The Money Whisperer®: Marielle Higler, Marielle Higler
Blog Update via E-MailGraduates today – freshmen tomorrow
Yesterday was the commencement ceremony for the UW Bothell graduates at the UW campus in Seattle. Over 1200 graduates: proud, happy, relieved, and cheered on by their family and friends. A heartwarming moment, as all commencement ceremonies are.
Commencement speaker was Jim Donald, supermarket management guru. The gist of his speech was: you are graduates today and freshmen tomorrow. Every time you begin a new level of study or new employment you come in fresh. As your life continues, the outlook becomes different, the demands change, and therefore the results will be different as well.
As freshmen – you need to be inquisitive – you have to ask advice - you need orientation - your surroundings are all new, so you need to develop new skills, habits, networks, alliances, and expectations for this new position in life.
As I sat there listening, it dawned on me that going into retirement is very similar. Even at this later stage in life we become freshmen, again!
Many people enter retirement in fear. They are apprehensive about money, purpose, community, engagement, aging, ageism, isolation, pain. The common expectation for several generations now has been play, travel, enjoy. You deserve it; you have worked hard for it. But don’t we forget something? What about all the other aspects of maturing and culminating?
Retirement new style goes so much deeper. These days retirement is considered your own show. As good freshmen you are inquisitive, talk with other retirees, read books about creative aging, get a grip on your money, fight ageism, and age in your very own way. You are boss. You are the creator! Set your expectations, define yourself, find your purpose and grow!
You are too young to be old. Let your curiosity and creativity go wild.
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Great notes on Initiation into the Next Stage of Life. I do remember how interested and engaged I was as a freshman at the university. It was so exciting to start something fresh, and new! I am glad to be reminded that it is an excellent attitude towards this new “next stage”.
Get a new pen, a new notebook, and a new calendar. Write down those assignments and due dates so you will not procrastinate away all your precious time. I’m doing it! Right now.