About 10,000 Americans a day are reaching retirement age. This can be good news or bad news, depending on their plans.

About 10,000 people a day are reaching retirement age in America.  This can be good news or bad news depending on your plans.  Let me tell you a story...

A 62-year-old friend of mine recently had a colonoscopy and was told to spend two days at home recuperating, so he went home and tried to rest. Since he could not sleep, he found himself awake, just thinking about all he needed to be doing at the office.  By 1:00 in the afternoon, he decided it was better to go to the office than to try to lie in bed at home. (He was very concerned about what he was going to do in retirement if he could not stay idle at home for a few hours after a surgery!) 

The best advice is to plan on re-purposing, not retiring. Re-purposing mens you have found a place to serve that brings you joy and that you can remain passionate about.  Just because we are over 65 does not mean we need to consider the final years of our lives a long vacation. Most people get bored with too much leisure and entertainment. We need to have something we are focused on accomplishing something worthwhile that demands the full engagement of our gifts and talents. 

I have a pastor friend who has been a full-time volunteer for his church visiting families in need for more than 25 years. He is 92 today and going strong.  He still calls me once a month to let me know he is praying for me. Yes, he is retired from his job as a pastor, but he has repurposed his life as a volunteer serving families.