When actor and comedian Bob Saget tragically passed away on January 9, 2022, his good friend and former TV co-star, John Stamos wrote the following, ” We should all want to die alive! Don’t have your life filled with regret and remorse, forgotten and discarded. Die being bright and fierce. We all want to be overwhelmed with the privilege and bounty of what we do best”.
All of these words resonate strongly with my views of reaching that time when most people ”ease back on the throttle getting ready to ride off into the sunset”. Yes, you probably guessed where I am heading. I am heading into a discussion about the dreaded R word, Retirement! Now don’t get me wrong! Retirement is great for those who look forward to it their entire working life. That plan is not my Master Plan. My Master Plan is to do things that scare me! Does that idea actually scare me? No, at times it terrifies me! But at the end of each day, I find myself exhilarated looking forward to the next day and the adventures it offers.
For those looking to experience scary moments every day, the big questions are when to start and what to do?
How do you set up your day, week, month, and year to take on scary adventures? I am not talking about daredevil stunts. I am talking about organizing a plan to fully develop all of the gifts that have been given to you. What type of new adventures can you take on?
If you are still working and have not taken on the big R of Retirement, what can you do professionally? Can you be an entrepreneur within your company? Look for ways to offer value, stretch your current job description, and possibly parlay these into a higher pay rate, or a promotion. Outside of work, regardless of your status, what type of involvements can you be a part of? Mentoring is a wonderful way to use your experience and expertise to help others. For those opportunities, look to such organizations, as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. There are numerous other ways to volunteer. Service organizations, churches, etc. can be a way to do exciting ventures and help others. How about your passions? Have you always wanted to play a musical instrument, write a book, or learn to play golf? If any of these examples scare you, that is even more reason to “dive in and test the water”.
The point is, make a commitment to yourself that you will tremble a little each day. That you will feel like you are stepping off a ledge, without a safety net. That you are doing something every day that scares you. At the end of the day, you won’t be terrified. You will be exhilarated, waiting for the next day to start.
Hi Lynn:
I think your approach to “tackling” each days challenges is great. It is what more people should strive for. Thanks always for your kind words.
Take care,
Mike
Great article Mike. We never should re-tire but we should re-wire ourselves into our own “renaissance” with new adventures, challenges and by discovering our better angels. Coram Deo!
Great Article Mike, recently met with Danny’s brother Dennis as he always meets with his Columnist and he remarked on your writings. Very good. As for this article, I wake up each day and usually there is something that I will challenge to do that I am not comfortable with , but being the type of person I am, always aware of the challenges that come, I am ready to do something, even if it scares me.