. Mr. Bolles says that we usually allow ourselves to be placed in three boxes : the education box, the work box and the retirement box.The education box
We usually find ourselves locked firmly in the education box until the age of about six.( even longer for today’s pre-kinder kids!). “Up in the morning and off to school, the teacher is teaching the golden rule. O.K. I couldn’t escape the “nostalgia box”. Does anyone remember that song? All right back to the education box. Of course, during our high school and college years we might escape into the work box temporarily, but usually we are expected to go to school and study. When we finish our schooling, whenever that might be , then “poof” out of the education box and jump right into the work box.
The Work Box
Welcome to the wonderful world of work. Most of us can remember that first pay check, mine was $3,900 in 1968, and then we settle into our work box and forget the education box we now have managed to escape. Though many of us worked in jobs such as teaching, that required us to occasionally update our education, we did so only because this was a requirement to remain in the work box and not because we chose the education for the pure joy of learning. After about 30.-40 years ( Wow that seems like a long time when put in that way) we decide to retire, so we submit a letter and “ lo and behold” the education box opens and we step into the retirement box.
The Retirement Box
According to Richard Boilles, this third box was supposed to be spent in leisure, which traditionally might mean just sitting on one’s front porch until one died. No thought was expected to be given to returning, even temporaraily to those other two boxes we escaped from, the education and work boxes.
Breaking free of all the boxes
Today we have a more promising paradigm . Instead of one box for each stage of life more and more of us are mixing education, work and leisure at each stage of our lives. Here ,dear hearts and gentle people, is what I would love to hear your comments on:
1. If you’re in the retirement stage, do you escape the retirement box by engaging in work and/or education. Keep in mind, “work” could be something you volunteer to do. Of course there is nothing wrong with just enjoying your leisure!
2. If your in the work box, how do you escape ,at least occasionally, into the world of leisure and education.
Look forward to your comments below.
6 comments:
My first comment is why are you up so late at night posting? You must be a night owl.
Secondly, I think retirement is wonderful! I have had to go back into the "work box" part time, but the "retirement box" is always open for me. When I hear people say they don't want to retire because they don't know what they would do, I think to myself that they must not be very creative. I have so much to do I still wish there were more hours in the day. However, I no longer do anything at a break neck speed. I take my time and relax every day.
Who will you become in retirement?
In your working life, you long and plan for the day when you can retire. A carefree time when you can live a life of leisure and travel, play golf and do all the things you’ve never been able to do when you were working and/or raising your families. Just ask any 40-year-old about plans for the future and that person will brag how they plan to retire at 50!
Now that the day is approaching, why are you apprehensive?
Perhaps it’s because often your identity—who you are—is connected to your job title. It is your self worth. When you retire, you may lose your identity. One of the most common questions strangers ask is what do you do? When you answer, “I’m retired.” The response usually is “oh!” It doesn’t matter how much money you’ve accumulated; how many awards you’ve won or what you’ve accomplished in your profession. You are now retired and that seems to equate with “old—finished.”
But wait—you are a work in progress. Just because you’re retired doesn’t mean your life is over. It doesn’t mean you have accomplished all that you were put on earth to do. In fact, it is the opposite.
Retirement is a time when you can do all those things that you never had time to do. It is a time to fulfill your dreams and become the person YOU want to BE. Who are you?
In every stage of your life, you became the person you wanted or needed to be. You changed, evolved and grew to fit the phase of your life that you were in. You have grown from child, student, professional, spouse, parent, property owner, supervisor, grandparent and many other things as you travelled life’s journey.
Now, you are starting one of the most exciting periods of your life! You may be retiring from your job, but you are not retiring from life! It is a time when you are starting out fresh as you find out Who is the real YOU!
Be patient and discover the direction you are going to take on this new adventure. Don’t be in a rush. Are there things you have always wanted to do? Is there a talent you have neglected? Find your voice, your path and follow your heart. Find out what you know and how you can use your knowledge. Have a plan of action. Be open to change and willing to explore. This is a new opportunity to change—to grow. Sign up for a course at a community college or a class on the Internet. Be of service in the community. Remember there is only one person with your life story. Who you will be is up to you!
The easiest way to follow your dreams is to have a mentor—or a support group that will guide you along life’s path. Mentors know YOU and what you are capable of achieving; they are your cheerleaders and encouragers.
