Category: Faith and Spirituality

Redefining Retirement: Plan, Prepare, and Thrive

This post introduces a series about retirement, often viewed as ending one’s career, but it encompasses diverse experiences for each individual, such as new jobs, volunteer work, and personal pursuits like travel, hobbies or education. The series explores retirement preparation, identity shifts, and purposeful living.

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “retirement”? The word comes from the verb retire, which means “to go to sleep”. But most of us don’t plan to spend our retirement sleeping all day.

Most people think of retirement in terms of work. The dictionary definition is “to withdraw from one’s position or occupation; to conclude one’s working or professional career.”

But retirement is more complicated than that. I know people who retire from a career and start another which may be vastly different. Some people retire only to take a part-time job from boredom or financial necessity. Some retirees become so involved in volunteer work, they are busier than when they had a paying job.

Retirement can give you time to pursue a hobby or skill seriously, or to acquire advanced education. And who doesn’t look forward to traveling, visiting family, and exploring the world?

We may find ill health, disability, or advanced age makes working full-time or even part-time impossible. Sometimes unexpectedly, people find themselves assuming the role of caregiver in retirement, for a spouse, parent, child, or grandchild.

In other words, everyone’s retirement looks different; each is unique.

My friend Ric Shields invited me to be a guest on his DoorWays Ministry podcast series to talk about the questions that really matter when it comes to retirement.

Whether retirement is still years away, you’re getting ready for it, or you’re already a seasoned retiree, this series has something for you. We’ll explore how to plan, prepare, and thrive in whatever season of life you’re in.

  • How do you know when you’re ready to retire?
  • Can you actually afford to retire?
  • What happens to your sense of purpose and identity when work is no longer at the center of your life?
  • Where should you live, and what do you want to leave behind for the people you love?

The series also covers navigating family responsibilities, finding purpose in your next chapter, and protecting yourself and your family from the people who try to take advantage of older adults.

It’s about more than retirement. It’s about making the most of what comes next. Because getting older doesn’t mean your purpose is behind you.

You can access all the episodes at this link, and I will post them here on the blog and on Facebook. I hope you will share them widely.

In my episode, Ric and I discuss the HEART of purpose in retirement. It airs in two weeks.

Listen here as Ric introduces the series.

Prepare

Before you listen to any of the podcast episodes, take time to think about what retirement means to you now.

If you are already retired, how is it going? What do you like about it? What would you want to change?

If you aren’t retired, what thoughts or plans have you made about the future? What fears do you have? What goals do you have?

Keep these thoughts in mind as we walk through this series together. Remember, on this blog we find information and inspiration to learn, plan, prepare, and thrive through life’s challenges.

Exploring the HEART of Health

Thank you for reading this post. Please follow this blog and me on social media.

I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

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I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha

Still Looking for Peace on Earth

I have updated my first Christmas post for the ten-year anniversary of this blog, My late friend Bill provided the cover image. I share the special bond he had with my husband, their shared experiences of war, and how art served as therapy for Bill. I invite you to reflect on loss and legacy during the holiday season.

This is an updated version of the first Christmas post I wrote for this blog ten years ago, 2015. I had no plans to write a blog for any length of time, much less ten years.

The same cover photo depicts a Biblical scene from the Christmas story. Some shepherds tending their flocks were visited by angels.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 

 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 

 And the angel said to them,

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 

 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 

 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!

Luke 2:11–14, ESV

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Christmas manger display
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end. (Isa. 9:6–7)
Photo by Dr. Aletha

Shepherds, Angels, and Two Soldiers

The cover image was on a Christmas card my husband, Raymond, and I received from our dear friends Bill and Greta Hart, whom we met at our church.

Like my husband, Bill was an Army veteran. Raymond served three years, including a tour in Vietnam. Bill was sent to Europe during World War II and was among the men who stormed Normandy on June 6 to liberate France.

Though they served in two very different wars, with different outcomes, Bill and Raymond bonded over their shared experience. They both carried invisible wounds of the mind and heart that others couldn’t see.

Bill was a professional artist, but art was not just his job. It was his therapy, a balm for his pain, a source for the peace he had fought for but did not feel himself.

So he drew this picture of the shepherds hearing the joyful message of peace coming to earth, put it on Christmas cards, and sent the message to his friends.

Both Bill and Greta have passed away after living into their 90s. They remained faithful members of our church. He continued drawing and painting until the day he died. With her sister, Greta taught Bible lessons after school in local elementary schools. With her passing, other women have continued her mission.

Thoughts

Who is missing in your life this holiday season? What thoughts come to your mind as you remember them? What feelings stir in you?

What do you want others to remember about you? What will you do now to make that happen?

Exploring the HEART of Health

Thank you for reading this post. Please follow this blog and me on social media.

I share information and inspiration to help you transform challenges into opportunities for learning and growth.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

an evergreen wreath with holly

Dr. Aletha

Read more about Bill Hart here.

Remembering D-Day through Art

We remember June 6, commemorated as D-Day, marking the 1944 Allied invasion of Normandy, which liberated France, and later ended World War II in Europe. My friend, Bill Hart, a U.S. Army veteran, shared his distressing experiences through an illustrated memoir, highlighting the impact of war on mental health, including PTSD, which affects many veterans…

Keep reading

How to Dwell on Advent

Many people find using their phones a convenient way to read and meditate on the Bible. And it’s easy to do so with the Dwell Bible App.

With Dwell you can listen to and read the Bible and special devotional offerings for Advent, Lent, and throughout the year.

Screenshot of the Advent offerings on the Dwell app