I retired February 3, 2022, and left for a two-week trip on February 13. My family hosted a retirement reception for me on March 25. On March 26 I woke up and realized there were no more celebrations, this was my life now. It was up to me to create a new road map for the future.
My First Priority Was To Begin Exercising
First, I knew I wanted to begin exercising on a regular basis. For the past forty years, exercise had been sporadic, always taking a back seat to work, family and other commitments. I was fine with this. These were my priorities. In the back of my mind, I always knew I needed to take better care of my body or it would wear out. Every year as January 1 rolled around, my New Year’s resolution always included to start some sort of exercise routine. Jogging, swimming, aerobics, exercise classes or even walking my way to wellness videos! I accomplished a number of things on those lists over the years, but exercise always fell by the wayside by February! When I began thinking about retirement, regular exercise became a goal that I can proudly say remains a priority and no longer needs to be on the New Year’s resolution list! Walking, tennis, pickleball, weightlifting, infrared sauna workouts and golf – although not athletic. I decided to put myself out there and try. Surprisingly, once I got over being self-conscious and concentrated on learning, I had a great time. I’ve chosen my regular exercise activities now, but if someone invites me to try something new, I’m on board. As long as I’m active every day.
With that accomplished, the next question arose – what else was I supposed to do with this newfound freedom? An invitation from my friend Jen gave me the answer I’d been looking for. On April 17, 2022, I accompanied Jen to the Omaha Town Hall Lecture Series. A non-profit organization run by volunteers dedicated to enhancing cultural life. Every year, four experts are chosen to speak on topics ranging from entertainment, history, politics or art to geography or journalism. The aim is to teach, sometimes entertain and always inform. The organization’s motto is “inform, inspire, in touch with the world!”. Not sure what to expect, I accepted Jen’s invitation. I thought if nothing else I’ll be able to spend some driving time with my friend, listen to a good speaker and attend a nice luncheon. Little did I know this would be an experience that I would use to define what retirement would look like for me.
What Was Next? Attending A Town Hall Lecture
The first lesson learned was simple and yet had a profound impact on me – be open to new experiences, places and people. I hadn’t ever attended a town hall lecture. I didn’t know they existed. And even if I did know, I wouldn’t have considered taking off work to attend. It was at this point I lectured myself. I am retired, I don’t have to go to work and there was no good reason to decline the invitation. I left my comfort zone and I’m so glad I did. My world had changed, and it was time to explore what happened during the day outside the walls of work. Thank you, Jen!
The second lesson came from the speaker at the Town Hall gathering. It was Steve Hartman, a correspondent for CBS. He has two shows – On the Road with Steve Hartman and Kindness 101. Steve travels and shares stories about people that are built around themes of kindness and character and people who have mastered both. Each week, he shares a story that focuses on a character such as resilience, gratitude, positivity, reverence, grit, tact, honesty, perseverance, enthusiasm, justice, respect, self-improvement, redemption, fortitude, optimism, inclusion or service. Hartman’s stories provide insights into the importance of human connection and community engagement. Through his storytelling, he inspires audiences to engage, understand other perspectives, cultivate relationships and participate collectively and collaboratively.
I Have No Regrets, But I Am Stepping It Up
Honestly, it has been over three years, and I am still thinking about that presentation and how powerful it was. I follow his stories faithfully. They have become my inspiration as I build my route to travel through retirement.
In looking back, do I regret not concentrating on my physical wellbeing sooner? Do I wish I had looked for more ways to connect with others and create stories of engagement and improvement? No. There is no regret or wishing I could do it over. My body has served me well. I have lived an incredibly full life. I have exhibited and experienced kindness, character and collaboration with my family, friends, work, church and community. However, now is the time to step it up – because I have the time!
Ellen Beans
I’m originally from Arlington, NE. My husband, Pat, is from Cozad, NE. After spending the past 45 years in Lincoln, we are proud to call it our home.
I served as a Director at Bryan Health for 40 years. Pat served as the Chief Financial Officer for NRC Health for many years. He now serves as the Manager for Amandla, LLC.
We have two sons, Winston and Beau. Winston is married to Emily, and they have a daughter, Sophia, 5 years old. Beau is self-employed and works diligently to assure the success of his company. He also carries the title of Best Uncle Ever!
As the author of the Grandparent blog, I’ll be writing about the challenges and rewards of retirement. I’ll focus on the roles I have taken on in life – spouse, parent, In-law, grandparent, colleague and friend, and how they have changed over the years. This is the plan for the blog, but as we all know, plans can change!
