Monday, March 25, 2013

ACT TWO





By
Lillian Duncan

When we’re young (meaning twenties, thirties, and maybe even your forties), we all dream of that day! You know the day—retirement day! We dream of doing nothing but our favorite past times—reading on a veranda sipping a cold drink—lemonade if you will.


That’s our dream until reality sets in!



Sure I still plan on doing some of that lemonade-sipping reading on my veranda. OK—it’s really a deck but I can pretend it’s a veranda if I want. But the truth is all play and no work makes me a very bored and boring person!
And who wants that?
Not me! And hopefully not you either!!
So what then shall we do?
It’s time for ACT TWO.
ACT TWO is different for each of us. But make no mistake there needs to be an ACT TWO for each us as we retire from our daily jobs. Studies show that a lot of people die within six months of retirement.
And sadly, I’ve known people that fell right into those statistics.
We work all our lives so we can enjoy our retirement but when we get there, it may not be quite as fulfilling as we’d dreamed of.
Why would that be?
I believe we all need to have a purpose in life, no matter what age we are. When that purpose disappears so does our reason for living. And that’s not a good thing!
That’s why we need ACT TWO.
ACT TWO gives us a new purpose in life or better yet purposes!
Be creative when developing ACT TWO. It should include leisure activities if that’s something you enjoy, but it should include activities that are meaningful and useful to yourself and/or to others as well.
My ACT TWO includes developing and growing my writing career as a mystery/suspense writer, but that’s not all it includes. Just a few weeks ago, I gave away my good set of china that I’ve owned for more than forty years!


Why? So, I can do what I’ve wanted to do for years, but never did.  I’m going to buy a new set of dishes—one piece at a time. My way. I plan to buy depression glass—all pink but all different pieces. 

How fun does that sound?

I can’t wait to get started and, by the way, I plan to use it as my daily set of dishes as well! What’s the point of saving it for a special dinner? Every day’s special!
My ACT TWO includes other activities as well, but I want to hear about your plans now. What’s on your agenda for ACT TWO?

Lillian Duncan is a multi-published author. Her most recent releases include, The Christmas Stalking, Deception, and PursuedBetrayed will be released in 2013. She writes the types of books she likes to read—fast-paced suspense with a touch of romance.
To learn more about Lillian and her books, you may visit her at www.lillianduncan.net or her blog, Tiaras & Tennis Shoes at www.lillian-duncan.com.  She also has a devotional blog at www.PowerUpWithGod.com



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6 comments:

J.B. DiNizo said...

What a wonderful column! Yes, Act Two or our "retirement" years are not just a matter of waiting to die! No way!!

Claude Forthomme said...

Great, excellent philosophy, Lillian, I totally agree with you...even though I tend to call it Act Three: for me, Act One is the Young Adult entering adulthood, Act Two is maturity/career, Act Three is post-career/retirement.

No matter. The thing is to plan for a full second career (yes, Act II!) and we're in luck: with medical advances, when you retire at 60, you can really plan on a full second career lasting 25 years!

Anyway, that's my plan. Act One, I was an economist working for the United Nations. Act Two, I'm a writer, so far 6 books, plus poetry. And now a 7th book coming! One should never give up, well done Lillian!

Courtney Pierce said...

I love it! Getting rid of stuff to get more of other people's stuff that they're trying to get rid of! We and our stuff have several acts it seems.

Great post!

Courtney

Anonymous said...

That is so funny! I never thught of it that way--but I need dishes to eat from

Anonymous said...

I agree, Claude, the photography is excellent but I can't take credit for that!

Gail Kittleson said...

Thanks, Lillian. I resonate to several things here- have been making some choices, too, that I'd never have made a few years back! It's fun.

Gail Kittleson