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Life after retirement is full of possibilities.

Ultimately, it is up to each of us to determine the quality of life and enjoyment that we realize from our remaining years after we leave the working world behind.

There was a time not long ago, when people welcomed retirement as a time to stop and do nothing that required too much physical exertion. They reasoning was that for all of their adult lives they had been driven to challenge themselves on physical, mental, and emotional levels in order to maintain a certain station in life.

Their bodies and mind responded in turn and supplied the power and motivation to propel them through the demands of everyday life. Such is the power and true wonder of the human body. It will in all it's glory, do it's best to keep up with the demands we place on it.

However, it seemed that far too many people were becoming ill and even dying soon after they stopped challenging themselves in the working world, and took up a sedentary, non-challenging way of life in their so called "golden years."

To me, it seems that there is only one basic reason for this.

Once we stop challenging ourselves both mentally and physically, our bodies will respond the only way it knows how. It will interpret the signal of inactivity that we are sending it as a message that we no longer require it to be primed and pumped for action. So it will slow down the rebuilding of muscles, tissues, and tendons, and will hold back on developing new brain cells as it seems we don't have need for the stimulation.

Once our body makes note of the physical inactivity, it will slow the rate of blood being pumped through our system. It will store fat until further notice and as a result, veins and major arteries will become constricted and cardiovascular problems will most likely develop. Muscles will atrophy from lack of use. Arthritis will set in as muscles and joints suffer from inactivity. We begin to forget things because we have not kept our minds active. The downward slide often begins in a very short time frame.

It's a classic case of "use it or lose it!"

On the flip side of the coin we have the story of Waldo who lived down in one of the Southern states. When he retired at the age of 65, he "began" jogging. He liked it so much that he began to run further and further. At the age of 70 he "began" to enter running races and compete against others his own age. He went on to hold national and world records for many distances in his 80's and 90's.

Even more startling is the fact that at 104 he was America's oldest working citizen as he took care of his beehives every day.

So what are you going to do with your life after retirement?

Are you going to let it become your death knell or are you going to see it as a fabulous opportunity to open a whole new segment of your existence that can be full of wonder, accomplishment, and an incredibly amazing quality of life?

There is no amount of fame, wealth, or wishful thinking that will ensure your longevity once retirement age is reached.

However there is no doubt that if you take steps to explore new physical and mental horizons once you punch that time clock for the last time, the best part of your life could truly be just beginning.

Learn more about this author, Ray Fauteux.
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