It's kind of crazy but...

As I was signing the lease for our Saratoga apartment, Jane asked, "So, are you building a house?" She was trying to understand why I was renting a high-end apartment for 8 months, including winter months in a northern city.

My response: It's kind of crazy but I'm doing this for the fun of it. My husband and I are calling it "The Retirement Experiment." She seemed to get it, stating, "Oh, so you're seeing if you like living in Saratoga?" Okay, I guess so. That works. In my opinion this experiment will help us know if we like living in Saratoga, but there is much more that will happen because we don't know exactly why we're doing it. Actually, it's the "much more" that makes it even more exciting.

I've noticed other times in my life when something started with "It's kind of crazy but…" that great things happen. For example, my favorite consulting job came about after the HR Director wrote me an email that started with, "It's kind of crazy but…" She proposed a project that hadn't been discussed within the company. She knew the logistics didn't make sense—a two-hour commute each way. I wrote back that "kind of crazy ideas" are my favorite ideas to consider.

How about you? Do you have an idea that you're holding back on because it's kinda crazy? Maybe it doesn't make sense at this stage of life. Maybe you think you're too old or too poor or too something. Or maybe you think you're not young enough, not rich enough, or not something enough. Explore anyway. Start doing something—it can be as simple as a Goggle search. Drop assumptions. Have fun exploring and experimenting.

Often we find that our assumptions are not fact. Often there are opportunities that we didn't know about. I had no idea that it was possible to find a beautifully furnished apartment within walking distance of downtown Saratoga Springs. And to top that off, I was able to get an 8-month lease, which is all I need to try my retirement experiment.

What else might there be in life that I'm not aware of? I'm ready to experiment, even with crazy ideas!

Copyright 2015 Patrice Jenkins

The Second Best Time...

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."

—Chinese Proverb

Steven's Tree

This proverb grabbed my attention—perhaps because my husband and I have two beautiful trees that we received when our two sons were born. Steven is now 26, and Jason, 24. Our sons, similar to the trees, are tall and mature—growth that takes time and can't be bought.

This proverb also reminds me of a story told by Barbara Sher, career counselor and best-selling author of seven books. A woman approached Barbara at a book-signing event to say that she had always wanted to create a museum of her family's century old farm. With passion she described her vision of a place where people could learn about the history of farming and also honor the generations who had worked on the farm. Then her voice dropped and the sparkle in her eyes faded when she said, "It's too late. I never did it."

Barbara asked the woman's age. She replied, 62. Then Barbara asked, "Are you sick?" Looking a little perplexed she replied, no. "Well then, you need to get to work on that museum. When you're 80, you'll realize just how young you were at 62."

This true story has a happy ending. The woman followed through and is developing the museum of her dreams. Metaphorically, she planted a tree at age 62.

Looking back I'm glad I planted those trees over two decades ago. It was the best time. But what about the "trees" I didn't plant? And what about the trees that you didn't plant? What would you do if now is the next best time to plant?

Exercise:

Make a list of your trees—a long list. Don't hold back. Whatever comes to your mind write it down even if it seems unattainable at this time.

Now go back over the list and begin by choosing one tree to plant. Next, create a step-by-step plan for getting started. Then share your plan with a carefully selected friend or family member. This person needs to be your greatest cheerleader (sometimes this isn't your closest relative.) This person will help you keep the tree alive with proper care and extra fertilizer. This person will water the tree when you can't be there.

There often is a best time to do something, but this doesn't mean it's the only time. In fact, now is the only time we have. In our retirement years let's make the most of this season!

(You may want to literally plant a tree as a visual reminder that it's not too late for your dreams to grow!)

Copyright 2015 Patrice Jenkins All Rights Reserved

Mastering the Art of Retirement

A magazine advertisement for Lindt Chocolate® grabbed my attention. Printed in cursive lettering at the top of the page: Mastering the Art of Retirement.

Retirement and chocolate—two of my favorite subjects! However, upon closer review, I realized the title read "refinement" not “retirement”.  Making great chocolate is a refined art. 

While my desire for Swiss chocolate lingered, I began to mull over the idea that creating a meaningful retirement lifestyle is also an art that requires mastering. Consider this:

When we first retire most of us don't know how to live "retired." Until now we've been rewarded for mastering many of the skills that don't do us a lot of good in retirement, such as getting as much done as possible (or not possible) with limited time and conforming to structure and other people's expectations. To make retirement an art, we need to develop a new skill set that requires time, creativity, talent, and patience—all the essentials that an artist works with to master his or her art.

