Messy Magic
It’s uncomfortable being a novice if you’re used to being an expert.
One of the difficult things about retiring is giving up your identity as a . . . (fill in the blank). To avoid the loss of identity, some people postpone retirement too long. They keep working at a job they no longer care deeply about or one at which they are no longer effective. Certain politicians might come to mind here. Anyway, I’m a firm believer in stepping away while you’re still doing a decent job. Or as my mother taught me, “leave the party while you’re still having fun.”
If you’re like me, you spend a few weeks or months after retirement catching up with friends, family, a little travel, and projects around the house. Then one day, you find yourself alphabetizing your sock drawer. Not good. So, you look around for something to give your life structure and purpose. Many people go back into their old field, doing it part time or on a temporary fill-in basis. I tried that but it didn’t work for me. As a part-time/temporary audiologist I was given mostly grunt work and little or no respect. No thanks.
Next, I tried something different, manning the front desk at a sailing school. I had to learn a point-of-sale system, new sailing terms and equipment details. It was stressful as hell in the beginning, but it was also fun. The people arriving for sailing classes were excited and happy to be there. Totally different than the patients showing up to have their hearing aid or their cochlear implant adjusted. I wasn’t saving the world, but I was contributing and learning something every day.
There’s a messy magic in trying something new. Case in point, I learned to row a racing shell on San Francisco Bay. A truly mortifying experience. But soggy clothing and countless expletives later, what a blast! I started taking writing classes online and in person. Also humbling. Being a beginner is hard on the ego. Eight years later and I’m still taking classes. And now I have awesome friends and a book to show for it.
So, what are you curious about? Is there something that has always intrigued you? Archery? Haiku? The night sky? Make a list and don’t hold back. Then pick one and explore the possibilities. Be prepared to laugh at yourself. Humility is part of aging gracefully. And maybe, you’ll inspire someone else along the way. Someone who is stuck in a rut, or afraid to make a fool of themselves. Those fools are the ones having the most fun! Maybe, just maybe, you’ll find your new tribe.