Vol 59. No 9, September 1978
As a child, I remember my Dad receiving a letter written by the Royal Bank of Canada in the mail. Every time it arrived, he was quick to immerse himself in it. Many years later when my Dad was selling his house, we discovered a bundle of these letters he collected that were published starting in the 1920s up until 2008. The letters were written with the purpose to “help people understand the world around them, and better understand their own lives.” When I started to read the letters, I found that the topics that were written about over the past 100 years are still very relevant and important today. We certainly don’t seem to have a blueprint figured out on how to live a perfect life and I wanted to share some of these letters to encourage you to think about these topics that could potentially enhance your life.
The first letter I wanted to share was called: “Creative Retirement” (Vol. 59, No. 9), which was published in September of 1978. The letter discussed the importance of preparing and planning for retirement and encouraged individuals to live a fulfilling life throughout their entire lifetime. Most people spend as much time on this earth in retirement as they do in their pre-retirement years however, it is often a subject that is neglected. Retirement planning can be associated with death, which makes it a matter that is hard to consider.
Although retirement typically comes during the later years of your life, it certainly shouldn’t be enjoyed the least. Unhappy retirements can result from poor planning and preparation. For the average worker, retirement could mean having more than 2000 extra free hours per year and free time can come with a lot of extra weight. A common mistake that is made when viewing retirement is concentrating retirement plans on one big event and activity like a four week cruise or one project you have always been meaning to do. When those big goals are accomplished it can leave you feeling very depleted and at a loss of what to do with all of the remaining hours ahead.
Planning for retirement should include looking at your financial, psychological, spiritual, and physical needs. This is something that you can start to prepare for now. The letter suggests to keep an ongoing list of interests that pop into your life only for a moment now but deserve a closer look later. Although you might have enjoyed a pastime previously, it should be re-examined from a fresh point of view. You never know if it will rekindle your interests. It is also encouraged that you pick up additional hobbies and activities that you enjoy that are a little less strenuous so you don’t have to experience abrupt changes later in life and you can continue doing what you love to do.
Your retirement years are full of potential and opportunity. The letter states: “American psychologists has found that the mind does not achieve its fullest powers until the age of 60 and declines only very slowly thereafter.” Your wisdom and your time can be your most valuable contribution. There are many organizations and clubs that could benefit from your contribution, which in turn could provide you with a sense of community and friendships.
My Dad was an incredibly thoughtful person and spent his time learning and exploring topics he had never pondered before. He found interest in things that may be glanced over by many. He spent his time giving back to his community, which also provided him with connection and friendships. He led by great example on how to have a happy retirement and live a youthful life in your retirement years. I encourage you to read this letter as you might take something away from the insightful thoughts it provided. I wish I listened to my dad when he first encouraged me to read them but of course I knew better. As I always say, it is better late than never.
"How will you replace your current income in retirement?"™ - Jim Seyers