By Mike Drak
When I look in the mirror, I don’t see a 70-year-old man; I see a person who feels about twenty years younger. What I see is someone who has taken ownership of his life and transformed himself in the process.
What I see is a retirement rebel, a person who has torn up the old rulebook on aging and retirement. I’ve decided to do retirement differently, not the traditional way society says it should be lived.
What I see is a trailblazer who has regained the curiosity and wonder of a child. I’ve started traveling the world to meet new people, experience new places, and learn along the way
Living Life Fully at 70
At age 70, I still have plenty of gas left in the tank, and I plan to push myself outside of my comfort zone for as long as I can. I don’t want to leave anything on the table; I want to be fully used up when my time comes.
At this point in my life, I know myself very well. I know what makes me happy, what frustrates me, and what makes me sad.
At my age, I don’t like to conform; I like to do things my way. I don’t expect anyone to do me any favors, and because of that, I know I’m responsible for my retirement successes and failures.
These days, I really don’t care what others think of me – what you see is what you get. I’m comfortable with myself just the way I am.
I’m straightforward and honest, and I’m no longer afraid to voice my opinion and tell it like it is when I see something that is wrong. I have little patience for putting up with a lot of nonsense; I don’t have time for that anymore.
I’ve become egoless – I no longer compare myself with others or worry about being “liked” on social media because I don’t care about what others think. At this stage in my life, I no longer waste time and energy trying to impress anyone or worry about being accepted. I only compete with myself now. I no longer crave the spotlight or need the applause, I do what I want to do, regardless of whether anyone is watching or not.
I’ve managed to shed my cowboy values. I’ve become softer – more vulnerable and willing to show more emotion, unlike my younger years. I understand the importance of telling someone I love them while I still can.
I like to have fun and laugh a lot, especially at myself.
I laugh every time I see those outdated commercials about retirees on TV because I know that real retirement is nothing like that.
I’m willing to do the things that not all retirees are willing to do. I take control of my own destiny, rather than letting fate and others decide my future. If there is a problem, I solve it. For example, if I become hard of hearing I’m will not be embarrassed to wear a hearing aid to fix things. I will not let stubbornness, pride, or fear prevent me from enjoying a great retirement.
I don’t like people telling me I’m too old to do something. When someone tells me that, I love to prove them wrong. That’s just how I’m wired.
I’m not afraid of being judged or failing, nor of looking foolish or stupid. I like living on the edge taking some risks because it’s exciting – and really, at my age, what do I have to lose?
I refuse to let chronological age constrain and limit my perspective on what is possible for me in retirement.
As I age and if I physically can’t do the things I love to do anymore, it will be time to officially retire.
Surrounding Yourself with like-Minded Retirement Rebels
I’m very selective about how I spend my time and with whom I spend it. I don’t like hanging around grumpy men and women, retirees who think and act old go to the same old places, hang out with the same people, watch the same shows on TV and complain about the same things day after day.
I love hanging around and playing with other retirement rebels because we share the same values, dreams, and aspirations. We like to have fun and laugh a lot.
I believe we don’t stop playing because we age, but rather we age because we stop playing.
My 85-year-old swimming friend George has an Ironman tattoo on his calf. He attempted his first ironman in his seventies just to find out if he could. His wife Carol, who sadly passed away last year, had a tradition of swimming her age in pool lengths on her birthday. I was there at the pool when she celebrated turning 84. She reminded me of the ever-ready rabbit – she just kept going and going until she got it done.
My fishing friend Howard is pretty spry for an eighty-four-year-old guy. He will stand in a cold river all day and fish in the rain, sleet and snow. At the end of a tough fishing day, we will sit down over a hot bowl of soup and swap stories about the fish we caught and how cold it was, all while giggling like little kids. I would love to be in his kind of shape and have his positive attitude when I turn eighty-four.
How old is old?
I thought I knew but based on what I see some retirement rebels doing, I’m not sure anymore.
The next time you look at yourself in the mirror, think about what type of retiree you want to be, who you really are, and the things that make you happy. When you become who you need to be and start doing the things you need to do you will live a happier life.
It’s not more complicated than that.
