Life is Epic

“The first half of life consists of the capacity to enjoy without the chance; the last half consists of the chance without the capacity.” –Mark Twain

Why not prove this wrong. Many people simply focus on getting to retirement so they do not have to work, and so they can enjoy life. However, you might say that, as we age, we cannot do all of the things we would like to do. The causes might be health, or even motivation. This is why we need to plan for a life of retirement, not just a career.

There are two aspects to this:

I. What type of physical condition (capacity) will you be in upon retirement?

Many people have dreams of spending retirement doing wonderful things such as traveling to Europe, going on Safari, whitewater rafting, or even hiking in the Rocky Mountains. These ideas are all valid and likely very rewarding. However, do you think you will be able to live them if you are in poor health? If you have a lack of stamina or brittle joints from years of going home to the solace of your couch and prime time television, then that hike in Denver is bound to be more painful that fun.

Luckily we have a choice. If we begin today and be proactive with our health, we give ourselves the capacity to realize our dreams.


II. What are your passions, and will you be able to pursue them during retirement?

Still other people think they will be satisfied with a chance to relax upon retirement. Their visions are of time spent staying at home, sleeping in late, and enjoying prime time television. However, is that what you truly want? Will that be enough to satisfy you? A wise man known to me as Mahler put it best when he said the following:

“Our journey through life is much like that walk through the orchard. Our goals and ambitions can be like the fruit on a tree. Some of us don’t climb to the top to get to the choicest fruit. Why? We fear that we just can’t make it that high. We worry that we might fall. What if we get hurt? The risk is just too great…So, there are those of us who walk the orchard and never look up. The fruit on the ground has caught our eye. It’s there for the taking and so easy to get to. So what if we have to settle for something that is less than the best. It was so easy to just pick up and eat that it was worth it. Right? It required little effort and is almost as good. Don’t fool yourselves. Sooner or later, while you are leaning back against your tree eating the fruit you picked up, your eyes will spot the guy climbing the next tree, going for the fruit at the top. You will look at the fruit in your hand and suddenly lose your taste for it and perhaps toss it aside. Where are your goals then?”

For some of you, the fruit at the bottom of the tree (read-prime time television) will taste juicy and sweet, but for the rest of you, don’t you wonder what that fruit on top of the tree will taste like?

In essence, we need to plan. What are your active goals? What do you want to be doing with your free time--that after all--you earned?