Did 2025 bring any wake‑up calls for you?
For me, it did. A friend died of a heart attack this year. He was five years younger than I am. His death is making me take an honest look at how I am spending my time, because we really are not promised a tomorrow – one of several retirement wake‑up calls I have experienced this year.
I have also been working with youth who have aged out of foster care. Many of them live with significant mental health challenges. In looking for ways to support them, I learned more about how trauma can contribute to many illnesses, especially mental health conditions. That discovery became another wake‑up call for me.
Earlier this year, I decided it was finally time to attend a healing school I had been following for a while. I had already read eight books and watched twelve teaching DVDs. On the way there, I read a book by Mike Hutchings, a man who has effectively ministered to veterans with PTSD. His work confirmed my sense that youth who have experienced trauma often need someone to walk with them through a longer healing process. I believed the school would show me some next steps. And it did, adding to the retirement wake‑up calls that have been shaping how I want to use my time and energy in this season of life.
One of my clients had an “aha” moment of their own. They had been sponsoring a young woman in Rwanda and were invited to attend her college graduation. That became the reason to finally plan an international trip. On the way to Rwanda, they added a stop in the Netherlands, and they visited London on the way home. Attending the graduation motivated them to leave the country; visiting the Netherlands and London sparked their aha moment. Now, they are regular international travelers.
Their story has prompted me to be more proactive about my own travels. There are many places in the United States I would love to explore. Right now, most of my trips are tied to the locations of the Ed Slott conferences I attend for continuing education. Going forward, I want to expand that. I am creating a bucket list of places to visit – near and far.
If you have suggestions for must‑see destinations that include nature and history, I would love to hear them – send us yours on Facebook!
Turning Wake‑Up Calls into a Retirement Bucket List
As we head into a new year, it is easy to think about New Year’s resolutions. The success rate of New Year’s resolutions is less than 10%, and only about 40% of people make them at all. No wonder they have a reputation for fading by February.
Wake‑up calls are different. They leave an impression and can become a powerful motivation to make lasting changes.
Retirement can be one of those wake‑up calls – a natural time to change things up and try new experiences. Rather than relying on resolutions that may or may not stick, consider using this season of life to create a meaningful bucket list that reflects your values, your health, and your resources. For many people, these retirement wake‑up calls are what finally prompt them to turn their ideas, travels, and priorities into a real plan.
I would like to challenge you to make your own bucket list for 2026 and beyond.
You might include:
- Places you would like to travel, near or far
- Books you want to read or reread
- New hobbies you would like to try
- Events you would like to attend
- Sports or skills you would like to learn
- Communities or groups you want to be part of
- People you want to spend more time with
A wake‑up call can keep life from quietly passing you by. When you make a simple plan and take one step at a time, your life becomes richer – and so do the lives of the people you touch.
If you would like help aligning your retirement finances with the life you want to live – your travels, your giving, and your time with the people you love – Boise Retirement Coach is here to help you explore your options and map out next steps.
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Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services offered through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Boise Retirement Coach and Cambridge are not affiliated.