REDEFINING WHAT RETIREMENT MEANS…
By Annie Benjamin
One of the things I have discovered in my new life away from my TV career of 35 years is how much we define ourselves by WHAT WE DO and not WHO WE ARE. In fact, most people would probably say that to some extent we are what we do. This thought came to me as I was throwing out my business cards, and I found myself wondering how I would define myself in the future.
Since I don’t believe I am “retired” in the traditional sense what would my answer would be? For the first few months I said I am “in transition” or “taking a break from the rat race.” Both true.
But neither of these descriptions feel right anymore. Instead I see myself as a student of life. To me this means being aware of or maybe more accurately awake to feeling totally fulfilled by what I do and comfortable without a conventional definition. This path of the heart is not always clearly marked! There are days of enormous self-doubt and worry about the future. My mind is sometimes overwhelmed with trivial business and list making. I sit to meditate and instead compose dinner menus! But at no time have I felt that finding my way is impossible. The certainty that I have found the strength to trust my heart and follow it whatever obstacles may pop up keeps me going.
My yoga teacher the other day said that perhaps being a student of life means being a student of love. Words to contemplate!
