I have been writing a letter tonight.
It has taken some time as I needed to look back at almost 25 years of friendship and pull out just a few highlights.
On Christmas Eve, my friends celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. It is the same day he celebrates his 60th birthday. I can’t attend the celebrations as I live just far enough away now to make travel that close to Christmas too hard to orchestrate.
We met 24 years and 8 months ago – they bought our old house and on possession day he walked in the back door to check out their new house just as I was cleaning my way down the back stairs. 24 years and 8 months later he still does not let me forget his first view of their first home!
For my friends, it has been a busy 25 years: 2 beautiful daughters, a successful business, a vacation home, several rentals, a number of great trips – neither one of them were afraid of hard work or getting their hands dirty and they have the successes that come with focus, dedication and a plan.
As I look back over my own last 25 years, I can see quite clearly where I might have made better choices that would have afforded me a few more luxuries, or gotten me ahead in one area or another. The bottom line, however, is that I didn’t. As my mother would have said “it’s water under the bridge” and “there’s no point in crying over spilt milk”.
It is a fact we’re not able to change the past (and in all honesty I’m not sure I would – my history makes me who I am today and I’m ok with that). The ace I hold, however, is that I do have a plan on a go-forward basis. I have been developing this plan for two years now and I have great expectations about the next two years. 10 years from now I’m gonna be rockin’ it!! It’s a great combination of learning, fun, friendships, and ever-increasing income! I can see so many positives in my future and I am loving the life I’m creating! My retirement is going to be designed by me! and earned by me!!
How about you?
Are you on the path to the retirement you want?
Could you have made some different choices in the last 25 – 30 years and be ahead of where you are now?
Don’t worry about it! It’s done!
You can start thinking about your future though. You can make a plan; you can implement that plan; you can design your retirement and then go out and make it happen.
Life always moves ahead. Your future is always in front of you.
One week after my friends celebrate 25 successful years, it’s New Year’s Eve. Tradition suggests you make a resolution for yourself for the coming year.
Can you make a resolution to move toward a happier, more comfortable retirement? Will you make a resolution to research how to achieve that goal?
I’ll check my email on New Year’s Day and I hope I see something from you: agnes@agnesknowles.ca
In the meantime, have a lovely, peaceful season secure in the knowledge a better future is only a decision away.
Agnes, I totallt buy into (and live by) the “no regrets” mantra. It just doesn’t serve a purpose for me. SO glad you brought that up! We can only take what we’ve learned and try and do better going forward…make better choices and such. No wonder I like you! You give good advice!
Love the title of this post, Agnes. I think we are very blessed to be able to start anew each day. We can take lessons from our past and move forward or we can let our past define us and get stuck. Everything’s a choice.
They say regret is painful. I’ve always done my best to live a life where I can die today and still plan for tomorrow. I love the proverb you posted. 20 years from now someone will be around to enjoy that tree, even if I’m not. 🙂