Don't Retire, Reinspire

In this episode, we celebrate retirement milestones and the joy of aging well. Join us as we explore how to create meaningful connections and foster a sense of community during this exciting life stage. Whether you're planning a retirement event or simply looking for inspiration, we'll share tips on finding joy, celebrating your achievements, and embracing the next chapter with enthusiasm.

Transcript:

Hey there, lovely listeners! It's Lyn Nikoloff, your podcast host! Get cozy and grab a cuppa because you're in for a treat! Welcome to "Don't Retire, Reinspire" – your go-to podcast for an inside look at my journey into a retirement that's not just about kicking back, but about kicking it up a notch and finding new ways to make every moment count.
Join me as we embark on this exhilarating adventure together, exploring all the exciting possibilities that retirement has to offer. From discovering new passions to reigniting old flames, we'll dive into what it means to truly live life to the fullest, even after saying goodbye to the 9-to-5 grind.
Expect some heartwarming stories and practical tips to help you navigate your own path to a retirement that's bursting with purpose and fulfillment. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to be inspired as we uncover the secrets to a retirement that's anything but retiring.
Today, we're diving into the fun topic of celebrating life's milestones. Whether it's starting a new hobby, hitting a personal goal, or throwing a party for a special anniversary, every milestone is a big deal! We'll share inspiring stories, explore fun ways to celebrate these moments, and chat about how these celebrations can add a spark to your life. Get ready for some inspiration, and maybe a few new ideas for your own celebrations. Let's make every milestone a moment to remember!
Segment 1: What Are Milestones?
According to the lower merion history organisation the term a mile dates back to Roman times. The Latin is “milia passuum,” meaning a thousand paces.
The Romans also erected stone markers at mile intervals to notify the passerby of distances covered or the number of miles to go to reach their destination. These markers were conveniently called milestones.
Today we understand that the term refers to significant events in our lives like birthdays, graduations, retirement etc
Celebrating milestones is like throwing a big party for life itself! It's those moments when we hit a personal best, achieve a long-sought goal, or simply make it through a tough time with a smile on our faces. But it's not just about the achievement; it's about the journey, the people we meet along the way, and the memories we create together.
Think about it: when was the last time you really celebrated something? Maybe it was finally finishing that DIY project you've been putting off, or making it through a particularly challenging week. Whatever it was, I bet it felt pretty good to acknowledge your achievement.
That's the magic of milestones—they give us a chance to pause, take stock of how far we've come, and pat ourselves on the back for a job well done. Plus, they're the perfect excuse to invite friends over, open a bottle of wine, and dance like nobody's watching!
But it's not just about the party (although who doesn't love a good party?). Celebrating milestones is also about the deeper stuff—the emotional highs, the personal growth, and the sense of accomplishment that comes from knowing you've done something meaningful.
So whether you're raising a glass to your own achievements or cheering on a friend who's reached a major milestone, take a moment to really savour the milestone. Because life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, but it's the milestones that make the journey truly unforgettable.
Like a few years ago when I self-published three collections of short stories. As each book mapped my journey of recovery from a time of change and uncertainty I decided to truly celebrate each of these milestones with book launch parties. I wasn't going to do things by half I wanted to truly celebrate my achievement.
They were great events with plenty of laughter, great company and memory making. A colleague of mine was a professional photographer and captured the events for me. I have a wonderful collection of photographs that celebrate my achievement of publishing the three books.
The great thing about milestone celebrations is that we acknowledge the journey and that we are different from the person who started the journey and that’s got to be worth celebrating.
Like the collective birthday celebrations with my former schoolmates – as we are clearly of a similar age we gather to celebrate our collective birthdays that end in zeroes or more recently we have added five year birthdays too – yep we are getting to that age where we need more excuses to meet.
For our collective 60th birthday celebration and reunion we enjoyed a scavenger hunt from city to coast – attempting to find 60 things that connected us to our school days. One of the items on the list was a classic car – one group of girls found themselves waiting at the lights next to said classic car. They wasted no time and with the speed that belied their middle age they wrapped themselves over the bonnet of the classic car – photo taken and then drove off – the driver had no idea what had happened but we all certainly have better stories to tell our friends and grandies as a result of our great adventures that day.
