Have you ever longed for the day that you can RETIRE? Spend your days sleeping in, doing what you want, living the easy life. My daughter works in the retirement and estate planning field, she told me this week that some individuals came in to see her. The husband had retired early (age 65), but the wife said she couldn’t take it. He needed to find something else to do besides be under her feet all day. The point being each stage in life is an adjustment whether retirement, new marriage, or graduation there will be challenges. It is the challenges that make life interesting, overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.
When my children were little, I would have never dreamed that I would be where I am today. Brenda and I have reached the age that retirement is a thought, but I just can’t wrap my head around why I would want to do it. It’s not just about money, it is the fact that I have thoroughly enjoyed the last almost 30 years meeting all of you in workshops around the country. I have not only taught how to cultivate relationship, but have made lifelong relationships that I will always treasure. I have seen some wonderful programs that promote independence and self-advocacy that has provided me and my family with wonderful ideas to assist Matt and Miah in becoming the best they can be, for that we will be forever grateful. No, I am not riding off into the sunset yet, I still have some good years of work left in me. Just practicing a little reflection. John Dewey says “we do not learn from experience…… we learn from reflecting on experience.”
This is also an important step after a crisis situation to reflect on what went right and what we can do better the next time. Transitions from one stage of life to another, changing of staff or adjustments in routine can be challenging: for individuals, we work with the stress can just be too much. Take time after the crisis to allow team and client reflection, to improve or maybe lessen the stress in future.
Randel C. Goad – Mandt Faculty Supervisor
