Archive for the ‘Retirement’ Category
Stefan Liv – "The Memories Live On" – Jersey Retirement – Swedish (HD) – Video
Posted: January 29, 2012 at 12:18 pm
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Stefan Liv - "The Memories Live On" - Jersey Retirement - Swedish (HD) - Video
Transition To Retirement Can Leave People Feeling Unmoored
Posted: at 12:18 pm
Posted: Jan. 29, 2012 | 2:02 a.m.
When the Rev. Jerry Blankinship retired as chaplain at Sunrise
Hospital and Medical Center, it felt right.
"I had worked for almost 50 years in one pastoral ministry or
another and 32 years at Sunrise as chaplain," says Blankinship,
78, who even had waited until he was almost 75 to retire
because, at 65, "I didn't feel like retiring at all.
"But I just felt -- I don't know how to put it, except to say
that enough is enough. It was time."
So, just more than 2½ years ago, Blankinship retired. Two
months later, he began to feel physically and mentally
exhausted. Adrift. Depressed.
All about doing something millions of American worker bees
dream about, the good Lord and Social Security willing, doing
themselves someday.
It turns out that retirement can be a tough transition, at
least for some prospective retirees, and Blankinship's reaction
to the prospect of days upon months upon years of clockless
free time isn't uncommon.
The problem often begins when prospective retirees think of
retirement only in terms of subtraction, by eliminating the
responsibilities of a job from their lives but not thinking
about what they might replace it with.
"I think a lot of it is people often want to get off the
treadmill, they want to get out of the grind," says Dr. Lisa
Rosenberg, a geriatrics specialist and assistant professor of
medicine at Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic
Medicine. "But, for many people, their plan is not to do
anything, and that's not good for us physically or mentally."
Inactivity can make retirees "prone to depression" and diminish
"cognition, our ability to think and remember and process," she
says. "Our brains are like anything else: We lose our abilities
if we don't continue to use what we have."
Generally speaking -- and ignoring the issue of money, which,
alone, can go a long way toward shaping a retirement -- "the
people who are most successful in retirement ... are people who
have a plan of what to do with their time," Rosenberg says.
Some prospective retirees approach retirement with "almost like
a vacation mentality," notes Donna Wilburn, a licensed marriage
and family therapist.
"When you go into retirement, you expect it to feel like a
vacation. Then you are going through the honeymoon phase, which
feels like a vacation and might be one month or six months. But
once reality hits you that you're not going back, then you have
to restructure your identity: What am I supposed to do for the
next 20 years?
"Now it hits you. You feel empty. You don't feel like you have
a purpose. You feel kind of aimless," Wilburn says. "And people
are not expecting that. There's no retirement counseling, that,
'OK, you're ready to retire. We're going to send you to a
counselor so you can understand the process.' "
Blankinship felt more than ready to begin this new phase in his
life, joking that he even had studied geriatric issues as part
of his counseling training. He felt fortunate that he was
retiring on his own schedule, that his finances were in place,
and that he had activities and friends to keep him busy.
But what Blankinship didn't expect was discovering how strongly
he was "self-identified by my job. And when I was no longer
senior chaplain at Sunrise Hospital, I began to wonder, 'Who
the heck am I?' and 'Who am I now?'
"I had defined myself by what I did, like I think most people
do. We define ourselves by what we do, and when you aren't
doing something, then there's kind of a moment where you say,
'My gosh, who am I?' And, I became depressed."
It's not uncommon, Wilburn says. For some newly minted
retirees, "the loss of identity and purpose is huge. It can
trigger a major depression."
Men tend to do it more often than women, Wilburn says, while
Rosenberg notes that it is particularly common among
professionals.
"A lot of businesspeople, doctors and lawyers are kind of
classic people who can't let go because their identity is very
much tied to what they got paid for," Rosenberg says. "So, it's
healthy even before retirement to have other outlets -- an
artistic outlet or a strong network of friends -- because if
your whole life is work and you leave, you're really stuck
starting over."
Doctors, teachers, ministers and others in helping professions
also may find themselves more susceptible to a rougher
transition from workplace to retirement.
"They've become very accustomed to people needing them, and it
can be quite addicting to feel needed," Rosenberg says. "So if
people are used to feeling needed and appreciated ... people
can miss that."
Not even a two-month transition period during which Blankinship
worked part time with his successor helped to ease his
transition into retirement.
"The day I turned in my keys and beeper, it was a loss," he
says. "It was a period of grief. I came home and didn't know
what to do with myself. I was depressed and I was sleeping,
like, 12 or 14 hours a day. I was so tired."