For our 65th gathering we were tasked with finding 10 things that related to each decade from the 50s to the 2010s– so a group of us headed to our old primary school for the 1960s decade and visited one of the girls former family homes in the neighbourhood, a 1960s house. The photos of my friend and her besties all wearing crazy sun glasses, leis wrapped around their necks and sporting wigs of all colours outside her childhood family became even more precious.
We did not know, or could have never have imagined that day that four months later my lovely lifetime friend would be diagnosed with terminal cancer. We miss her dearly, but we are comforted by memories of that wonderful day and the many laughs we enjoyed.
What I have learnt from these milestones celebrations and many more is this: do not wait for excuses to gather – just gather the tribe whenever you can and make every milestone count.
Have you recently celebrated a significant milestone and what did it mean for you?
Segment 2: Inspiring Stories
I have worked in adult education for over 15 years and during that time there have been many milestone celebrations. One of the programmes that I deliver is for workers who may be struggling with the language of the workplace such as reading complex forms, lacking the confidence to ask questions if they don't understand, unsure how to spell words or complete health and safety reports. The programmes run for ten weeks and I spend 4 hours a week with them.
At the start of the programme I invite learners to write some goals for the programme including personal and financial goals. Now for many of them goal setting is something very new.
During the ten-week programme they gain the skills and knowledge to better engage in the workplace such that they might read work instructions with more confidence or more importantly just ask if they don't understand or need help.
At the end of the programme the learners deliver a presentation about a workplace improvement project to senior managers. This is a time for them to demonstrate the skills and knowledge plus the confidence they have gained from the programme. One learner commented about the impactfulness of the programme that he did not have the confidence to speak at his father’s funeral feeling like he let his dad down but thanks to the programme he now had the confidence to speak at his mum’s funeral. We would never have known this had we not had a milestones celebration.
Any hoo …After the presentations management is invited to give some feedback about the presentations which invariably includes seeing potential in staff they had not seen before. So many of the learners have gone on to more senior positions in the business or had the confidence to move on to other companies that better match their skill set in values.
One of the learners received a national award for the progress they had made on the programme – he commented how the course content not only improved his work prospects, but he also transferred his learning to his refugee community. His twenty-year journey from the country of his birth, via years living in a refugee camp before settling in NZ was in itself inspiring. Hearing the impact of the course on his family and community ensured that there was not a dry eye in the house, even today when I meet up with some of the senior managers who were at that graduation ceremony, they recall it vividly and how it was impactful on them too.
And that's why we have graduations and milestone celebrations - to take stock of how far we have all come on our journey. Imagine if we had just said goodbye at the end of the course, and not presented each of the learners with a certificate of achievement – we would never know the impact of the learning on them, neither would they have felt the same sense of achievement, and we in turn would not have been affected by their journey.
In addition, for many of the people I work with the only certificate or qualification they have ever achieved is a driver licence and I hope that the success they have achieved from the programme will inspire them to see the value of continuous learning and improvement.
Now you may wonder what has this got to do with living a reinspired life – have you honoured in some way all that you achieved and keep achieving during and after leaving the formal workplace? In the coming weeks I will be chatting with Ken who formally left the workplace in June 2024, and who is now carving out a reinspired life. The retirement was truly a milestone he will not forget but Ill leave him to tell you more. Coming soon on Don’t Retire reinpire…
In the meantime let me share with you another story about celebrating life’s milestones – a friend who will be joining us in some forthcoming episodes to talk about insurance needs in retirement, yep look out for that in late July early August, always finds excuses to celebrate milestones and I have always been humbled to be invited to participate in those celebrations.
He will be chatting about some of these in future episodes too but to let me give you a heads up on one of them….Warren was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 64. As you can imagine the diagnosis reverberated far and wide in his collected clan. The prognosis was good and he began radiation therapy in a main centre where I lived. He stayed Monday to Friday in short term cancer society accommodation and we took the opportunity to gather on a Friday for a weekly chat before he headed home.
After the first week of treatment he began suffering the effects of the radiation and was not in a good headspace. I encouraged him to write a book as he was a master story teller. I leant him a lap top so he could keep writing during his time between treatments. At our Friday get togethers he updated me on how it was all going.
Then one Friday I realised he had reached the nadir of his journey so we discussed self publishing his book, and having a book launch party for his forthcoming 65th party. That was all the inspiration he needed.
The invitations went out, the book was hot off the press, family and friends gathered having no idea that the party was actually a book launch. The book was received to a roar of applause. And from that moment the party rocked….
