How I Found The Perfect Passion Project In Retirement

Written By: Gail Clifford | Published By: Travel Awaits | December 18, 2021

https://www.travelawaits.com/2715824/how-i-found-perfect-passion-project-in-retirement/

Retirement means different things to different people. Relax in the sun with a good book. Explore the world. Finish all those projects you’d started. Learn a new skill. Spend time with the grandchildren. Our hopes and dreams vary, but most of us expect to remain vital and intellectually challenged in this third act of life.

As I explored these options, I recalled famed college football coach Lou Holtz’s stance on the important things in life: something to do, someone to love, something to believe in, and something to look forward to.

How Do You Envision Spending Time In Retirement?

As a busy physician, I envisioned my retirement being filled with family, friends, and fun. Before we’d married, my husband and I discussed the additional traveling we’d do, traveling to any remaining unseen continents, and how we’d live our lives traveling between our children’s homes to stay engaged with our kids and grandkids.https://f3a9caea11bf9b215b497859119ef1f7.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html

But when COVID hit, and I semi-retired much earlier than expected, I ended up traveling alone. I lost my husband 25 years ago. Our daughter has just finished graduate school and is finding her way into her career. Most of my friends still work and don’t have the time or resources for extended trips.

So, of course, you pivot, right? When your dreams don’t work out as you plan, you find new dreams.

To at least keep up with the “fun” part of my dream retirement, I did what I’ve taught my colleagues to do to prevent burnout. I made a list of what I liked to do when I was 13. 

How To Find Your Passion Project

Write down everything you loved to do when you were 13. Things you would do even if you weren’t being paid for it.

When I was 13, I was a star athlete (track, basketball), wrote for the school newspaper, participated in the photography club and school plays, and volunteered with Special Olympics and Bread for the World.

Travel wasn’t as common then, and relatively more expensive. Planes still had smoking sections, and I’d only just taken my first flight the summer before.

But we took road trips. For the day or for the weekend. We’d pile into the car and hit the road. And then regale our friends with stories for more than the week to come. There were a lot of “Remember when…” moments.

What Didn’t Work And What Did…

I was in a wheelchair for 10 years following injuries at work. So, the star athlete wouldn’t be coming back, but I’m better.