Retirement – your time to shine

After a lifetime of hard work and commitments – earning money, raising a family, guiding your children into adulthood and helping your own elderly parents – now comes the time to be, well, how shall we say it... a wee bit selfish.

And if selfish is too strong a word, how about the idea of putting more emphasis on your own wants and needs. Retirement today offers a world of choice – and that also includes the choice not to retire, or to work parttime; today you can decide when you want to move into this phase of life. You might want to learn something new – for the sheer joy of studying a subject that has always fascinated you. Or you might be in a position where the knowledge you have gained is much-needed and invaluable to others setting out in your career. Are your skills transferable and other people in different walks of life could benefit? Perhaps you want to pursue your favourite sport – now is the time to perfect that golf swing; go walking long distance paths or trekking or longer sailing expeditions beckon. Now is the time to do it because now you have the time to do it! After a lifetime of working to pay off your mortgage you might want to stay home and enjoy your house – after all, we do live in one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Is it time to downsize, renovate or extend? Are there hobbies that you have had to neglect because you have been working, now calling for you to take them up again? You are also in a perfect position to lend a hand and volunteer – so many different organisations need your help, so may be your retirement won’t be all about ‘self’ after all.