At this point in life, maybe you have fulfilled all the dreams you had in your lifetime and are taking your retirement to relax. And rest. And travel. Visit the grandkids. That’s great!
But what if you have unfulfilled dreams? Maybe you have always wanted to get a Masters’s degree. Or is your heart longing to own a cabin in the woods? Are you still wanting to visit every continent? Or maybe every country? It is time to fulfill those dreams.
I have an unfulfilled dream that I am working on at age 66. My dream is, in addition, to travel and visit my grandkids. I’m writing a book. I have written and been published before, but never in such a large project. A book should be 50,000 words or more. I can hardly imagine that amount of words. Yet, I am pressing onward.
I have decided that it is finally time to reach for that dream. So I have been dabbling with it. I recently joined a group to write my first draft, and now I’ve replaced that group with a group to help me finish.
Each day I am making progress. Some days more than others. My word count has gone from 35,000 to 40,000. Yet, I still have so much farther to go. Do you have a secret dream that you would like to fulfill in your retirement? Let’s explore how to do that.
Voicing your dream
The first step in reaching your dream is letting someone know. This could be one person, or it can be many. Why should you tell someone? To make yourself accountable. It’s easy to think you want to do something and then try to go after it, but you quit after a few months. After all, no one knew you would do that, anyway. So no one knows you failed before you gave it a fighting chance.
Tell a friend or two. Ask them to keep you accountable. Ask them to ask you about your progress now and then. Whether you plan to visit every continent on earth, or get your master’s degree, have them encourage you and keep you informed about your progress.
Take a meaningful step forward to fulfilling your dream
Because I wanted to get back in the habit of writing, I started this blog. Every week I write or create something to post on my blog. Maybe a meaningful step forward for you could be to purchase a travel guide on each continent. Read them and decide where you will go first. Or pick up the next semester catalog at the college you plan to attend, or take a tour and talk to an advisor. Possibly start studying to take your realtor’s license test. Or decide where you want your cabin in the woods to be located.
Spend some money
At first, I purchased some software, a blog host, a blog name, and some training. They were baby steps in writing, but I became more comfortable and convinced that I could do this. Spending money doesn’t have to mean thousands of dollars, at least at this point. Spend a few hundred if needed. Sign up and pay your fees for one college course. Or perhaps it will mean booking a nonrefundable plane ticket to another continent. Or, if flying is new for you, book a flight to a nearby state to get comfortable flying.
Keep focused
I didn’t write one blog post and then decide to write a book. I wrote months and months of blog posts first. Finally, I came up with an idea and some characters. I learned as much as I could about writing. I read books about writing.
I strongly suggest you create a list of things that need to happen before accomplishing your dream. This allows you to go down the list and cross off or check things when you have completed them. I love a list to help myself see I am making progress, don’t you?
Set a specific day of the week or days to work on your dream. Do not schedule any appointments during that time. Instead, block off 2 or 3 hours, or whatever works for you, and set it aside to work on your dream. And only your dream. No phone calls, no checking social media, and no answering phone calls.
Join a group to help you fulfil your dream
I joined a group to write a book in 90 days. It was hectic, but I proved I could do it. At least a short book full of errors. The next step is editing and adding more content. Recently, I joined a group to help me to the finish line.
If you need help in a college class, hire a tutor. Or join a study group.
If you plan to travel, see if you can locate a travel group. Possibly a “singles” travel group, if you are traveling alone. I’m not talking about a dating group; I’m thinking of all single women for protection and sightseeing together. It’s up to you, but there are choices.
Prove that you are serious
Post updates about your dream on Facebook or your social media group of choice. The first time I posted, I was afraid. What if I fail? What if I can never get my book published?
Partially done is better than never trying. The worst-case will still result from a lot of effort on your part. Be proud of what you did to accomplish your goal, even if you do not fulfill your dream.
I am proud of my 40,000, too short to publish, fiction book. I’m still working on it and it’s not complete, but I will finish it.
Don’t stop now
Don’t give up until you have attempted. Or until you have success. Things can happen that may affect your dream. I think losing my eyesight could put a significant roadblock in my way, but it can be worked around. There is usually a workaround. Maybe you fail your first course. Move on to a different class in which you are more confident. This will boost your ego.
Be sure to seek encouragement. Please do not stop trying to fulfill your dream until you have given it a sincere attempt to achieve it.
Reward yourself when you complete a step
If you have signed up for your first class, go out for coffee with a friend. When you pass your chemistry class, go out to lunch with your study partner. If you survived your trip to South America, celebrate by making a photo book, whether by hand or online. I admit I celebrate with a special treat, like a Nothing Bundt Cake bundtlet. I love the carrot cake flavor.
Don’t get discouraged
Many people never complete their dream. But, look at you, you made a serious attempt. Sometimes things in life change, and you can no longer fulfill your dream. Do not be ashamed. You had a dream, and you did your best to finish the steps to arrive there. No one can say you didn’t try.
Success at last
However, if you complete your dream(s), won’t it feel great? If you finish a dream, celebrate. I think a Nothing Bundt Cake Bundtlet, will not be enough for my celebration. And once I celebrate, I’ll move on to the next book.
Retirement isn’t a time to give up. It’s a time to decide what you want to do. Maybe that is relaxing and enjoying life, or perhaps it is to pursue the dream(s) you thought you might never accomplish. If you are pursuing a dream, now is the time to get started.
Let me know in the reply section below your dream and what you are doing to fulfill it. Thanks for reading. I wish you success in fulfilling all your dreams.
