Unapologetically Alive

Ah, Retirement!

Your new currency is not dollars, dirhams, or rands, but will be counted in riches of love, rest, mischief, and laughter.

And the only dress code? Wear whatever makes your soul smile. (In my case, that is pajamas.)

Your life hasn’t ended; only your transactional relationship with work has. You are officially done trading hours for paychecks.

Now, your real work begins.

Devote your days to Passion Projects: write that memoir, launch the sassy website that’s been dancing in your head, or start that Tai Chi group and get moving.

Adopt a young person who shows promise, offering your wisdom to the next wave.

Let your hands be used for creative delights: pottery, photography, painting, or anything that fully engages the senses.

Indulgence isn’t selfish; it’s the reward for years of work and sacrifice!

But indulge with intention. Start your mornings slowly and make it a habit: coffee on the balcony, bare feet in the grass, music that sets the tone for your day. Fill your afternoons with adventure: cold water plunges in the ocean, slow market or gallery wanders, or long, lazy lunches that melt into golden hours.

When dusk arrives, chill out and slow down. Enjoy a glass of something-something by moonlight, fill journal pages that catch the day’s drift, and dance to “Dancing Queen” on a fairy-lit balcony.

The world is waiting, and you’ve earned every detour, every “why not?”

So, travel like you mean it. Weave random escapes into your weeks: a quirky Airbnb stay, a sunrise beach walk, a stroll in the mountains while the dew still clings to the branches.

Plan the big trip: the pilgrimage you made with fervent intention, a daring couples adventure, or a riotous girlfriends’ getaway where laughter abounds and skinny dipping is required.

You vowed: this body will be strong enough for joy. So let the mountains and seashore become your playground of delight. Dance more. Stretch often. Swim like you’ve never known water. Find yoga that ends in a high, move because it feels sensual, not strenuous. And reward every effort with a hot bath, a nap, or something utterly, gloriously decadent...like kisses and cuddles on a Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Forget about investments, stocks and bonds; your true legacy is joy. You can’t take your money with you, but you can amass an infinite fortune of prayer and pleasure.

Collect tiny luxuries and new connections: fresh flowers every Friday, crisp linen sheets every day, steak sandwiches, and hot coffee and chats with your local barista.

Plan your sensory delights: a taste that lingers, a texture that comforts, a scent that stirs, a sound that inspires, a sight that surprises. Say yes to anything that feels like a pure pleasure.

You once vowed to live “free.” That vow still stands, and your time has come.

Welcome to your next chapter: Destiny has been patiently waiting, and she has a few more surprises in store for you.

Ignore the tyranny of age, the weight of rules, and the hum of others’ expectations. You can finally be more real than you have ever been. The sweet spot is here: utter freedom, grounded by connection. Master the art of living between the two great loves of this life: the deep peace of solitude and the effervescent joy of togetherness.

Let your laughter echo down quiet streets and your peace reverberate beneath the noise. Dare to be extravagant in how you tackle your sunset years and choose to spend your days on wonder:

Unfiltered.

Unbothered.

Unapologetically Alive.