Reinvent Yourself

Retirement is no longer an end in itself, it is an opportunity to reinvent yourself and do something (or things) that your working life kept you from. There are infinite possibilities to release the real you and do the things you enjoy, whether to supplement your income, give back by volunteering, or just have fun while keeping busy.

I recently took the plunge and re-branded myself around this blog and my writing projects to align with what has become my focus over the last few months, and will be for the coming ones. Check out my updated profile on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fred-hoth-9a03095/ When I made the decision to take that plunge, I felt energized and liberated. Creative writing was not even close to being on my list of things to do in retirement – and “blog” was not even in my vocabulary - but given the number of years I’ve been keeping a journal and my desire to share my experiences leading up to and in retirement, it became an obvious choice once I opened myself to the possibility of doing something completely different.

That change of direction is the direct result of Covid’s impact on our lives. I had so many other ideas for post-retirement life. Working behind the bar at one of the local breweries was tops on my list as it would get me out of the house and enable me to talk beer with people. The first part of that was for my wife’s benefit and the second part all about something I really enjoy. An alternate was doing the same at one of the local wineries. Same reasoning and same barriers to that being able to happen. Then there was the Route 66 trip. I’ve got all the maps and guides ready to plan that adventure, once we are free to move about the country safely.

Instead of dwelling on the stuff I couldn’t do, I focused on what I could do. Reading was one of those things and that’s where I got my inspiration to start this blog. I got a lot of strange looks and some snickers (mostly from those younger than me like my nieces and nephew) as I told friends and family about my plan but that didn’t deter me from my quest to learn how to setup a site, establish a domain, and get writing. I reached out to a few friends who have their own blogs and websites to get suggestions on platforms, etc., and to learn what SEO meant (Search Engine Optimization) and took a couple of online courses too. As I’ve progressed over the almost year since I started, I’ve discovered new opportunities to expand upon my blog post writing and portfolio growth that I look forward to pursuing.

Blogging has changed my perspective on what I can do and has opened me to a side of myself I didn’t know existed. It’s fun to write about topics that come to mind and to have the freedom to be creative in how I approach them. And letting this part of me out has opened me up to other opportunities I never considered before. Some that are right in my wheelhouse and some that will push me out of my comfort zone. Those are the ones that are the most exciting – and scary. But there is no growth without pushing ourselves, and every time we accomplish something outside our comfort zone, that zone gets bigger, and that provides the confidence to keep on pushing and growing.

The lesson in all of this is to not let yourself get boxed in by false perceptions or boundaries. Take the time to think about what you really like to do, even if it seems crazy. If it’s something you enjoy, give it a shot. It’s your retirement and your life so live it the way you want to.