“I am just as busy now as I was when I was working,” the woman said. “I hardly have time for anything.”

I was barely twenty-four years old and honestly didn’t believe what the woman had said. Isn’t retirement about having time to do what you actually want to do – finally?

I have been retired for two years. It is hard for me to believe how quickly time has passed. But I have learned that the woman was right. It is easy for me to be just as much of a hostage to “busyness” in retirement as I was when I worked a full-time job.

How is this possible? The answer is in the word “do.” There seems to be this idea that we are either “doing” or “wasting time.” People who aren’t “doing” something must be lazy, unmotivated, or irrelevant. How dare we sleep until noon or vegetate on the sofa when there is stuff to “do”? We might “gasp” get behind and fail to cross off the items on that infamous daily “to-do” list. We “do” want to be productive, right? Success and achievement are the goals in a society that rewards unending effort, even to the point of exhaustion. Retirement does not end the drive to contribute and to do something meaningful. Purpose is important throughout all of life. How does one remain relevant without the clutter?

Retirement is like a train with the brakes applied. The train slowly stops, but not without a few sparks and squeals. There is resistance. When that person walks out the employment door at the end of their last workday, they are the same person who arrived earlier that day – someone with goals, ambitions, and dreams, accustomed to being busy, scheduled, and productive. Then, a very different type of Monday arrives, and the alarm clock does not sound.  Even the thought of a silent alarm is dream worthy and an incredible experience when it truly occurs. But then, the day unfolds, and this newly retired person faces the prospect of designing a new life. Now that is quite an undertaking and the precise point where danger lurks. Does the retired person live reactively, taking on tasks and projects without truly stepping back to consider the impact these choices have on their life? Or, does the retired person embark on the great American binge, ice cream on the couch, along with the entire eight seasons of Game of Thrones? If one must either “do” or “waste time,” these are possibilities. But there is a third choice, one that requires self-reflection and examination. If people are unique, then so is purpose. It is important to know what brings you joy and peace.

This is also true, at least to some extent, for those still in the workforce. For many, if not most, the structure of their workday may be largely outside their control. Still, the average person makes hundreds of choices a day. Small decisions can have major consequences.

This brings me to simplicity, how to avoid a complicated life. For me, the answer involves focus and centering. I choose to make time each day to reflect and meditate. I find that this practice centers me so that I can listen to my interior world. It is part of the journey of discovery that truly fulfills my life. By removing the background noise of life, I can focus on the unique cries of my spirit to guide my purpose and path. Then throughout my home, I have placed “reminders” to guide my day so that I do not simply live my life as a reaction.

Now, let’s be clear about one item. Meditation is not limited to the person in the lotus position chanting. Mediation is simply the act of intention, a practice of mindfulness, and a way of removing oneself from demands in order to be fully present in the moment. For some folks, meditation is part of a religious path found within the walls or teachings of a church. For me, meditation is found in nature and in the mythical. I am most centered in the forest or behind the writer’s screen, where I allow my spirit and my imagination to roam. When I am home, I surround myself with reminders of who I am and where I belong in this vast world. Take the featured image, one stone gargoyle, and a lighted sphere. My whimsical stone friend is my writing muse and sits in a position of honor directly in front of my computer screen. In front of him is a lighted quartz sphere. Yes, you would be correct. The lighted quartz sphere is, in fact, a crystal ball. Go figure. I left the magic wand in my bedroom, but my fortune says that I shall indeed write this novel. Again, back to the center. Writing brings me peace, joy, and purpose in my retirement. A little witch goes a long way, but sorry, for the rest, you’ll have to wait for the book.