Retirement Cannot Be A Secret

Your plans for retirement should include your family.  Retirement is a family decision where communication is most important.  There are so many benefits with provisions that can be complicated in the federal retirement systems.  The federal employee as well as family members need to understand the fundamental concepts of all federal retirement and health benefits available.

• Also Read: Want to Make Sure Your Family Is Covered? Here’s What Federal Workers Should Know About Survivor Benefits
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• Also Read: Blending Civilian and Military Benefits: How Federal Employees Can Get the Best of Both Worlds

Take time to discuss with your family how you feel about retirement.  If you are experiencing some emotional separation about your impending retirement, discuss it with your family members or someone you can trust.  Talking about your concerns and issues will make the transition from work to retirement much easier.

Don’t go through the challenges of retirement alone.  If you don’t feel comfortable talking to your family about your fears and anxieties, you can always get counseling from a career coach or some other professional familiar with the highs and lows people experience about retirement.

If you know other people who have retired try talking to them.  Let them share their experiences with you and I am sure what they describe will resonate with what you are feeling.  Retirement for many is like saying goodbye to an old friend and that is always painful, even causing some tears to fall.  There is absolutely nothing wrong about missing what has been such a significant part of your life for such a long time.  There is nothing wrong with being afraid or feeling that you are no longer valued.  Allow yourself a time to grieve, maybe 30 minutes, okay an hour and then shake it off and say – Look out world, I am ready for the next new adventure and this time I am doing on my own terms.

You can find the rainbow in retirement if you see all the years you worked as preparation for the best years of your life.

P. S.  Always Remember to Share What You Know.

 

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