A Retirement Timeline
One of my friends, who is 15 years older than me, told me about her retirement plan. She had created a timeline for herself, which didn't come as a surprise to me since she's quite organized and a skilled planner. Her objective was to determine the right time to downsize her living space and eventually move from the East Coast back to the West Coast, where her children live. Her goal was to avoid having her children travel across the country in case of any caretaking needs that might arise as she ages.
My friend's bravery and forward-thinking inspired me to reflect on my own timeline. As I get older, I find it harder to identify with the term 'middle age.' The labels 'old' or 'elder' don't work for me either. That's why I decided to chart my own timelines.
How Much of Your Life Have You Lived?
To keep things simple, I created a line from 0 to 100. I'm currently 63 years old, which means I’m approximately two-thirds of the way through my life if I live to 100. This realization has given me a new perspective on time and how I want to spend it.
On a more realistic note, the average life expectancy for a white female in the USA is 80.5 years old. This means that I am currently 78.2% through my life, which is a sobering thought.
Will You Live Long Enough?
The Buddhist nun Pema Chodron suggests that even if we live to 108, life is too short. These moments are very precious. And if I do happen to live to 108, I am still beyond the halfway mark at 58%.
If it helps, you can create your own timeline with any expiration date that works for you. No matter how you set the end, every moment is precious. Taking a few moments to reflect on the past can help make the present and future more meaningful.
Embrace Life's Precious Moments
To cherish the moments you have, complete a life review that helps you recognize patterns and missed opportunities so you can avoid them in the future. I have created a Life Review Workbook that you can get for free on my website, by joining my mailing list, or by messaging me.
You might also consider joining our monthly Gathering of women in their sixties (or thereabouts). No cost to join and lots to gain from our conversations that almost always lead to reflection about how we are spending our precious time–and how we want to. Sign up here.