current routine bring you the most fulfillment and how can you
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incorporate them into your retirement?
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So you might be 20 years away from retirement.
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Maybe you're 10 years away from retirement.
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Start to think about what are those things in your daily routine that
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bring you the most fulfillment and start envisioning what you're going
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to do about those in retirement.
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This is a time to start thinking about those plans.
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Maybe start taking on a hobby now so that you're up and running by
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the time you get to retirement.
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So start thinking about how can you incorporate them
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into your Retirement routine.
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Second question.
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How does your identity in Christ influence your perspective on retirement
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and what new roles or activities might you explore to redefine yourself?
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Maybe you're thinking, you know, Ralph, I never thought about
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reading or leading a Bible study.
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Maybe I never thought about mentoring or volunteering.
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This is a great time to start thinking about what those roles look like for you.
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What are your passions?
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What are the things that you want to do?
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What are those?
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To check off those, those personal fulfillment goals and number three,
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what steps can you take to nurture and cultivate meaningful relationships
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in your retirement, both within and outside your faith community?
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Here's a key takeaway.
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Now is the time to start investing in those relationships.
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I don't care if you're 20 years old, 30 years old, or 40 years old.
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Most of the time, the retirees at I get to know in my practice will tell me
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about people they've known for 30 years.
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Well, guess what?
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If you want to have a successful relationship, you got to start
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cultivating those relationships.
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Now start to take a genuine interest in other people, and that will reward you
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and pay dividends well into the future.
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So let's get to our key takeaways.
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Establish a new routine that aligns with your faith and values, including
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dedicated time for prayer, Bible study.
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and spiritual growth.
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Remember, your primary identity is in Christ and retirement
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offers an opportunity to redefine yourself through non work related
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activities and relationships.
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It's a change, but it's a new season for you.
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Nurture and cultivate meaningful relationships in your retirement, both
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within and outside your faith community.
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This is a time to actively seek God's continued calling on your life.
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What is he calling you to do in retirement?
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Explore opportunities for ministry, for volunteering, for mentoring,
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or just utilizing your skills and wisdom for God's glory.
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And finally, my other key takeaway from today.
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Be intentional about budgeting your time and energy towards meaningful
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pursuits, setting goals, exploring hobbies, and engaging in activities that
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provide mental and physical stimulation.
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Well, tomorrow we'll be discussing a crucial topic that
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hits close to home for many.
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Can't pay the IRS?
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How can you avoid major penalties with these four strategies?
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That's right.
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Tomorrow I'm going to talk about four strategies.
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If you ever found yourself in a tight spot with the IRS, You don't want to miss this.
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We're going to dive into some practical steps you can take to navigate
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this challenging situation with grace and smart financial planning.
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So be sure to check me out again tomorrow for another
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insightful and engaging episode.
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Well, so thank you so much for your time today.
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I thank you for supporting the show and remember this.
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My passion is to help you achieve financial success.
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I want to see you live out your dreams and I want to see you grow in your faith.
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And I know together we can master your finances from a Christian perspective.
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So as I always end this show, stay financially savvy out there, keep your
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spirits high and God bless you abundantly.
