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Intentional Living, Clarity, and the Perfect Average Day
3 Plays8 days ago
In this solo follow-up, Jacquie reflects on her conversation with Jermaine Ee (founder of HeirLight) from Episode 294. She distills Jermaine’s wisdom on living intentionally, defining “enough,” and designing ordinary days that feel truly meaningful. Listeners get practical prompts and small experiments to bring more clarity, gratitude, and purpose into their daily retirement life.
Why this matters
Retirement isn’t just about filling a calendar—it’s about creating days that genuinely satisfy. Jacquie explores how to step out of comparison, focus on what matters, and design a “perfect average day” that brings joy, not just busyness.
What we covered
- The power of asking: “What would I do every day if money and recognition didn’t matter?”
- Living with clarity: identifying what truly matters now
- Defining “enough” and escaping the comparison trap
- Jermaine’s “tiny list” strategy for whose opinions matter
- Designing your “perfect average day” (and why it’s more important than big dreams)
- Meaning vs. busyness: how to choose fulfillment over a packed schedule
- Legacy, conversations, and not waiting for the “perfect” moment
- Bonus tips: new communities, prioritizing health, staying curious, capturing memories
Key takeaways
- Clarity is love in practical form.
- Comparison is the thief of joy.
- Designing small, meaningful days matters more than chasing big achievements.
- Don’t wait to have important conversations or experiences.
- Retirement is richer when you choose relationships, activities, and routines that energize you.
READY TO RAMP UP YOUR RETIREMENT JOURNEY?
Have a chat with Jacquie: https://calendly.com/jacquiedoucette/discovery
New to Beyond Retirement? Start Here: https://beyondretirement.ca/start-here/
Check out the Beyond Retirement Library: https://placeforbooks.com/
Recommended
Transcript
Redefining Retirement: Beyond Leisure
00:00:03
Speaker
Retirement. That's what we're all aiming at, right? But exactly what does that mean? conjures up visions of endless days of golf, drinks with little umbrellas in them on a tropical beach, feet up reading a book.
00:00:16
Speaker
Is that what it's all about? I don't think so. Life would get pretty dull after a while without anything meaningful to do, don't you think? I'm Jackie Doucette, and I'm on a mission to discover exactly what life is like beyond retirement.
00:00:30
Speaker
Join me while I chat with people who've already done it, who've retired to something rather than from something. Let's find out together exactly what's waiting for us when we say goodbye to that nine to five.
Resources for a Purposeful Retirement
00:00:51
Speaker
Hi everyone, welcome to another episode of Beyond Retirement. I'm your host, Jackie Doucette. Through Beyond Retirement, I help people retire to something meaningful. Maybe that means more purpose, more routine, more joy.
00:01:06
Speaker
Whatever it might be for you, remember that you don't have to struggle alone in the transition to retirement. let's have a conversation. There's a link to a free call in the show notes.
00:01:18
Speaker
And if you prefer to do some quiet exploration first, I've published a variety of books to help you on your journey. The link to my library is also in the show notes, and both those links are also available on my website, beyondretirement.ca.
00:01:34
Speaker
I look forward to talking with you and to helping make your journey beyond retirement the very best it can be.
Intentional Living with Jermaine
00:01:41
Speaker
And today I'm here to talk about my conversation with Jermaine from last week.
00:01:49
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If you remember, he's the founder of AirLight. If you haven't listened to that episode, I highly recommend going back and hearing Jermaine's thoughtful insights about living intentionally, designing ordinary days, and letting go of unnecessary comparisons.
00:02:06
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Today, though, I want to highlight a few of the key ideas that came from that discussion and offer some simple, practical ways to apply them as you approach retirement, or if you're already there.
00:02:19
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I want to start by revisiting one deceptively simple question Jermaine posed. What would I do every day if money and recognition weren't part of the equation?
00:02:32
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Take a moment and let that sink in. So much of our working years are shaped by money, titles, deadlines, and other people's expectations. And then retirement arrives.
00:02:44
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And suddenly those forces don't carry the same weight. For years, we may have placed dreams on hold, prioritized obligations over joy, or avoided asking ourselves what a truly meaningful day looks like.
00:02:58
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This question is powerful because it cuts through the noise. It helps you get honest about what you actually want your days to feel like. One point Jermaine emphasized is the importance of living with clarity.
00:03:11
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For
Clarity and Priorities in Retirement
00:03:12
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him, clarity meant being conscious about what matters most, health, family, and the kind of everyday life that feels grounded and good. He shared his journey of moving closer to his parents and how those ordinary moments, lunch together, a simple workout, ended up creating deep meaning.
00:03:35
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If you're planning retirement or you're already retired, here's a simple prompt. What really matters to me now? Is it relationships? Creative pursuits?
00:03:47
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Health? Learning? Contribution? Peace and simplicity? The more specific you get, the easier it becomes to design your day intentionally.
00:04:01
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Try this. Keep a journal for one week, noting not just what you do, but what actually leaves you feeling fulfilled. Patterns will start to emerge.
