Imbolc\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Waning Bridgit Moon<\/p>\n
Sunday night Kate and I went to St. Anthony Main, overlooking the Mississippi and St. Anthony Falls, for a Roots Music festival put on by KBEM, a local jazz station.\u00a0 While we ate at the Aster Cafe and listened to a small group, Kate looked up at me and said, “Ah, the life of the retiree.”<\/p>\n
I understood what she meant.\u00a0 Free at last.\u00a0 But….<\/p>\n
I had another reaction too, “Yes, I know what you mean.\u00a0 But, really.\u00a0 This is life.\u00a0 Not retired life, but life itself.”<\/p>\n
In that moment I realized the category mistake everyone makes when speaking of retirement.\u00a0 It is seen as special, different, unique, something to be fussed over and transitioned into when really it’s just life, life continuing.\u00a0 Not different, not special, not unique, not to be fussed over.<\/p>\n
Or, to say the same thing another way.\u00a0 It is different, special, unique, to be fussed over because it is your life, your life, your one and only special and true life.\u00a0 We have to want our life and lead our life before we work, while we work and after we work.\u00a0 We do vacate the workplace, but we do not retire from our lives.<\/p>\n
In fact, the fuss is too often that we’ve left our lives up to others.\u00a0 Our boss, our clients, our patients, our corporation or agency.\u00a0 The past times and activities that seem so necessary, but are really only the ideas of others.<\/p>\n
So, the problem and the promise lies not within the change in our work, but with the change in ourselves.\u00a0 If we have known what our life is, if\u00a0 we have chosen activities and friends for their intrinsic value not their external rewards, well, then, on with your life.\u00a0 If not, the issue is not the transition, but the need for self-examination, for honesty with the you that you bring to life as\u00a0 you grow older.\u00a0 No one else can do this work for you.\u00a0 It’s up to you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Imbolc\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Waning Bridgit Moon Sunday night Kate and I went to St. Anthony Main, overlooking the Mississippi and St. Anthony Falls, for a Roots Music festival put on by KBEM, a local jazz station.\u00a0 While we ate at the Aster Cafe and listened to a small group, Kate looked up at me and said, “Ah, … Continue reading This is life.<\/span>