Triumph Over Adversity
22 | July 2019 | Real Hero Report
I
veteran, portrayed a GI who also had lost his hands in war. It is a
he’d lose.
of sharing his life’s story! I thought, ok God, let’s talk
Harold relates, “Homer’s story is not far removed from my own. I
too lost my hands in an explosion at the end of the war.” He shares
that he “too turned away from the girl next door,” his love, Rita.
He recalled seeing an army documentary,
really impressed. But when I looked at my own hooks, my stomach
turned.” Harold thought “Dear God, these hands will never do.
God did something. Harold met the real Charlie who told him
Goldwyn called Harold to play the part. The rest is the history of
a man who triumphed over adversity. Harold got a special Oscar
Oscar.
as well as the worst. There are no Oscars given out for life–life has
its own rewards for each of us to reap. The handicapped do not
ask for an advantage, only a fair chance to share in the harvest.”
To me, the harvest for Harold Russell and Charlie McGonegal
face life dealing with a physical loss. If you or someone you know
the story of Charlie McGonegal and Harold Russell can show the
amazing ways God answers our prayers and helps us to heal even
in the midst of loss.
The average length of retirement is now close to 20 years, and it
comes with more decisions than ever. As America ages, roughly
10,000 Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964 are retiring
every day. By the time the youngest members of this generation reach
the traditional retirement age of 65, roughly one-fifth of the population
will be 65 or older.
Because of its size and historical influence, the Boomer generation is
used to trend-setting—and expect nothing less as they retire. Thanks to
health advances that have produced longer life expectancies, Boomers
are planning for longer, more active retirements, shunning conventional
stereotypes and paving their own way. Will they be working on their
golf swings and knitting on front-porch rockers? Maybe. But chances
are, they’ll also be taking a class, perfecting their yoga techniques and
booking adventure tourism trips. In short, Boomers are re-imagining
retirement, making financial decisions in tandem with their lifestyle
requirements.
If retirement is on your horizon, one of the first things you’ll want to
decide is if you want—and can afford—to stop working. America is
well-known for its workaholic culture, and it may be more challenging
than you anticipate to flip the switch from a 40-hour work week to
long periods of unstructured leisure time. Before you make a decision,
carefully weigh the purpose, identity and social interaction your job gives
you, as well as potential activities you might pursue as a replacement.
If you do leave full-time employment behind, you may want to
consider part-time or freelance work. According to Forbes, half of
Boomers who reach retirement age expect to work at least part-time.
And with the explosion of the gig economy, there are more options than
ever to make money on a freelance basis.
Another critical decision point is where you will live in retirement.
Empty nesters no longer have to take into account childcare, school
districts or in-state tuition, and if you’re no longer working full-time, you
may not be tethered to a particular location.
Do you see yourself pursuing a particular sport or hobby? Make sure
there are plenty of recreational opportunities. Is this your chance to see
the world? Airport proximity should be at the top of the list. How is your
overall health? You’ll want to take into account access to health-care
professionals and facilities that can meet your needs.
As you determine what your ideal retirement looks like, it goes
without saying you’ll need a plan to pay for it. This is the downside of a
longer, more active retirement: it will naturally be more expensive than
the “winding down” years of previous generations.
If you’re closing in on retirement, but aren’t sure what steps you need
to take to be prepared or what sort of retirement you can afford, give
me a call. I can help you develop a plan for this exciting next stage in
your life.
This Is Not Your Grandfather’s
Retirement
by Steve Cyr
SteveCyr