Cultural Impact on Perceptions of 'Enough'
00:04:14
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Another powerful insight from Germaine was how much our culture shapes our beliefs about enough. He shared how growing up in a Malaysian-Chinese household brought a strong sense of community and how different that felt compared to the more individualistic culture he encountered in California.
00:04:35
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And it's a good reminder. Sometimes what feels lacking isn't a bigger house, a busier calendar, or more impressive plans. Sometimes what's missing is connection, a clarity, and a sense of contentment.
00:04:49
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Germaine also echoed something we all know, but we still struggle with. Comparison is the thief of joy. In retirement, it can be surprisingly easy to look around and measure your life against others.
00:05:02
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Who's traveling more? Who seems busier? Who has the perfect retirement? One strategy Germaine shared that I love. He keeps a tiny list in his journal of the people whose opinions truly matter to him.
00:05:17
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For him, that was his closest family and one best friend. Everyone else's voice, no matter how loud, doesn't get to shape his sense of fulfillment.
00:05:30
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Try doing this. Write down three things you're grateful for each day. Be specific. Focus on everyday goodness, not grand achievements.
Crafting Fulfilling Daily Routines
00:05:44
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One of my favorite parts of the conversation with Jermaine was when he challenged us to look beyond bucket list travel and big someday plans, and instead design a life where an ordinary Tuesday feels good.
00:05:59
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Because happiness isn't only found in big weekends or faraway trips, it's found in the repeatable parts of life. So ask yourself, what time do I wake up?
00:06:11
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What does my morning look like? Who do I see or talk to? What do I do with my body? Do I walk, stretch, swim, garden?
00:06:22
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What do I create, learn, or contribute? What makes me feel calm and steady? Then look for small ways to bring these perfect day elements into real life.
00:06:36
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Coffee with a neighbor, a regular walk, volunteering once a week. joining a class, picking up an old hobby.
00:06:48
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Maybe try designing one day this week so it closely matches that ideal. Small tweaks can transform how you feel about your life.
Choosing Meaningful Over Busy
00:07:01
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Another thread from our interview that's deeply relevant is the difference between being busy and living meaningfully. Jermaine talked about intentionally saying no more often and prioritizing the important over the merely urgent.
00:07:19
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Retirement can feel like a blank calendar, which is a blessing, but also a challenge. Filling time just to fill it can leave you feeling restless. A busy schedule isn't necessarily a meaningful one.
00:07:32
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So take stock. What activities energize you? Which ones drain you? Who adds positivity to your life? Who leaves you feeling heavy afterwards?
00:07:45
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It's okay, important even, to choose relationships and commitments that support you. So maybe once a month, review your calendar. What did you do out of obligation?
00:07:59
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What brought genuine joy and growth? And slowly pivot so that you're doing more of the latter one.
Embracing Impermanence and Connection
00:08:09
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One story Jermaine shared really stayed with me.
00:08:13
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After he helped his mom reconnect with her passion for dance and fulfill a childhood dream of visiting Austria, she passed away suddenly, just eight days after their trip. It's a moving reminder that we can't assume we, or our loved ones, have endless time.
00:08:31
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Have the meaningful conversations now. Ask about dreams. Ask about the little joys. Ask what matters most. Don't wait until everything is perfect.
00:08:43
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Often the most fulfilling experiences don't cost much more than our willingness to show up.
00:08:51
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Schedule a heart-to-heart conversation with someone you love. Ask them, is there anything you've always wanted to do but you've put off? Then ask, what's one small step we could take this month?
Enhancing Retirement Experiences
00:09:07
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And here are a few simple ideas that you can experiment with to make your retirement a little bit better. Explore new communities.
00:09:18
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You can join a club, take a class, or volunteer. New friendships often show up in unexpected places. Prioritize your health. Regular movement, sleep, and nourishing food keep both body and spirit resilient.
00:09:36
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Stay curious. Learn a new language. Try a new recipe. Explore nearby places. Keep curiosity alive.
00:09:46
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And capture memories. Journal or use voice-to-text notes. You'll remember more, and you'll feel more present.
00:09:56
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Jermaine said something that I think is worth repeating. Clarity is love in practical form. And he also said, it's not that life is short.
00:10:07
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it's that we forget the details. When we live intentionally, expressing gratitude, choosing meaningful relationships, and designing ordinary days we actually enjoy, we make retirement richer and far more memorable.
Invitation to Explore Retirement Planning Resources
00:10:24
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Thanks for joining me today. If something in today's episode created a spark for you, let's explore it together. I help people heading through retirement create a life that fits them where they are right now.
00:10:36
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I've also published a variety of books designed to help guide you towards a more fulfilling life. You can find links to my library and to my free call in the show notes and on my website at beyondretirement.ca.
00:10:52
Speaker
And that's it for this episode of Beyond Retirement. Thank you so much for hanging out with me. I hope you enjoyed it. Are you ready to start rocking your retirement? Head on over to www.beyondretirement.ca forward slash rocking it and sign up to plan out your own roadmap for retirement.
00:11:11
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Don't wait till it's too late.