A GRANDPARENT’S GIFT 3 Valuable Lessons They Can Teach Others
Things are about to get very busy with Medicare open enrollment and annual enrollment right around the corner! And as we reviewed our calendars and blocked off time for appointments, we came across a holiday this month that we had to share with you — National Grandparents Day. Grandparents add so much to our lives. Throughout the years, we’ve heard stories from clients about the impact their grandparents had on their lives and how they want to do the same for their grandchildren. Some have said that their grandmas and grandpas helped them find their passion in life. Others have stated that they helped them financially or supported them no matter what life path they chose to take.
In the years leading up to your golden years, you’ll receive plenty of financial advice on preparing for retirement. You want to ensure you have enough money to last the duration of your retirement and maybe still have something left in your estate. This is incredibly important, but there’s more to retirement than simply saving your money and waiting. Author and speaker Dr. Riley Moynes has contemplated the psychological challenges that retirees face and determined that there are four distinct phases of retirement. Understanding these phases and preparing for their challenges will help you maximize your retirement. VACATION This phase is exactly what it sounds like. You’ll feel like you’re on vacation 24/7. You wake up when you want, sleep when you want, and do whatever your heart desires throughout each day. We’re free from responsibilities and can enjoy each moment as it comes, but many people grow bored of this stage after the first year of retirement. We begin to miss our routine and question if there’s anything more to retirement. LOSS This second stage begins when we start to feel like we’ve lost who we are. We lose our routine, our identity, many of the relationships we’ve built, a sense of purpose, and for some, a feeling of power. This is also the stage where retirees can face divorce, depression, and physical and mental decline. It can be traumatic when you don’t see these losses coming, but this phase doesn’t last forever. TRIAL AND ERROR This phase is all about trying to make your life more meaningful. Often, the best path forward is to invest more time into your favorite activities. Be warned that many of these activities will have lost their luster, causing you to experience some trial and error. Don’t give up! Something will click to give you purpose, propelling you into phase four. REINVENT Not everyone will make it to this stage. To get here, you must ask yourself, “What’s my mission in retirement?” Maybe you want to serve others by volunteering with a charity, or perhaps you simply want to improve your golf game. Finding that purpose and reinventing yourself around it will bring you more happiness during your golden years. MAXIMIZE YOUR GOLDEN YEARS: Understand the 4 Phases of Retirement
Our relatives can teach us a lot about ourselves and the world around us. Here are only a few of the many lessons grandparents can share with others. Perhaps your relatives shared these teachings with you. Or maybe you’re teaching your grandchildren these skills as they grow up. 1. THEY CAN GIVE YOU A NEW PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE! Life, culture, and values have evolved throughout the years. Our ancestors lived through the Great Depression, multiple wars, the Great Recession, and more. They’ve endured a lot over the years and can teach their loved ones the importance of perseverance, mental and physical toughness, and how to enjoy life, all while facing obstacles. 2. FAMILY IS IMPORTANT. When parents get caught up in daily activities and need someone to look after their children or pick them up from school and extracurricular activities, they will first call the grandparents! No matter what happens, grandparents will always be there for the ones they love. This teaches us that the family should always come first and that we should help one another whenever possible. 3. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND YOUR ABILITIES. You’ve experienced tons of various obstacles and roadblocks. But even amid uncertainty, you got through it and saw the other side. When the stress of life seems like it’s too much to bear, grandparents teach us never to give up or doubt our instincts. We’re much stronger than we give ourselves credit for! To all our grandparents out there, thank you for everything you do for your family! Your hard work and love will never go unnoticed.
Happy Grandparents Day!
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