Only two important things to do?

Of course there are a million and one things that you can do during retirement. I picked out these two because I think they are very important. One is self obvious but is probably missed by many. The second is, I think, probably not on many peoples list but should be if it's necessary.

The notepad and to do list.

This is the self obvious one.We retire and on the first day wake up with ideas buzzing in our head about what we are going to do. Well this is if we haven't planned what we are going to do in advance. Let's assume you haven't. So whenever you get these ideas you have two choices. The one we most often take is to promise ourselves we will do this whatever it is, and we never get round to it or worst still we forget it altogether and remember it again at some future time. Then we feel annoyed with ourselves for not doing it and make that promise again. Get the idea? Well if you have an iPad, or any desktop, laptop, there will be a notepad on it. If you don't, they come for a few cents/couple of dollars in the local store. Get one set up asap.

Make a note as the ideas come and then set aside time regularly, every week or month to review this list and prioritise it. Don't delete an idea until you have completed the idea. If you are really keen actually use the electronic To Do list which makes this so much easier as you can review them all in one list. But if shuffling paper is good for you then okay. The important thing is to make notes and work through them. If it is good enough idea to make a note of it must be good enough to do it - right?

Cleaning the slate.

This one is much more contentious. Do you want to die being that misunderstood person? Most probably not, as most of us. no matter how deep the misunderstanding would rather not have the hassle, and the guilt which can come with it.

The most difficult ones are those misunderstandings with our family members. You know the type - haven't spoken to my son/daughet for ten years. Having lived through this one there is only one thing I would say - life is too short. Tomorrow you could die or be run over or? Remember when your parents or grandparents passed over. I can and even though it is now some time since this happened I still sometimes wish I knew more about them and have that guilt feeling. Imagine how much worse that is if you fell out with them and have to live with this for the remainder of your life knowing you can do nothing about it. How do the other memebers of the family feel that you didn't put it right when you had the chance?

One of the biggest problems with this is that often you have to swallow your pride and make the phone call or write the letter that makes it happen. Take advice from one who has been there - do it and you may be amazed at what happens. They may have been wanting to do this with you but couldn't pluck up the courage to make the first move. You will feel so much better once the air is cleared. If you don't you will always have this nagging in the back of your mind, and remember life is too short, especially when you are retired!