I don’t believe in retirement.
Before 1930, there was no such thing as retirement. Before the industrial age, older people worked in their farms (assisted by younger lads) until they dropped dead.
They were the “wisdom givers” of the community. In a world without google, their many years of experience made the source of knowledge for everyone.
But then the factory was born where muscles, not wisdom, was the most important asset. And retirement was born too.
Social Security (Pension) was built to encourage older people to leave the work force so that younger people can find jobs.
But read carefully: Retirement was pegged at 65 at a time when the average life span of a human being was 63.
Today, many people live until their 80’s. Last week, I visited Anawim, our home for the abandoned elderly, and I talked to a 94-year old Lola who was so sharp and bubbly.
If you live until 94, what will you do from 65 to 94? What will you do for 29 years? Sit on a rocking chair and stare at an open window?
I hope not.
Retirement Is Bad For Your Health
Some people believe that leisure is more desirable than work.
Some people slave away from Monday to Friday so that they can party in their weekends. Some people live for their vacations. And they hallucinate that life will be idyllic if it’s just one long vacation.
Some get an early retirement—and they set about living a life of leisure. And that is when they get jolted by the rude realization that fun isn’t fun if there’s no balance between fun and work.
This is the reason why many people’s health suffer upon retirement. One major study on health after retirement (on more than 16,000 retirees) showed a massive 51% increase in retirees’ risk of death.
When I think of older people who are very healthy, they have one thing in common: They’re still working.
When my father retired at the age of 65 from his company, he began serving God fulltime in Light of Jesus, our spiritual family. Ten years later, when he was 75, he told me, “Bo, I’m busier now than when I was working in my job!” It was true. He was part of our Elders Team; he was handling our Finance; he was leading a small group; he was writing articles…
But I know of older people who retired from their jobs and embraced a life of leisure. They stopped work, period. After a couple of years, they began to feel all sorts of pains and aches in their bodies.
Is leisure really better than work?
Here’s the answer. I believe you need both leisure and work to be healthy.
So here’s what you need to do: Forget retirement!
What does “Don’t Retire” Mean?
Living your life to full—until God calls you home!
Here are five “keeps” you need to do…
- Keep Working
Get a part-time job.
Or engage in a small business. (Warning: Get into something that you’re already good at. Before you do this, I encourage you to attend my financial seminars—to avoid the most common mistakes.)
This will engage your skills, your imaganition, and your passion.
A fantastic benefit to this? Having money flowing into your life will support you. Face it: Your Retirement Pay won’t be enough to support you for the next 20 or 30 years.
- Keep Serving
When I say, “Keep Serving,” I presume that you’ve been serving God in some way while you held your job.
When you leave your job, just increase your time serving in your ministry—whatever it is.
This is the time to volunteer more. Be like my father. Be busier than when you were working in your job.
- Keep a Daily Schedule
You need to come out of the laziness trap.
Even if you are not in a hurry anymore (no need to ‘clock’ in on time), keep a healthy time schedule. Wake up on time. Eat on time. Work on time. Sleep on time.
- Keep Your Mind Active
Think of other things you can do that will stimulate your intellect. Mental activities are just as important as physical activities. Retirement should not be an excuse for not learning something new and being challenged.
Keep reading. Keep solving problems. Keep writing.
- Keep Your Body Active
As we approach our older years, there are two major factors to consider when choosing an exercise program. First: Make sure that something that you’ll enjoy. Second: Gradually build the time, intensity and length of time that you do your exercises.
Take Care Of Your Body Now While You’re Young!
Most of the illnesses in the body that crop up in your old age are caused by the abuse we inflict on our bodies while we’re young. This is the reason why a lot of retirees end up with a lot of health problems.
So if you want your sixties to nineties to be a happy, you need to make changes in your lifestyle NOW.
Go for it!
May your dreams come true,
Bo Sanchez
P.S. Do you want to learn how to improve 1% every day? If you do, you’ll be 37x more. I can help. Almost every day, I hold exclusive Supporters Conversations in Facebook Live and in Youtube Live.
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