The book launch and birthday party was a celebration of his challenging journey and while he was still unsure how the future might unfold it was a moment to just be with loved ones and make new memories. There were extended family and friends in attendance who have since passed making the memories of that wonderful day even more special. Almost twenty years later he is still living his best reinspired life! And still writing.
Discussion: So what can we take away from these examples of celebrating life’s milestones?
Milestone celebrations don’t happen they take a lot of planning and preparation for them to be authentic. But in each of these examples we can see the impact of the milestone celebrations on the participants. They are moments of gathering the clan, acknowledging the journey and memory making.
Let me share with you an inspirational quote from author Shannon L Alder:
“If you chase anything in life chase the things that get you excited about living. Chase the things that give you hope, happiness and a glimpse of a better life. Chase the things that make you want to be a better person. Chase the things that inspire you to think, create and live joyfully. Chase the things that reinforce in your soul that you can make a difference. Chase the things that make you want to transform your heart from selfish to selfless. When you chase that kind of storm you are chasing rainbows.”

Segment 3: Creative Ways to Celebrate
Thinking about creative ways to celebrate here some ways that I have helped family and friends celebrate milestone birthdays.
When my mother turned 80 we decided to gather the family for a dinner as she was still recovering from the loss of her home of 51 years due to the Christchurch 2011 earthquake. Plus she had recently endured a bowel operation due to a non-cancerous but life challenging condition.
Back in the day mum had been a reveller – she loved a good party, and had been known to dance and sing on tables during nights of raucous revellery.
On the day of the party she was transported to the restaurant in a limousine where her family were all gathered.
We gifted her a box of 80 letters written with love and wonderful memories of how she had impacted our lives.
I had invited family and friends to share with me memories of mum – the memories to be written in the form of a letter. I placed each letter in an addressed envelope with 80 envelopes in total.
Upon receiving the gift she was too overwhelmed and cognitively confused to understand the gift. However later that night when there was just mum and I me we started to read some of the letters.
Let me share two of them with you:
Dear mum, … one of my memories is the number of times you and I met at Northlands on the days when I was working in the area. You would take me to lunch at Anna's place it was so nice having someone to pay for my lunch and to show an interest in me. It is something I do on a regular basis with my daughter paying it forward if you like …. Written by one of her daughter in laws.
and here's another written by another of her daughter in laws..
Dear Nicky Nan, when I had my hip replaced you came to stay for a few days to help out with the kids. I remember you making me beautiful, grated cheese and celery sandwiches with the crusts cut off presented with cut up fruit and a pot of tea.
There were letters telling stories of her little quirks and eccentricities, letters of thanks and so much more. There was one from her cousin thanking mum for the little bunch of daphne blooms at the funeral of her mum – insisting of all the flowers she received after her mum passed, they were the most special.
It took a few days for us to get through all the letters and then I had to do it all again because she had forgotten their contents. She loved them, saying over and over again I had no idea anyone remembered that stuff such as knitting jerseys for us seemingly overnight. Now that she had some context over the next few months the box of letters meant so much to her and every now and then she would delve into it, even editing some of the grammar and spelling mistakes which to this day make me chuckle.
Looking back it wasn’t the party mum remembered or even enjoyed, neither was it being surrounded by her loved ones or the even the lovely things we did for her. It was the gathering of our memories that meant everything to her.
I did a similar thing recently for my brothers 70thbirthday. I gathered 70 memories of items we used in our childhood. Another brother made a replica apple box for the items to go in it – if you recall boomers they were often used for go carts or cricket wickets and all manner of useful things like kindling for the incinerator or sticks for kites.
Inside the box was shoe nugget, cricket ball, linseed oil for the cricket bat, tyre repair kit, comics, knitting needles and wool – he used to knit peggy squares, universal tool kit – you know like a spoon to get tyre off the bike, kite with nylon stocking for the tail, fishing line made out of string and a wooden stick, secret seven books, annuals etc.
I also wrote a childhood memory of each item that I presented as a journal. At a small family gathering we gave him the box – as he picked his way through the items, he was soon sharing stories with his family about his childhood – stories they had never heard before. I told him he could use it like a pick and mix – choose an item at random to tell the grandies about.
And for a friend’s 60th birthday I made 60 cards, each containing an inspirational quote – she hadn’t been looking forward to this milestone birthday so I gave her the box of quotes for her to use as inspiration as she navigated the next year. I suggested she randomly choose an envelope when in need of inspiration for her day.
