BEHIND THE MIKE

It is entirely possible that your retirement years can be the very best of your life, or the very worst. Many times, it boils down to one question: Did you earn enough money during the forty years or so of your work life to sustain you for the 40 years or so of your retirement life?

If you are already retired, it is a little late to address the woulda, coulda and shoulda of those 40 working years. However, it is not too late to talk about the status quo, i.e. where you stand now.

The main obstacle most retirees face is living on fixed income. Focus on what you can control, not what you should have done better to get you where you are.

For instance, the money you have earned in your lifetime is your money, not your kids, grandkids, charities or the government. The best gift you can give your progeny is to leave them a grandparent who can visit but does not have to stay.

Work on what you can control. The most important thing is your health. No matter how much money you have, what good is it if you can not spend it, especially on your own personal needs?

Little things tend to rattle us. Let them go. They do not matter. No matter the stress in our lives, find the good memories and displace the bad with the good. I am no longer the lover I once was, but I am more in love that I ever was.

Be proud of the good things—like the kids and grandkids that have done well in their lives and their marriages. They are not your burden to bear and you should not be theirs either.

Not only should you make the effort to look and feel younger, you have an obligation. I visit my hair stylist Gail every two weeks. Admittedly, she has less and less to cut these days, but don’t let yourself go.

Be proud of all the good you have accomplished in life and forget the mistakes. You cannot change either at this point.

Keep your wardrobe up to speed. A wife-beater tank top is no way to go shopping at Walmart. Have some pride in your appearance.

By the way, unless you are mentoring a younger age group, people do not want to know how it was “in your day.” Share your wisdom, yes, but just as importantly, share your setbacks. The great strength of any mentor lies in the ability to show vulnerability. Talk about failures so people can sustain hope.

You must stay active in many things. JC Penny said, “You should have something to retire to not to retire from.” I will always speak and write. I will always be active in my insurance practice. It keeps the blood flowing.

I would be less than honest with you if I tried to convince you that traveling is a goal of mine. Just because one has the wherewithal to do so does not make traveling necessarily a good thing.

In the speaking and consulting business, I have been there and done that. Travel is low on my list of priorities because I did my millions and millions of miles of flying.

Still, it should not dissuade you from sucking it up and taking your spouse on a few trips. Remember, in Christine’s case, she raised three terrific sons by herself while I was flying around the world running my mouth. Go with her or don’t, but she deserves to see some of those terrific places before she passes on.

I confess I never had hobbies. Speaking and writing are my hobbies, but you should at least have a reason to get up in the morning and get your day off to a good start.

Retirement is what you make of it. Get to work!

Michael Aun is the recipient of the George Morrissey Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Speakers Association of Central Florida.