Going somewhere...?

If you're not, you should be. Aim for something, or run the risk of becoming a rudderless ship. The human mind is not meant to be idle for too long, we are hardwired to achieve goals, solve problems, take care of things. Once these stop, problems begin.

The recent financial scene may have you reevaluating your retirement plans, 401k's, and lamenting the fact that you might have to work longer than you planned. I'm here to tell you...

That's a good thing.

Staying in the game is vital to your well being. Embrace the fact that we aren't meant to retire at 65 like our parents did when life expectancy was in the low 70's. Today people are leading productive lives well into their 80's and loving it. This works for two reasons...

First, retiring early is an unnatural state of being, you'll miss the challenge, the reason to get up, the feeling of your importance as a cog in the machine.

Second, you'll worry less about saving for retirement. Grinding away at life to amass a certain amount, "the number", in your retirement plan, only to check out of the game...is stressfull and unecessary. Enjoy the journey, quit stressing over getting a certain account balance by a certain age, you'll be better for it.

The happiest people I know are also the most productive people I know, and I would bet that if you looked around your circle of friends you'd come to the same conclusion.

They aren't productive because they're happy, they are happy because they are productive.

You have the rest of your life to enjoy, make it a life of purpose and direction.

Now go jump start your day.