Hi Reader

Welcome to edition #45 of The Super Sunday Retirement Roundup.

Today's insights include...

Wisdom is the key to true freedom
What's your time worth?
REAL retirement lessons & insights

I've also recommended one of my favourite retirement books...

Grab that coffee and enjoy!

My Latest Thoughts

Retirement = Freedom with Wisdom

“With freedom comes responsibility.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

For the first time since childhood, you are truly free. No more alarm clocks tethered to work schedules, no bosses dictating your time, no rigid structures telling you what you must do. Retirement grants you the kind of unbounded freedom you last experienced as a child playing in the sun.

But this time, you have something far more valuable: wisdom.

Decades of education, experience, and life lessons have equipped you with a rare combination of insight and independence. You are no longer a wandering soul trying to “figure it out.” Instead, you have the power to shape your next chapter with clarity, purpose, and intention.

This is freedom with wisdom—the golden key to making retirement the richest season of your life.

Looking Back to Move Forward

In your working years, you often prioritise obligations over passions. You did what was necessary—building your career, supporting your family, fulfilling societal expectations. Now, you have a rare chance to reflect:

👉 What truly brought us joy?
👉 What drained us?
👉 What have we always wanted to do but never had the time for?

Research from positive psychology suggests that if you actively reflect on your past and extract lessons from it you will live a more fulfilling life. Studies also show that looking back on your happiest and most meaningful moments helps you design a future aligned with those values.

Consider this analogy:

A ship’s captain doesn’t set sail without studying the waters they’ve navigated before. Likewise, you should use your history to chart a course for a fulfilling second half of life. This isn’t about dwelling on regrets but extracting the best of what you’ve learned and applying it to your future.

Saying Yes to What You Love, No to What You Don’t

In retirement you will probably fall into one of two traps: either you will drift aimlessly, unsure of what to do, or you will overcommit, filling your time with obligations that don’t bring joy.

But here’s the truth—if you don’t actively shape your retirement, someone else will do it for you!

Wisdom teaches you discernment. It allows you to confidently say:

✅ Yes to adventures, passions, and meaningful experiences.
❌ No to obligations that deplete you or don’t align with your values.

Sociologist Arthur Brooks writes in From Strength to Strength that the key to a satisfying later life is shifting from achievement-driven goals to service, connection, and creativity. That could mean mentoring young professionals, traveling to places you always dreamed of, or finally pursuing that art, music, or writing passion. It means curating a life filled with joy, not obligation.

Practical Steps to Crafting a Life of Freedom with Wisdom

✅ Audit Your Joy – Write down moments that made you feel truly alive over the past 20 years. Look for patterns and themes. This is your roadmap.

✅ Define Your ‘Big Yes’ – What are the things you deeply want to say yes to? Travel? Learning? Volunteering? A passion project?

✅ Guard Your ‘Big No’ – Identify commitments that drain you or feel obligatory. Be firm in protecting your time from these.

✅ Design Your Ideal Week – If time and money weren’t an issue, how would you spend an ideal week? Then, start making small shifts toward that vision.

✅ Stay Curious, Keep Growing – Studies from Harvard show that continuous learning and new challenges contribute to longevity and happiness. Stay curious—whether that means taking a class, learning a new skill, or embracing technology.

This Is Your Time—Use It Well

If you've been following me for any length of time you will know that I've said many time before that retirement isn’t an end; it’s the beginning of a new, empowered way of living. You are no longer bound by career ladders or external expectations. Instead, you hold the pen to write your own story. It's up to you to make it a masterpiece.

“The afternoon knows what the morning never suspected.” – Robert Frost

Use the wisdom you’ve earned. Say yes to what you love. Say no to what you don’t. And above all, embrace this rare and precious time with intention and joy.

The best is yet to come...

Book Recommendation

👉 Not Fade Away: How to Thrive in Retirement by Celia Dodd

Not Fade Away by Celia Dodd is a thoughtful and practical guide to navigating the emotional and psychological shifts that come with retirement. The book explores how to maintain a sense of purpose, identity, and fulfilment after leaving full-time work. Through expert insights, real-life stories, and personal reflections, Dodd addresses common concerns such as adjusting to newfound freedom, maintaining relationships, and discovering new passions. She encourages retirees to view this phase as an opportunity for growth rather than decline, offering strategies for staying engaged, active, and mentally stimulated. Ultimately, Not Fade Away presents retirement as a time of renewal, rather than retreat.

Read This Article

👉 What's Your Time Worth in Retirement By Bob Sipchen

In this article, Bob Sipchen reflects on the importance of engaging in meaningful activities during retirement to foster personal growth. He contrasts passive entertainment, like watching lighthearted television shows, with more intellectually demanding pursuits, such as learning a new language to appreciate foreign films. Through personal anecdotes and conversations with friends, Sipchen emphasises that investing time in challenging activities can lead to profound satisfaction and enrichment in one's later years.

Listen to This Podcast

👉 Episode 72 of The Humans vs Retirement Podcast is Lessons & Insights From a REAL Retirement Journey with Julian Hince

Episode 72 of The Humans vs Retirement Podcast is a VERY special one!

Why is it special I hear you say…

Well, its special because it’s a real retirement story and journey as I have a conversation with my wonderful client Julian Hince.

Whilst I love bringing expert opinions to you I think nothing hits home and resonates more than a real story of someone who has been through and is living through his own retirement journey.

Listen in via:

The Super Sunday Retirement Roundup

Retirement = Freedom with Wisdom - Edition #45 of The Super Sunday Retirement Roundup