When a Vacation is More than a Vacation

Travel can become a big part of any retiree’s life.  Whether you are a current retiree or about to become one, you probably have some travel destination on your TO DO or BUCKET LIST.

Recently we met some retirees who said they weren’t sure where they were going to travel next, because they had already seen most of the places they had longed to see. We were a little surprised because some of these people were only in their late 60’s and early 70’s, and could have a long longevity runway in front of them with no place to go.

We decided to turn the idea of travel on its head and challenged people to REWIRE their thinking and attitude when it came to seeing new places and experiencing new cultures. …and we are happy to report that it worked! People began to use a new set of eyes when they looked at their vacations!  

A retired engineer told us that he was not eager to visit another beautiful cathedral (or ABC to seasoned travelers) but after visiting Chartres Cathedral he decided that he was going to figure out how Chartres Cathedral was built! One day it just hit him that rather than just look at beauty, he would turn the cathedral into a project for himself when he got back home. A fellow traveler suggested that he begin by reading Ken Follett’s book, PILLARS OF THE EARTH, to jumpstart his interest.

Or how about the couple who took an unplanned food tour in Parisand couldn’t believe how much enjoyment they got by learning about a culture through its food. They decided that looking at a city through a “food lens” was going to be their new travel criteria.

Other examples included a woman who visited Vienna, attended an opera against her will, and loved it! Or the person who saw a Santiago Calatrava bridge in Seville, Spain, and said “when I get home I’m going to Google him to learn more! Maybe we’ll visit his other works around the world!” Who knows….maybe there are architectural tours for non-architects? If not…maybe there should be!  There are countless stories of people traveling the world…Asia, South America, Africa…..who discovered new interests   simply by being curious and asking questions.

Travelling and acquiring new experiences and making new memories are powerful ways to be engaged in life. Rewiringhow you look at travel can make your future trips more fulfilling and rewarding in ways you never dreamed.  It will be no surprise that you will also meet new friends along the way who may even become traveling companions.

 

 

Vacations Can Be A Good Way To Rewire -- If Used Properly!

We went to India during the holidays. It was the first time that Rick, my co-author/husband and I, had been away from our families for Christmas, and the first time that we had ever traveled with a group let alone a group on a bus! The result was an unbelievable trip on every level and I thank TRAVCOA for that. As much as some of us want or even need to be in control, there is something to be said for turning control over to others and having them supply the structure and schedules. India is a very complex country; made up of extremes (www.bestindiansites.com) and trying to understand India’s beauty and poverty forced me to live in the moment or maybe I was just ready to live in the moment.

Although I carried a Global Blackberry with me, I did not allow it to intrude on my trip. I wasn’t beholden to it; yes the work I do allowed me that freedom but I realize that going forward I will use my Blackberry as tool of freedom not as a tool to tie me down. It’s a head shift, but one I need. Once I began to reflect on why the trip was so terrific, I realized that I had allowed all of my senses to become a part of the Indian experience. I totally immersed myself in all of the sights, smells and sounds of a very magical country.

During a dinner conversation on the third night of the trip, I made a comment and a fellow traveler asked, what do you do professionally? I thought for a minute, and said, “I’ll tell you in few days.” Rick was stunned but smiled. I didn’t want to talk about rewiring. I didn’t want to talk about retirement or pensions, or life planning, or the mature workforce. I was on holiday! Later in the week I told people about DON’T RETIRE, REWIRE! and about my speeches and audiences.

When I got back to New York I realized that I had desperately needed time off from talking about the future and about other people’s next acts. I had rewired my own energy and come back to work ready to rewire America but with a greater understanding of myself and the world around me.

Do you hink about how you use your vacations? Or more important, do you take vacations?

Whether you’re on vacation or just doing life, try living more in the moment. Let me tell you, it takes practice, but the benefits can be enormous.

Don’t Drag Out the Same New Year’s Resolutions This Year

I’m tired of meeting woulda, coulda, shoulda people...you know who you are. You talk about the changes that you are going to make in the new year. You say that this is the year to get down to business, to plan, take action, get in control, and it sounds great, then nothing. We’ve all been there. There’s a gap between what we say, and what we do. There’s a lot of lip service going on. I’m not saying that we aren’t serious about making resolutions, or whatever we want to call them, I think that often the resolutions are things we think we “should” do. I’m challenging you to rewire your thinking about your resolutions! Yes, losing weight (weightwatchers.com), switching careers, (careerbuilder.com) volunteering (volunteermatch.com) or just getting your life in balance is good…but let me add a resolution that is a little different…Take the time to discover what makes you tick.

Yes, stop and reflect on YOU. Gain some SELF KNOWLEDGE.

Many people over 50, even 45, are thinking about their future...from the financial standpoint, but also from the “what can I do today to make life better today and tomorrow?” I say this is the year to take an inward journey…to discover what drives or motivates you. If you have no idea where or how to begin…check out the 85 drivers listed in DON’T RETIRE, REWIRE! Look at your life and ask where am I getting fulfillment? And if it comes up a little empty then there’s your opportunity to add new activities. Start looking inside before you look outside for answers.

Make that a resolution!