This is where membership in the Texas Retired Teachers Association comes in. TRTA is a support group made up of more than 70,000 TRS retirees in Texas. Its objectives include promoting the professional, economic, intellectual, social, and healthy well-being of retired school personnel; and encouraging retired school personnel to give voluntarily of their time, talents, training, and experience in the furtherance of education and civic endeavors in the community, the state, and the nation.
To put it in simple terms, the members have all experienced retirement and many have been successful in fulfilling the dreams of what they want to accomplish in their lives.
This is great Rich. What a wonderful addition to TRTA District IV. You won't be retired for long. Brenda Ritter
Who will you become in retirement?
In your working life, you long and plan for the day when you can retire. A carefree time when you can live a life of leisure and travel, play golf and do all the things you’ve never been able to do when you were working and/or raising your families. Just ask any 40-year-old about plans for the future and that person will brag how they plan to retire at 50!
Now that the day is approaching, why are you apprehensive?
Perhaps it’s because often your identity—who you are—is connected to your job title. It is your self worth. When you retire, you may lose your identity. One of the most common questions strangers ask is what do you do? When you answer, “I’m retired.” The response usually is “oh!” It doesn’t matter how much money you’ve accumulated; how many awards you’ve won or what you’ve accomplished in your profession. You are now retired and that seems to equate with “old—finished.”
But wait—you are a work in progress. Just because you’re retired doesn’t mean your life is over. It doesn’t mean you have accomplished all that you were put on earth to do. In fact, it is the opposite.
Retirement is a time when you can do all those things that you never had time to do. It is a time to fulfill your dreams and become the person YOU want to BE. Who are you?
In every stage of your life, you became the person you wanted or needed to be. You changed, evolved and grew to fit the phase of your life that you were in. You have grown from child, student, professional, spouse, parent, property owner, supervisor, grandparent and many other things as you travelled life’s journey.
Now, you are starting one of the most exciting periods of your life! You may be retiring from your job, but you are not retiring from life! It is a time when you are starting out fresh as you find out Who is the real YOU!
Be patient and discover the direction you are going to take on this new adventure. Don’t be in a rush. Are there things you have always wanted to do? Is there a talent you have neglected? Find your voice, your path and follow your heart. Find out what you know and how you can use your knowledge. Have a plan of action. Be open to change and willing to explore. This is a new opportunity to change—to grow. Sign up for a course at a community college or a class on the Internet. Be of service in the community. Remember there is only one person with your life story. Who you will be is up to you!
The easiest way to follow your dreams is to have a mentor—or a support group that will guide you along life’s path. Mentors know YOU and what you are capable of achieving; they are your cheerleaders and encouragers.
This is where membership in the Texas Retired Teachers Association comes in. TRTA is a support group made up of more than 70,000 TRS retirees in Texas. Its objectives include promoting the professional, economic, intellectual, social, and healthy well-being of retired school personnel; and encouraging retired school personnel to give voluntarily of their time, talents, training, and experience in the furtherance of education and civic endeavors in the community, the state, and the nation.
To put it in simple terms, the members have all experienced retirement and many have been successful in fulfilling the dreams of what they want to accomplish in their lives.
Pam,
Thanks so much for dropping in. Actually I am in the Philippines right now and there is a twelve hour difference so I'm not quite the night owl I might appear. LOL!
Glad to hear you're doing well and not in any retirement boxes. Hope you'll keep checking in on my blog.
Richard
Brenda,
Thanks for dropping by and the kind comments. I hope I can get a lot of visitors from Region IV and the statewide TRTA. I plan on soon posting a blog on an alternative suggestion for convincing the state legislature to give us a cost of living adjustment. I'll look forward to the reactions of all of you. Thanks again.
When you open up those boxes, you open the door to possibilities. One of the best ways to enjoy retirement is to find a meaningful way to give back. Retired teachers have so much knowledge to share, not just about their subject matter, but more importantly about children, families and lifelong learning. The Parent Coaching Institute is currently seeking highly qualified retired teachers and other professionals to become PCI Certified Parent Coaches®. You can enjoy a highly rewarding part-time or full-time career from the comfort of your own home. If you think you have the desire and skill set to help parents, visit our Web site to learn about our training program and tuition discounts: http://www.ThePCI.org. Questions? Email info@thepci.org.
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