Top Ten Ways to Retire Retirement

1. Retire the word "retirement" from your vocabulary. Look it up: it means to "withdraw" or "retreat." Words can shape reality, and it's time for this one to go. Doesn't "renaissance" or "graduation" better describe your post-career life?

2. Realize that retirement is a relatively new concept in human evolution. A few generations ago, before social security and full-time leisure became culturally embedded as the "norm," elders remained productive members of society, relied upon for their insight, wisdom and skills. No modern society can afford the planned obsolence of its most experienced people.

3. Restructure your priorities around what is most important to you, like deepening relationships with family and friends, community service, or the arts. Now is the time to bring your professional life into line with your deeper values.

4. Renew your zest for education. The learning cells of your brain are hungry for new and stimulating challenges, and the welcome mat is out at many schools and universities.

5. Revitalize your energy by finding a community of people who embrace growth and change. Don't get stuck with the "been there, done that" crowd. If you rest, you rust.

6. Rekindle your spirit for risk taking. "Do not fear mistakes," said jazz immortal, Miles Davis, "There are none." If not you, then who? If not now, when?

7. Respond to new opportunities. Remain open to the infinite possibilities the world has to offer. Your full potential lies ahead.

8. Recharge your system by moving your body regularly. Walk, dance, swim, do yoga, take up hiking or biking. Find something you really enjoy and make it a part of your daily wellness program. Buddy up to stay motivated.

9. Revisit your childhood dreams. It's never too late to be who you might have been. Go for it!

10. Remember that the wisdom to discover and act on your deepest passion and purpose is within you.

Enjoy the journey!

(Adapted from Top Ten Ways to Retire Retirement, copyright 2young2retire.com)

Marika Stone is co-founder of http://www.2young2retire.com, the website of retirement alternatives, and co-author of Too Young to Retire: 101 Ways to Start the Rest of Your Life (Plume 2004). She has been a journalist, teacher of writing, public relations executive, and small business owner.

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table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/10/15/newsstory12101428t0.aspcid=0ei=gMz2SLucIaCQ6AOHp5HVDAusg=AFQjCNEwZahr5M_eZPikqN5KPNPwIrSM-QbInspirational/b girl gives back to therapy centre/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fScotland Courier,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobrOct 14, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1bInspirational/b six-year-old Kayleigh Ptak and her family have handed over a staggering £10000 to Bobath Scotland’s children’s therapy centre in Glasgow. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/hole-in-one-for-mr-one-of-a-kind/2008/10/15/1223750132726.htmlcid=1258164028ei=gMz2SLucIaCQ6AOHp5HVDAusg=AFQjCNHQIqU-JTySSdKycx8ZzF3iKuQU2gHole in one for Mr One Of A Kind/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Age,nbsp;Australianbsp;-/font nobr15 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1bINSPIRATIONAL/b. It#39;s a word that people, especially some of us in sport, tend to bandy around far too much these days. We reckon it suits this story though. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20081014/ENTERTAINMENT/81014012cid=0ei=gMz2SLucIaCQ6AOHp5HVDAusg=AFQjCNHSmOQ12nd7GYS36wTx5i0TOXLwFQLocal product Andy Griggs to present at bInspirational/b Country b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMonroe News Star,nbsp;LAnbsp;-/font nobrOct 14, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1According to CMT.com, local country singer Andy Griggs will be a presenter at the 14th annual bInspirational/b Country Music Awards on Thursday in b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
inspirational - Google News


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