One is a lonely number!  As we enter our senior years, we need to reach out to others to avoid loneliness and to give us a feeling of contributing and being needed.  Humans are not meant to live alone in isolation.  If you are thinking of giving up your regular career, make some plans before you give up that daily routine.  Will you lose your sense of purpose when you no longer struggle through morning traffic to reach your job?

Americans, particularly males, have their sense of identity tied to their job.  Without that job, they feel that they become nothing.  Indeed, insurance statistics bear this out, as many men who have been very dedicated to their jobs, retire, and finding nothing to do, will sit on the porch, rock and die within a few months of retirement.  Don’t let this happen to you!  Plan what you are going to do when you retire.

Do you have hobbies?  What are your interests?  Would you like to take a class at a community college?  Maybe you want to volunteer at a hospital, or with the youth, or drive for Meals on Wheels.  Even if you want to start something completely new, like learning to operate a computer, go for it!  Active retirement communities have the largest computer clubs.  Members will be happy to instruct you from the very basics:  this is how you turn it on and here’s the mouse; to how to upload videos and create blogs!   You can even start a second career on the internet.  (I did!)

The point here is to find something you enjoy doing and do it.  If you spend your time in bed, isolated and alone, you will dwell on your small aches and pains until they become larger, resulting in depression or other illnesses.  Make a new life for yourself and enjoy your silver years!