What goes into the art of retirement?

1.     Artists have a vision, an inspiration before creating their art. What is your vision for retirement? Where can you find inspiration?

2.     Artists invest in the materials needed to master their skills. What materials, activities, and pursuits do you need to craft a meaningful retirement?

3.     Artists experiment with new methods and materials. Where can you take risks and try something new?

4.     Artists are willing to be vulnerable—not everyone appreciates their work. Where can you be more open to possibilities, letting go of others' expectations and living a life that is true to you?

5.     Artists are continually mastering an art—appreciating the fact that great art cannot be mastered. The same is true for retirement. Creating a rewarding retirement lifestyle is always a work in progress. While you never fully arrive or achieve this goal, you create a rich life along the way.

Copyright 2015 Patrice Jenkins All Rights Reserved.

I Participated.

On May 20, 2015, I was watching an interview between Charlie Rose from The Morning Show on CBS and actor George Clooney. The two men were discussing Clooney's involvement with humanitarian emergencies in Sudan, the vastness of need and challenges of sustainability. At the end of their discussion, I was taken back by Clooney's comment: "When you look back on your life and they say 'What did you do?' I want to be able to say, I participated."

I repeated the words out loud: I participated. I was drawn to this simple statement and I knew in that moment that these  two words were going to change the way I view my volunteer roles.

I think most people will say they want to make a difference in the world. Still, how many of us can honestly make that claim? Measuring the extent of our impact is not easy, and even when it is, we often come up short when comparing it to the vastness of needs around the world or in our own backyards.

However, when I view my involvements as participating, every little thing I do contributes to something that can make a difference. I'm not sitting on the sidelines only observing the needs that exist in my community and around the world. I'm in the game. I'm participating. Let me share an example.

One of my volunteer roles is with PEER Servants where I place college interns with indigenous microfinance organizations around the world. Am I making a difference in this role? I think so, but still, it's not easy to measure the impact. On the other hand, can I say that I'm participating in helping the materially poor in the world? Yes. I'm participating.

By participating, I don't feel the responsibility to make a huge impact or change the world on my own. Instead I can feel good about doing something, contributing, and giving of my time and talents.

Now I pose the question to you that Clooney answered in his interview. When you look back on your life and people ask, "What did you do?" how do you want to respond?

I want to be able to say: I participated.

Copyright 2015 Patrice Jenkins All Rights Reserved

Do Something Worth Writing About

Summer is a perfect time to enjoy a great book. In fact, summer reading lists can be found in many of the popular magazines and bookstores. The summer months and reading seem to go together.

This summer when you reach for a book, imagine that you're reading your own story—a book that is full of adventure, humor, challenges and successes. A plot that brings you to the edge of your seat, makes you laugh out loud, and leaves you feeling happy and eager to read the next volume in the sequel.

This summer aim to do something that is worth writing about. Be bold with your plot. Where's the humor? The adventure? The lessons and the successes? When you view decisions from this perspective, you'll make choices that create a more interesting life.

If something is outside your comfort zone, then suppose it's happening to another person—imagine you're reading about the experience in a book. For example, if you're leery about going camping without an air-conditioned RV, then imagine reading about someone's experience with sleeping under the stars.  This is the perspective I brought to a camping experience with my husband.

Dave enjoys camping in his family's 1957 Sears and Roebuck canvas tent. I prefer 4- and 5-star hotels. For his birthday I booked reservations at a campsite along the water. As soon as we arrived I saw a snake in the water. (Dave promised me that a water snake never leaves the water.) In the middle of the night I walked to the bathroom, but on the way back to the campsite my phone battery went dead, meaning that I also had no flashlight. (The plot thickens…) I got lost trying to find our campsite. I ended up walking through brush up to my waist with no idea of where I was (and sure that the snake sleeps in tall grass at night!) Eventually a park ranger found me and showed me the way back to my campsite.

I can't say that I enjoyed this experience but if I were reading about it in a book, this story is more riveting than, "She slept comfortably through the night in her posh hotel room." Dave and I still laugh about my adventure. It's a birthday we'll never forget. This summer I've agreed to camp out again for his birthday. You can be sure that I'll bring a flashlight with a long battery life, still, hopefully there'll be another incident that is worth writing about.

As you create your retirement lifestyle, don't play life too safe. Who wants to read a boring book?

"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." Benjamin Franklin

Copyright 2015 Patrice Jenkins All Rights Reserved