| The question most frequently and consistently asked | | | | purpose. |
| by retirees and people planning for retirement is | | | | A third way to find inspiration is to think about giving |
| something like this: “I have no inspiration about | | | | back to society in some way. Many of us come to |
| what I want to do next, and I don’t know how | | | | retirement after a busy life of raising children and |
| to find my inspiration. How does one begin?” | | | | earning a living. For many people, there was just no |
| There are three primary – and usually connected | | | | time to give back. Retirement can be that time for |
| – ways to find inspiration for activities that will | | | | you, especially if you are financially secure enough to |
| lead to happiness and fulfillment in retirement. | | | | be able to work only part-time or not work at all. |
| First, think about your dreams and your passions. | | | | Finding a way to give back will give you a new sense |
| Retirement is your prime time to live out your | | | | of purpose and value in retirement. |
| dreams and follow your passions. If there is | | | | One of the most effective approaches to discovering |
| something you care about passionately, you have | | | | inspiration for retirement living is to use some |
| your inspiration. Think also about the dreams you held | | | | combination of these three approaches. Think about |
| at various times in your life. You might have pushed | | | | your dreams and your passions. You might want to |
| aside important dreams because they were | | | | write them on a sheet of paper divided into three |
| impractical at the time. Ask yourself if those dreams | | | | columns. In the next column match your strengths |
| still matter to you? Do they spark excitement when | | | | and abilities to the dreams and passions. Finally, in the |
| you think about them? If they do, you have found | | | | third column, list ways you could fulfill the dreams, |
| your inspiration. You might have had a dream of | | | | use your strengths and abilities, and give back to |
| being a jazz pianist when you were a child. Maybe | | | | society in some way. This approach – I promise |
| there was no time or extra money for lessons at the | | | | – will give you the most exuberant sense of |
| time. Maybe now is the time to take piano lessons. | | | | purpose and fulfillment you could ask for in your |
| A second way to find inspiration is to think about | | | | retirement. |
| your personal strengths and how they could transfer | | | | For example, if you have strengths in patience, |
| into other arenas of activity. What are your | | | | reading aloud, and a love for children, you might want |
| strengths – whether you developed and used | | | | to volunteer to read books to children at the local |
| them at work or at home? If your strengths include | | | | public library. If you have a “gift of gab” and |
| patience and compassion, think of new ways to use | | | | you enjoy building new relationships, consider making |
| those strengths. If you are a craftsperson and you | | | | deliveries for Meals on Wheels. The possibilities are |
| have the ability to teach others, think about who | | | | endless. |
| might want to learn your craft and how you could | | | | Just take some time to think of all of the possibilities. |
| make your skills available. Thinking about what our | | | | Don’t get blocked thinking about the reasons |
| strengths are and how and where they might be | | | | you can’t do something. Just think about what |
| used differently often helps us discover a sense of | | | | you really care about and follow your dreams. |