Sunsets and Retirement – A Visual Poetry

I’m spending this summer in Marbella and totally entranced by the spectacular sunsets, especially along  the 18km coastal promenade, the Paseo Maritimo. As the sun meets the the Mediterranean Sea, the sky turns yellow and orange with streaks of pink, purple and red. A paintwork capturing the vividness of the day in arresting array of colours, before it fades into oblivion. 

The Last Time You Watched A Sunset?

Have you stopped to watch a sunset lately? Are you mesmerised by nature’s light show marking the transition from day to night? Or are you, like so many others, cooped up at home, in the office or stuck in traffic…missing out on this daily spectacular?

Sunsets are, in many ways, a good metaphor for retirement, regardless of which type of retirement you choose. They represent a poignant and evocative way to capture the essence of life’s transition.

Natural Cycle: Just as the sun naturally sets at the end of each day, retirement is a natural and inevitable phase of life. It signifies the culmination of a long, productive period, with all its glory captured and replayed.

Beauty and Reflection: Sunsets are often a time for reflection and appreciating the beauty of the day that has passed. Retirement likewise, is a time to look back on your career and  life with pride and gratitude, appreciating the achievements and reliving precious memories.

Peaceful Phase: A sunset marks the transition from the business of the day to the calm and peace of the evening. Retirement symbolises a shift from the hustle and bustle of a career to a more relaxed and peaceful stage of life. A quietening down.

Warmth and Glow: The hues of a sunset can represent the warmth and wisdom that come with age and experience. In retirement, you can share this wisdom with others through mentoring, volunteering or sharing candidly what you would tell your younger self so others can learn from your experience.

Time for Enjoyment: Just as many people take time to enjoy and savour the beauty of a sunset, retirement can be seen as a period to indulge in hobbies, travel and start ticking off from your bucket list. 

New Beginnings: While a sunset marks the end of the day, it also heralds the coming of a new day. Retirement can be viewed not just as an ending, but as a beginning of a new chapter, full of opportunities for new experiences and personal growth. In retirement, you can do things you never had the time for and become the best version of yourself. And it’s proven that starting late is not a hindrance to success.

Retirement Canvas

So what would your retirement be like? Some view retirement with trepidation, others with anticipation and yet others try to hasten it through the FIRE movement. Retirement is much more than just figuring out the finances. 

Making sure you have the resources for a good retirement is prudent. But it is equally important to be emotionally and psychologically prepared for what could be the most beautiful phase of your life. 

Financial preparedness is the sun with its life-sustaining ability. The non-financial aspects however, add colours and vibrancy to your retirement palette. So make sure to take these colour essentials into account when painting a personal sunset.

The Other Aspects Retirement Planning

• Purpose: Without the daily structure of work, finding new activities, passion or goals will provide the sense of purpose and fulfilment to fill the gap left by work. Be conscious that how you spend your days become your life.

• New Networks: Leaving work creates a void in social connections that cannot be easily filled. Make sure to develop new social connections and engage in the community to avoid isolation and loneliness. Strive for first experiences to imbibe your life with new knowledge, sensation, contacts and great memories. 

• Emotional Adjustment: Adjusting to retirement can bring a range of emotions, including anxiety, depression, insignificance or a sense of loss. Addressing these emotional changes is crucial for overall well-being. If you don’t know where to start, try making friend with your future self to figure out the big pieces of your retirement puzzle. 

• Health: Physical health takes on heightened importance in retirement so you can enjoy to the fullest. Everyday is a chance to become better and healthier through your activities, diet and mentality. Start healthy living now, as modern living is an assault to our  health. No retirement plan is complete without a health plan.

• Time Management: Daily structure and routine take on a new meaning once work is out of the picture. 24 hours is a lot when there’s nothing to do. Plan to manage and fill the increased free time in a meaningful and satisfying way.

“Don’t simply retire from something; have something to retire to” ~ Harry Emerson Fosdick

• Relationship Dynamics: Retirement can change the dynamics of relationships, especially with family members. Spending more time together can be rewarding but may also require adjustments and renegotiation of roles. As part of your retirement planning, give thoughts to your role and how to make positive impact to yourself and others.

• Leaving a Legacy: At the tip of Maslow’s Hierarchy is self actualisation, which relates to making an impact, self-fulfilment and doing good. Along with this is decluttering of your physical possessions. Make it a regular ritual, including managing your digital footprint. 

A Beautiful End

Whatever the situation, let this phase be filled with vibrant colours on your life canvas. It doesn’t matter how successful or challenging your life has been up to now. What matters is how it ends and the actions you take to add strokes of colours to beautify it. 

Remember it doesn’t need to involve grand gestures, for greatness can be at personal level too. Think about what makes you happy, what brings you joy, what matters to you and the legacy you want to leave behind.

Take a Leaf from Others

Sir David Attenborough, renowned and respected natural historian, has hinted at retirement multiple times. His lifelong dedication to nature documentaries has enlightened and inspired generations. As he steps back from active work, his “sunset” phase allows hm to reflect on his incredible impact while continuing to advocate for environmental conservation, like a lingering beautiful sunset. 

By framing retirement with the imagery and symbolism of a sunset, you can convey a sense of completion, beauty and transition, highlighting the positive and reflective aspects of your life. 

 

Create your masterpiece,

Savvy Maverick

(Main image: Cabopino Beach, Marbella. Savvy Maverick)

 

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are drawn from personal experiences and do not constitute financial advice in any way. Nothing published here nor should any data or content be relied upon for investment activities. Please do your own due diligence before making any financial decisions. Data and information cited from sources will not be updated after publication.