Marlow's Musings 9/1/24
Insights, adventures and fun stuff from this week.
Audio narration by David Marlow
Today marks the fifth anniversary of my ‘early’ retirement from corporate life.
Since all the kids were starting back to school about this time, Facebook was full of first-day-of-school photos.
I thought, “Why not a first day of retirement photo?”
Thus began the adventures of Retired Dave.
Here’s the original photo my wife took…
The real Dave never retired, of course. Here’s what ‘Retired Dave’ has been up to since then. All of these are things I’ve created either for fun or for an article.
Visiting art museums…
I was using a Chuck Close quote in an article and thought, why not?!
A few out-of-this-world trips…
Occasional visits to a coffee shop…
I am pleased with this one as it took several layers to get the realistic effect.
Watching a Packer game while out ice fishing. Yes, this is a photo (minus me) shot by a friend of mine in the middle of a frozen lake in 10° weather. I mean, you can’t miss the Packer game just because you’re ice fishing.
Retired Dave loves spending time in nature.
The holidays are always a special time for Retired Dave.
Machu Picchu is one of his bucket list items he finally checked off…
Who knows where he’ll end up?
Where would YOU like to see Retired Dave visit next?
I reflect more on the five years since ‘retiring’ in my final thoughts below.
Word of the Week
Retiring (adj.)
/rəˈtīriNG/
1: separated from society or public notice
2: withdrawn from or no longer occupied with one's business or profession
3: to move from, secluded or sequestered
The original use dating to the 1500s meant separation from society or public notice, or withdrawal into seclusion. As a verb, it later came to be associated with selling a business or leaving a job.
There is a reason an Ikigai principle is to “never retire.” When your job is your identity retiring means losing who you are and withdrawing from that part of you. When your job is simply an expression of who you are and why you are here, moving on from one form of expression to another is exhilarating.
In case you missed it…
Because of the variety of articles I’ve shared the past several weeks, I haven’t reposted the week’s other articles.
To catch up here are this week’s and last Ikigai Thoughts for Today:
The first…Philosophy of Wonder
Exploring the idea of being our original childlike selves in order to be a true philosopher of life. A distinction between childlike and childish.
The second…Your Story
A short and simple encouragement about doing what only you can do.
The third…To Touch the Divine
Exploring creativity as a spiritual outlet and opportunity to touch the divine.
Ikiquest+
Last week’s Coffee Contemplations: Now is the Time
A guided reflection on embracing new possibilities in life.
Ikiquest+ subscribers can listen to it in audio narration or read the transcription.
This week’s Coffee Contemplation: Waiting for Inspiration was unlocked for everyone to give it a try.
If you aren’t yet an Ikiquest+ Subscriber, give it a try for free by clicking the box here.
Comment of the Week:
This week’s comment came from Jenny about last week’s musing of a neglected garden.
The analogy of a neglected garden hits home. It's a powerful reminder that without focus, dedication, and discipline, we risk becoming the product of random influences rather than living intentionally.
Without purpose, we are the neglected garden. Purpose brings forth a bountiful harvest of meaning and joy.
Quote I’m Pondering
This thought is from
…“When you put your soul out there - someone will hear it.”
Final Thoughts
This week a friend asked me, “What pain do you want in your life? What are you willing to struggle for?”
Though I’d never heard those questions before, the “pain” reflection represents the quest I've been on the past five years since my early retirement. I've faced more issues, pains, and disappointments and taken more emotional and relationship risks during that time than in all my years prior.
Nothing I imagined at the beginning of that time has come to fruition and yet…
I’ve never felt more alive.
I’m more in love with virtually every part of my life. My dream of being a published author has come true with my book being published next March.
My wife and I have never been closer. She might add “too” close in terms of proximity since I’m home in her space all the time now. The wedding vows speak of loving each other until “death do us part” but there is no mention of retirement.
Kidding aside, as we both have invested in the “pain” of self-reflection our ability to love ourselves more enabled us to love one another in ways neither of us imagined five years ago.
I’m closer to my children and have a loving and growing relationship with four burgeoning human beings who also happen to be my grandchildren.
Perhaps most importantly I am more in touch with who I am and why I am here and able to express both in harmony in all that I do.
Quest Well.
Loving the retired Dave moments. He’d look like a natural exploring the bottom of the sea…🤭
Sometimes I think that self exploration (ahem, retirement) is harder than working! 😎
Retired Dave would look awesome at Angel Falls, in my native Venezuela. That’s a trip of a lifetime. That’s what I call an un-retirement! You’re more active than ever but with purpose!
Now, you got me thinking with that question about our pains. As always, great food for thought. Happy un-retirement!