The sudden separation from daily contact with workplace friends
and colleagues -- "the interplay, the camaraderie" -- also hit
home, Blankinship recalls. "All I wanted to do was sleep.
"Then I went to see a doctor -- my regular family doctor -- and
he nailed it when he said, 'You're in a grieving process.' "
Janice Alpern, 72, retired in 2006 from her job as a customer
service representative for the Las Vegas Valley Water District.
When she retired, Alpern discovered that a paycheck represents
more than money.
"One of the first feelings was the paycheck and that you have
no worth without a paycheck," she explains. "That was my
feeling: That you do something, you get your paycheck, and that
was a reward for your hard work and you earned your reward."
Like Blankinship, Alpern loved her job and was confident that
it was time to move on. But she, too, was surprised to find
that she missed the routine of her job, the people with whom
she worked and the satisfaction she gained from doing her job
well.
Then there was the matter of simply filling a large chunk of
time each day. "The week loomed large," Alpern says, "and I
didn't know how to fill it."
Then, Alpern heard about the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She signed up for a few
programs and, during an open house, saw a booth for the Nevada
AARP and became a volunteer for the organization.
Alpern notes that most workers who are planning to retire
review their finances and the other nuts-and-bolts aspects of
living without a regular paycheck. But, she says, few take the
time to figure out what they'll actually do during retirement.
"So many of us are living longer," she says, "and you need to
fill your time in meaningful ways."
Margaret "Peg" Rees, vice provost for educational outreach at
the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, says new retirees who are
seeking activities to pursue in retirement often do begin with
classes and programs offered through UNLV.
"I think people just switch their energy into new directions,"
she says. "Some cook, some come back to school to get retooled,
some take professional development classes and some go off in
an entirely new employment direction. Even when we look at the
university/academic side, we have people that are in their 70s
and 80s finishing their degrees because that's something
they've never been able to do and, now, want to and have the
time and resources to do it."
Also beneficial, Rees says, is that such programs offer
retirees a reason to get out of the house and a way to make
social contacts. (For more information, visit http://continuingeducation.unlv.edu
or call 895-5486.)
Social isolation can lead retirees into depression, Rosenberg
notes. "People who have strong social ties tend to be
physically and mentally healthier. Isolation is bad."
Blankinship toughed out his depression for about three months.
Then, he says, "a pastor friend of mine took me out to lunch
and said, 'How are you doing?' I said I wasn't doing very
good.' "
The friend suggested that Blankinship take on a bit -- just a
little bit -- of volunteer work. Blankinship did, "just a
couple (of) hours of work a week at the church" and doing a few
home visits.
"The thing I discovered is that there needs to be some routine
in your life. The difference between working and not working
is, the routine is optional, but it's still important," he
says.
Today, Blankinship schedules standing get-togethers -- lunches,
dinners and other events -- with friends and family. He
volunteers. He reads (mostly history), takes in movies ("I've
seen probably more movies in the three years since I retired
than I did the 32 years I was at Sunrise" ) and has more easily
embraced the new rhythms of retired life. Also, helping to
reinforce his daily routine is caring for Glamis, his
enthusiastically friendly mixed-breed dog.
Blankinship says he now enjoys retirement, largely because he
has been able to create a new identity for himself that isn't
built upon what he does.
"Little by little, through the help of some friends, not so
much intentionally but just by accident of nature, I began to
realize that who I am is not dependent on what I do, that who I
am is who I am," he says. "I'm a father. I'm a grandfather. I'm
a friend. It doesn't have to do with academic degrees or clergy
ordination."
Based on her own experience, Alpern suggests that those who are
considering retirement give serious thought about how they wish
to spend it. She also suggests checking resources such as those
at UNLV "ahead of time," and urges prospective retirees to "not
be one-dimensional" but, instead, seek out a variety of
interests to pursue.
Rosenberg suggests building social networks through clubs,
alumni groups and professional organizations before retiring,
while Blankinship urges prospective retirees to give as much
thought to the emotional aspects of retirement as they do to
their finances and other basic necessities of retirement.
And, Blankinship suggests, think positively.
"I would think you need to look at the glass as half-full," he
says. "I think we all could complain about things, but what
good does that get you?"
In fact, Blankinship now realizes that one of retirement's
blessings is the array of choices it offers.
"I think when I first was retired, I didn't realize how many
choices I had," he says, smiling. "You've got zillions of
choices. You could do anything."
These days, when Blankinship stops by the hospital to visit
somebody, "everybody is glad to see me and they say, 'Would you
ever think of coming back?' "
Blankinship laughs. "No. No, no, no."
Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@reviewjournal.com or
702-383-0280.
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Transition To Retirement Can Leave People Feeling Unmoored
★ Nicktoons MLB – Retiring, The Right Way ft. ZevHadar – WAY➚ – Video
Posted: January 28, 2012 at 6:28 am
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★ Nicktoons MLB - Retiring, The Right Way ft. ZevHadar - WAY➚ - Video
AP CEO Tom Curley Announces His Retirement – Video
Posted: at 6:28 am
Jorge Posada’s retirement speech – Video
Posted: at 6:28 am
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Jorge Posada's retirement speech - Video
Baby Boomers Plan Their Retirement Careers
Posted: at 6:28 am
Retirement for the baby boomers is likely to be far different
from what their parents experienced[1]. Work
will probably be an integral part of everyday life, both to
meet financial requirements and to keep busy during an
increasing lifespan. Workers approaching retirement should plan
now for their pending retirement career.
[See 10 Places to
Launch a Second Career in Retirement[2].]
Most baby boomers (72 percent) say they plan to keep
working[3] in some
capacity after retirement, according to a 2010 Del Webb survey.
The top reason for working in retirement is to ward off boredom
and keep busy, while financial necessity came in second. Other
reasons for delaying retirement include self-satisfaction and
enjoying the job. Some employees are planning to continue
working well into the traditional retirement years. A recent
Wells Fargo survey found that 25 percent of middle class
Americans say they will need to work until at least 80 to live
comfortably in retirement.
If seniors will need to work during
their retirement years[4], the nature
of the job becomes increasingly important. During our first
career we discovered what we are good at, what we like to do,
and what we dread doing every day. This knowledge can help us
prepare for our second act. Here's how to select a satisfying
retirement career:
Aim for a job you enjoy. In a down economy you
may be forced to take any available job. But if you are lucky
enough to be able to consider a job you might actually enjoy,
decide what it would look like. What could you do each day that
would make you eager to get out of bed each morning, with great
expectations of exciting things to be? It is far better to
start the day with an optimistic smile versus an anxious
moment.
[See 5 Social
Security Changes Coming in 2012[5].]
Avoid toxic situations. Decide what you would
find personally satisfying in a second career and also the
tasks you would dread doing. A typical job includes a mix of
each, but ideally you want to tip the scale toward what you
love.
Test drive your dream job. When you were
younger, what did you dream of becoming? Although a ballerina
or an astronaut might not be realistic now, think back on what
it was you always wanted to do. If a certain career field still
intrigues you, try to explore opportunities for a retirement
career trying it out.
Play to your strengths. After several decades
in the workforce, you probably already know whether you prefer
flexibility or routine, independence or supervision, creativity
or clearly defined activity, and risk or assurance. Look for a
second career that has the characteristics you find most
important in a satisfying job.
[See 7
Misconceptions About Retired Life[6].]
Try something new. Try to incorporate
something you feel passionate about into your retirement job.
Take steps to impact the direction of your retirement career,
rather than just letting it happen.
Dave Bernard is not yet retired but has
begun his due diligence to plan for a satisfying retirement.
With a focus on the non-financial aspects of retiring, he
shares his discoveries and insights on his blog Retirement-Only the
Beginning.[7]
References
-
^ far different from what their
parents experienced (us.lrd.yahoo.com) -
^ 10 Places to Launch a Second
Career in Retirement (us.lrd.yahoo.com) -
^ plan to keep working
(us.lrd.yahoo.com) -
^ work during their retirement
years (us.lrd.yahoo.com) -
^ 5 Social Security Changes Coming
in 2012 (us.lrd.yahoo.com) -
^ 7 Misconceptions About Retired
Life (us.lrd.yahoo.com) -
^ Retirement-Only the Beginning
(us.lrd.yahoo.com)
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Baby Boomers Plan Their Retirement Careers
Fire Damages Willow Valley Retirement Center – Video
Posted: January 20, 2012 at 2:18 am
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Fire Damages Willow Valley Retirement Center - Video
Shigeru Miyamoto reflects on his legacy and retirement – Video
Posted: January 17, 2012 at 10:05 am
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Shigeru Miyamoto reflects on his legacy and retirement - Video
Patty Duke Applies Online for Social Security Retirement Benefits . . . In Her Pajamas! – Video
Posted: at 7:06 am
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Patty Duke Applies Online for Social Security Retirement Benefits . . . In Her Pajamas! - Video
Magic Johnson announces retirement Nov 7, 1991 – Video
Posted: January 16, 2012 at 12:46 pm
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Magic Johnson announces retirement Nov 7, 1991 - Video