Transcript
Speaker: Retirement.
Speaker: That's what we're all aiming at, right?
Speaker: But exactly what does that mean?
Speaker: It conjures up visions of endless days of golf, drinks with little umbrellas in them on a tropical beach, feet up reading a book.
Speaker: Is that what it's all about?
Speaker: I don't think so.
Speaker: Life would get pretty dull after a while without anything meaningful to do, don't you think?
Speaker: I'm Jackie Doucette, and I'm on a mission to discover exactly what life is like beyond retirement.
Speaker: Join me while I chat with people who've already done it, who've retired to something rather than from something.
Speaker: Let's find out together exactly what's waiting for us when we say goodbye to that nine-to-five.
Speaker: Hi everyone.
Speaker: Welcome to episode 252 of Beyond Retirement.
Speaker: If you recall, last week I was chatting with Olympic gold medalist Joe Jacoby.
Speaker: We talked about ways to improve your transition into the second half of life.
Speaker: You should definitely go back and listen to the interview if you haven't heard it, because Joe talks a lot about his own transition and the experiences he's having.
Speaker: The big takeaway for me last week, the big takeaway for me from last week is that there's not one right way to do it.
Speaker: It's important to acknowledge that the transition is big and hard, but that doesn't mean it's something to shy away from.
Speaker: He talked about peak performance in retirement, which is probably not a concept most people are familiar with.
Speaker: It's discussed primarily in sports, and the basic premise is that it's a mindset of focus, consistency, purpose, course correction, and willingness to act.
Speaker: Each day, you start at a new spot, and you're moving forward.
Speaker: What's past is past, and the focus is on consistency, not intensity.
Speaker: Joe uses this analogy in helping people navigate retirement, pointing out that it's simple, but not easy, and it's a matter of tuning out all the noise.
Speaker: First, let's talk about finding purpose.
Speaker: Joe mentioned that writing down his purpose helped him commit to it.
Speaker: So, as we approach retirement, this is an opportunity to reflect on our passions and purpose and start to write them down.
Speaker: Having a clear purpose helps keep us focused and motivated, even in this new phase of our lives.
Speaker: Most important is to figure out what's driving you.
Speaker: So when your feet hit the floor, you're ready to start your day.
Speaker: It doesn't have to be grand, just something that drives you forward.
Speaker: One of my key takeaways from our conversation was the fact that our purpose in life can change as we age.
Speaker: Joe stressed the importance of balancing our inner and outer selves when settling down on our purpose and focusing on deep, meaningful connections with the people who matter most to us.
Speaker: Another thing that Joe emphasized is the importance of staying healthy.
Speaker: Finding the right balance of physical activity to keep our minds and bodies engaged is key, while keeping injury prevention in mind.
Speaker: Joe recommends gravity sports like paddling on a river or whitewater kayaking as a great way to tap into larger energy forces, find a sense of purpose and enjoyment, and keep our bodies and minds active without too much physical risk.
Speaker: By trying new things and staying healthy, we can make the most of the current chapter in our lives.
Speaker: The transition into retirement can also be a time to tap into the peak performance that I mentioned at the start, which Joe says is not just about being gritty and resilient, but also about focus, consistency, course correction, and having a growth mindset.
Speaker: Practicing gratitude, being kinder to ourselves can also help to open the pathway to better performance, not just in sports, but in various areas of life.
Speaker: And by reflecting on what it means to live a high performance life, we can start to see the potential for peak performance ahead of us.
Speaker: Joe also shared some of his insights into the creative process as a writer.
Speaker: He believes that spending time outside in nature and moving around can lead to fresh ideas and a clearer mind.
Speaker: Pursuing health and wellness is also essential when it comes to creative pursuits, as staying healthy and active can give us greater purpose and motivation to explore our passions and interests.
Speaker: This could look like taking up a new hobby, pursuing further education, or volunteering for causes or organizations that align with our values.
Speaker: Using retirement as an opportunity to explore new avenues and broaden our horizons is the best thing that we can do.
Speaker: Finally, Joe talked about the importance of creating deep and meaningful connections with the people who matter most to us.
Speaker: This isn't a new concept.
Speaker: Retirement offers the opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and to build new ones.
Speaker: Focus on building a community that supports your passions and purpose.
Speaker: To this point, Joe talked about his move to Spain, where he won his Olympic gold medal.
Speaker: Joe's experience in the town and its Olympic venue allow him to prepare for the Games while immersing himself in the culture and community.
Speaker: Upon returning, he's found that the quality of life in the town is exceptional.
Speaker: So to summarize, retirement is not just a time to relax and take it easy.
Speaker: It's an opportunity to reflect on our passions and purpose, stay healthy, tap into our peak performance, and build meaningful relationships.
Speaker: Remember, our retirement may look different from Joe's, but we can all take valuable lessons from his journey.
Speaker: So that's it for today's episode.
Speaker: Thanks for listening.
Speaker: I hope you'll join us next week when I'll be talking with Mike Cobb about the opportunities of life as an expat.
Speaker: And that's it for this episode of Beyond Retirement.
Speaker: Thank you so much for hanging out with me.
Speaker: I hope you enjoyed it.
Speaker: Are you ready to start rocking your retirement?
Speaker: Head on over to www.beyondretirement.ca forward slash rocking it and sign up to plan out your own roadmap for retirement.
Speaker: Don't wait till it's too late.
