Retire?

When I read last week that Sylvia Kuzyk, long-time veteran news anchor and weather specialist at Winnipeg CTV, was retiring, I was both ecstatic for her and ponderous for me.

Ecstatic because I know Sylvia - mostly through community events and activities, and I think she's inspiring and fun to chat with. She's also great at what she does and, I dare say, she truly loves what she does. A win win for everyone.

Ponderous because of something she said: "I hate the word retire. It's more about just doing the things I've put in the background for such a long time." Hmmm ....

Reminded me of something my nephew, Matthew, once said when I asked him what he wanted to do when he grew up. "Retire," came the proud and confident response. "Retire?" "Sure. Everyone seems so much happier when they retire 'cause they get to do things they can't do when they are working."

Very insightful for a young boy.

Many people love their jobs, and are happy to stay in them forever - or at least until they retire. They make their way up the proverbial ladder, pursue the same general direction although in other places, or do a complete 360 and try something completely different - and not just once.

But not everyone loves their job. And not everyone can leave a bad job, an uninspiring job, or a job that fails to reflect their talents and aspirations. Responsibilities, expectations and assumptions have a lot to do with that.

Furthermore, not everyone has the schooling or the finances or the support to pursue their passion - and we all know that passion doesn't always pay, hence the divide for many between what they love to do and what they have to do.

Good job or bad, some people can't wait for retirement. A chance to do those things they've put in the background for such a long time.

In an ideal world, we'd all have jobs we love, we'd all have time for our passions, and we'd all be able to blend the joys and possibilities of retirement with the responsibilities and realities of our working lives.

Either that, or we could simply go straight to retirement and get started on those projects, those passions, in that new direction.

I've been playing in that world for a while, but not making much headway because of those pesky responsibilities, expectations and assumptions. But after reading of Sylvia's bold move, working in tandem with my friend Shelagh (who is intent on finishing her own big project), and talking with my Aussie mate Liz, who, while looking for her own 360, said, "You just have to get those speeches done and make it happen!", I'm inspired to fully embrace an early 'retirement' from my current work (editing) and begin in earnest and with passion on my desire to speak and write full time, with some music thrown in for good measure.

Inspired, yes, but also ecstatic and ponderous.

Ecstatic because I've decided not to wait until I retire to retire. Ponderous because I need to clear the proverbial decks and finish up what I currently have on my slate before I can "make it happen".

Can I do it? I've tried before. Hard to cut those ties, turn off those distractions. But I truly believe that this is what I'm meant to do and that it's time for less action and more talk ... if you get what I mean. Absolutely, I will find a way to make it happen.

And this time, PLEASE hold me to it!

So, let me just say, "Congratulations, Sylvia. Thanks to you, Shelagh and Liz for the inspiration. And good luck to us all!"