I would like to talk about something we can all relate to – happiness. It’s one of the things that we all know when we see or feel it, but trying to describe it is very tricky! What makes you happy? The definition most people have of happy is something similar to “having mostly positive or joyful emotions” which is basically the dictionary definition.

But we all know that isn’t the whole story – it isn’t just a fleeting feeling of joy, and to be truly happy is to have a more contented feeling about your life. In order to have this feeling of content, we need to have much more than just joy in our lives. Feeling happy means doing things you enjoy doing, of course, but also may include working hard at times in order to feel satisfied that you are contributing to those around you. Helping others in some way makes most people feel very good, in fact it is said to release chemicals in the brain such as serotonin and dopamine that make you feel physically and mentally better as well.

Once you retire, it may seem as if these feelings of helping others is nearly over, since you aren’t working at a job any longer. But there are plenty of ways to feel needed and help others, such as donating your time to a charity, which are even more satisfying than the feeling you get from your old job.

Other ways to feel good are all around you, but we tend to forget them over the years because we’re so busy being adults and caring for our children. Now that you have more time, it’s a good idea to sit down and make a list of things that would make you happy – either temporarily, or on a long term basis. How about spending time with loved ones or friends?

That should be something high on the list of things that make you smile. Exercise is another activity that makes most people feel good, if only temporarily, but if you are doing it to take care of yourself and live longer for not only yourself but also your spouse or family, it can make you feel really good about yourself in other ways too. Feeling pride can be a good thing, and as long as you don’t get carried away and feel too high and mighty over yourself, exercising your body can really feel good!

 Legacy – what does it really mean?

Have you ever thought about what your legacy would be when you die? I know, that sounds a bit like a morbid question to ask a total stranger, right? But seriously, most of us go through life for the most part trying to survive and take care of ourselves and our families, but what about giving back to others? If that sounds like something you may like to explore, then now is probably the time to do it.

After you retire, you have all the time in the world to give back to the community, the world, something for the greater good of humanity. Even if it’s only volunteering at the local soup kitchen, or helping with the elderly at the senior center, it can make quite a difference to the people that you are helping. Yes, volunteering is a very big part of many retirees plans, and it’s pretty easy to get involved since there are quite a few places to become active as a volunteer.

There are even some websites devoted to placing volunteers at local centers where help is needed, such as volunteermatch.org and unitedway.org among others. Here you can find open spots for people needed for natural disasters, human rights advocacy, children activities, health and literacy, the list goes on and on! Whatever talents you may have, there is something for everyone. You have probably heard of Habitat for Humanity, the organization that builds homes for people who have either lost theirs in a disaster, are disabled, or cannot afford one. You don’t have to be a master carpenter either (although I’m sure they would love to have you if you are one).

Most of these organizations have some local places you can donate your services to, and some are more international where you may be required to do some travelling to get to actual place where help is needed most. If you are the kind of person that wishes to do some travelling anyway, this is a fantastic way to do both! Imagine the satisfaction of helping others while donating your time and energy to a good cause, and also seeing locations you may not have had the chance to visit without this wonderful opportunity.

If you have experience with the disabled, there are many places to help out and your experience will be greatly appreciated. Love reading to children? You could do that at almost any local library, many have programs that allow older citizens to interact with children and teach them a good story or two. This can be a very rewarding way to spend time, indeed.

Happiness is found not in external circumstances, but in a contented mind.”  Chrysippus

Planning for your retirement can be tricky, and there are questions you have like everyone else. If you want to learn and explore more ideas for yourself, check out my book here for more information:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3S2V9VM

Happy retirement planning!