"The grand invitation is to embrace the reality of your life
and to figure out what to do with it." –Chip Edens, Rector of Christ Church
Charlotte, congregation of 6,000 members
When I read this quote in Raymond Kethledge and Michael
Erwin's book Lead Yourself First, it
struck me that the "grand invitation" relates to our retirement years—an invite
to figure out what to do with this next stage of life.
I think grand invitations are exciting; such as the type I
receive for big expensive weddings. I enthusiastically open the envelope, and
then the second envelope, pulling back the thin sheet of tissue paper to read a
message that's written in beautiful cursive font.
If only retirement were so easy—an invitation arriving in
the mail that perfectly describes how to live in retirement, complete with a RSVP
card to reply, "I'm coming." Unfortunately retirement doesn't work this way.
You receive the grand invitation but don't miss the phase
between "grand invitation" and "figuring our what to do with it." You can't
accept this invitation until you "embrace the reality of your life."
What is the reality of your life? Be honest with yourself.
If you've been retired for a while it might be easier to describe your reality.
You've been retired long enough to
know what comes with this new stage of life.
For many of us, the reality is that we have lots of free
time. And yet, some of us hold fast to the idea that busy-ness equates with
significance so we pack our schedules so tight so that we don't have time to
think and reflect on what we want to do with this grand invitation. When I
acknowledge this reality, I'm more intentional about how I spend my time,
investing it in organizations and relationships that enrich and expand my life.
When one guy got real with his realities, he said, "I have
the financial resources to do more than I've been doing in retirement, but I've
been living as though I don't." His grand invitation is to figure out how his
financial resources can best be used to add to a meaningful retirement. Perhaps
your reality is that you're less prepared financially for retirement than you
want to believe. Still, start with your reality, embrace your situation, and then
figure out what you want to do about it.
Once you realize your realities, then you can acknowledge
what's working and what's not working for you in retirement. Now what do you
want to do about it?
Your grand invitation is waiting. This is a party you
don't want to miss!
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Copyright 2017 Patrice Jenkins. All Rights Reserved.
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