Change of Season

tree in autumn

No matter where you live, certain routines are involved when the season changes. As fall and winter approach here in the USA midwest, for example, I exchange short sleeve tops for sweaters in my closet and my husband stores the mower and preps the snow blower.

A month ago I retired from my job as volunteerism leader at St. Peter Lutheran in Arlington Heights, a most definite change of season. As I prepared for and have begun navigating this change, I found certain steps or routines that helped. They also seem helpful when facing any life change, both ones that happen to us (kids leaving the nest, change in health, job loss) and ones we choose (job or career change, a decision to stop/start/add something, a desire for something more/different). Here’s what is working for me. Maybe there’s something helpful for you in it.

Getting Ready

When you know change is coming, you can’t start too early. I started prepping almost a year ago – intentionally thinking about retiring and jotting notes. My husband retired 8 years ago, and our conversations, the way he made his decision and followed through, all were great examples. Having lots of conversations and noticing the examples, both positive and negative, of others is helpful. As a follower of Jesus, pray about it. Your heavenly Father wants to be invited to walk through it with you. 

Changing/Not Changing

Our weekly dates were even more important.

Retirement meant I was losing a professional position that was a big part of my identity, and losing the work relationships I valued. That’s a real loss and it hurts. But retirement didn’t change my overall goal of enjoying God’s gifts and using them for his purposes, nor my love of helping others use what God’s given them for the good of others. I’ll be spending more hours at home with my husband, which is both good and perhaps challenging at time, but that has meant our weekly ‘dates’ are even more important! The desire to be a good steward of my health and my time isn’t changing at all.

Write It Down

“You don’t know what you think until you write it down,” someone once told me and it’s certainly true for me. Writing clarifies my thoughts. Putting it on paper helps me prioritize. Including ‘next steps’ pushes me to improve. And revisiting what I write reminds me what’s important and holds me accountable. While I’m far from perfect with all this, revisiting also is helpful when I’m feeling discouraged or at loose ends.  

How I’m Wired

What makes us unique is a big consideration in new seasons. I’m an introvert, so I need to build solitude into my life but also avoid becoming isolated. I enjoy writing, so blogging makes sense. I’m cautious by nature, but I want to keep growing so I want to intentionally step out of my comfort zone at times. I have limited bandwidth and energy, so I’m deliberately leaving room for the unexpected and for new opportunities that pop up.

What Fills My Bucket

Knowing what reenergizes me is vital if/when things get too busy/crazy or if my hours get too empty. Scripture and hymns, learning new things, being in nature, laughter, walking, writing – all these fill me up in a good way. Playing spider solitaire and reading long novels are things I enjoy and do, but can easily hijack my day. Discerning the difference between entertainment and restful/refreshing activity was a game-changer for me. 

I’m focusing on three ways to serve.

I still have a lot to learn about this retirement season. But all of the above has helped me decide to begin this season focusing on three ways to serve. All of them are self-scheduling, to give me flexibility. I’m also limiting the time I’m serving in our local church for now, to give my replacement room for leadership and to give me a change of focus. Overall, I’ll be focusing on volunteering for Safe Families for Children (more on that in another post!), on supporting people who are caregivers (because I was so blessed by others when I was a caregiver) and continuing my writing on using what God has given us for the good of others. 

For sure, whether employed or retired, it’s always an adventure following Jesus!

Use the comments feature below to join the conversation:

  • Share what you’ve learned about adjusting to retirement.
  • What else might you add for navigating life’s changes?
  • What might our churches do to help people going through these changes?

Share your comments below.  

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