Trish St.Hill

As we navigate the retirement stage of life, it is important to maintain healthy social networks – talk to relatives and friends regularly, visit family and have them visit you. It doesn’t have to be a big to-do; small gestures can have a significant impact. To further clarify, I will give some examples. I make a conscious effort to reach out to friends and family on a daily basis, rotating phone calls as to who I call. I have a bi-weekly meetup and breakfast with friends when I am in New York and mix that in with hanging out with my family. Sometimes it’s a trip to a resort with the entire family, or a visit with my daughter to our favorite lounge for some jerk tacos, which always brings back fond memories of our shared experiences.
But everything doesn’t have to be about spending money. Sometimes we just watch our favorite 90 Day Fiancé show with a bowl of popcorn, sharing laughs over the hilarious moments and discussing the episodes. But whatever I do, I chat with my family and reach out via phone or social media to those afar. In the Caribbean, I make it a point to visit various relatives and friends as well as have them visit me, which helps strengthen our bonds and creates new memories. My sister and I meet up regularly to spend quality time, whether it’s going to the beach, exploring new places, or just reminiscing about childhood memories with laughter and warmth.
Sometimes we isolate ourselves from loved ones and the world, unintentionally creating distance. We stop calling, and no one bothers to call us; it’s a silent spiral that many find themselves in. We stop going out, and no one checks on us. This is usually the precursor to depression and other mental illnesses. It is important to not only have family support, but to also have social interaction of some sort on a regular basis. If you are like me, you can write. Your writing doesn’t have to be too formal; it can be a way to express your emotions and connect with others. You can write a journal, poems, or short stories that share your experiences. You can also create social media family or friend chats that engage relatives and friends, keeping your circle informed and involved. The idea is to find a feasible way to stay in touch with your circle; sending quick messages or sharing photos can keep the connection alive. Not only do you need that social interaction, but the people you reach out to may need it as well, creating a reciprocal relationship that benefits everyone involved.
The beautiful thing about the world we live in is that it is not difficult to stay in touch. We no longer have to write letters that take weeks to arrive at their destination, or pay expensive phone bills to converse with someone, or buy an airline ticket or drive a car to visit anyone. We can do free video chats or make calls on social media like WhatsApp or Messenger. What it takes is a determination to stay socially engaged and for those around us to check in, fostering a community of care and support.
In one week, I visited my parental home and spent quality time with my sister where we enjoyed a refreshing sea bath and finished the weekend at her house, reliving our childhood and sharing dreams for the future. During the week, I worked on my fourth novel, another passion that allows me to both express myself and connect with others through storytelling. I went to the city to meet up with my sister and have lunch with my niece, cherishing those moments that often slip by too quickly. At the end of the week, we went to my cousin’s house for a social gathering filled with laughter and joy. By the weekend, I am back at my parental home to spend the night, enjoy my weekly sea bath, and go back to my sister’s house for a night before visiting my ancestral home where I was born. A trip there always offers an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of our great grandmother, a journey through memory and legacy that enriches my spirit. My cousins still live there, and we are still able to visit and reminisce about the good old days, sharing stories that weave the fabric of our family history.
There are simple ways to stay in touch, keep your spirits up, and engage in healthy interactions that nourish the soul. There is no need to shut ourselves out from the world, or go into a mental funk. Retirement is a time to recharge, enjoy life to the fullest, and do all the things you wanted to do before retirement but didn’t have the time for. There is journaling, social media engagement, lunch and meet-ups, gardening, going to the gym, walking pets, or even taking cruises that open up new horizons. The possibilities for staying in touch are endless; the key is to be proactive and intentional about maintaining those connections. If you are blessed to reach retirement, you are among God’s lucky people. Don’t squander it; instead, embrace this season of life with open arms and a joyful heart, surrounded by those you love.