For another friend who was also not looking forward to a birthday ending in a zero – we went to the beach, I drew a line in the sand which she jumped across into the new decade and then she wrote her wishes for the coming decade into the wet sand, letting the tide take them away and to be delivered at some time in the future. Then we all enjoyed a lovely picnic tea as the sun set. Rather than dreading her birthday it was something joyful and memory making.
And that’s the thing about milestone celebrations – they don’t need to be big parties, or long speeches or even gathering everyone you have ever known it’s about authenticity – matching the event to the person.
Even for this podcast we have celebrated every milestone and there have been many: publishing the first episode, conducting the first interview, distribution sites and downloads. We take nothing for granted and every milestone is a reminder of how far we have come.
Segment 4: The Impact of Celebrations
Celebrating milestones in retirement offers a treasure trove of benefits that can truly enhance our well-being. Let's dive into some of the wonderful perks you can enjoy by marking those special moments in this exciting chapter of life.
First off, there's an incredible sense of accomplishment that comes with celebrating milestones. It’s like giving yourself a well-deserved pat on the back for all the hard work and perseverance.
Reflecting on your achievements and significant life events can foster a positive outlook, helping you appreciate your journey and all the amazing experiences you’ve had. Plus, the planning and anticipation involved in celebrations can give your mind a delightful workout, sparking creativity and keeping you mentally sharp.
And let's not forget the social perks! Celebrations are a fantastic excuse to gather family and friends, strengthening those precious bonds and creating cherished memories. Engaging with your community and participating in events can lead to new friendships and a greater sense of belonging. It's also a golden opportunity to share your stories and wisdom with younger generations, creating a beautiful tapestry of intergenerational connections.
Celebrating milestones also introduces new experiences and challenges, keeping life dynamic and engaging. It motivates you to set new goals, ensuring that every day has a sense of purpose and excitement. This continuous learning and adaptability can significantly enhance your quality of life.
All these joyous occasions and positive recognitions can greatly boost your overall happiness and life satisfaction. They help you build a legacy, documenting important moments for future generations, and establishing new traditions that add meaning and structure to your retirement years.
So, incorporating these celebrations into your life not only enriches your retirement but also inspires those around you to do the same. It's all about celebrating the journey and cherishing every moment.
Segment 5: Practical Tips for Planning
Planning a milestone event in retirement can be such a fun and fulfilling project! Here are some friendly tips to help you create a memorable celebration:
Start Early
Give yourself plenty of time to plan. Starting early lets you think through all the details without rushing, making everything a lot smoother and stress-free. For the book launch party we started almost a year out from the event, for mums 80th birthday memory box I started about 3 months before the party to gather the letters. Give yourself plenty of time.
Know the Why
Figure out what you're celebrating and why it's special. Whether it's a big birthday, an anniversary, or a personal achievement, knowing the purpose helps you focus on what matters most. Not every person wants a big party and to be the centre of attention, at my book launch parties I was not the centre of the party, the book was. At my friend’s book launch and birthday party his good health was the centre of attention. Keep focused on what you are celebrating.
Set a Budget
Decide how much you want to spend. A clear budget helps you keep track of expenses and make sure you don't overspend. Remember, it’s the thought and effort that make an event special, not how much you spend. All to often the budget can get out of hand so rein it in.
Pick the Perfect Spot
Choose a venue that fits your celebration. It could be your cozy home, a favourite restaurant, a lovely park, or a community center. Make sure it’s convenient for all your guests to get to.
Who’s Coming?
Think about who you want to invite. Make a list of family, friends, and anyone else you’d love to have there. Keep your venue size and budget in mind when deciding how many people to invite.
Send Out Invites
Get those invitations out early!
Plan the Day
Sketch out a rough schedule for the day. This helps things run smoothly and makes sure you fit in all the important moments. As part of mum’s birthday celebrations, we arranged for her to go to the hairdresser and have a manicure. In hindsight it was too much for her on the day – she was exhausted before the limo arrived – it doesn’t have to be perfect, less can be more.
Add Personal Touches
Make the event your own with personal touches. This could be a photo slideshow, a memory book, special decorations, or a playlist of your favorite songs. These little details make the celebration uniquely yours.
On the table at mum’s birthday celebration we had framed photos of her covering the eight decades, coupled with her favourite flowers. Recently for an elderly uncle’s birthday I did a floral and photograph centrepiece in naval colours as he was in the navy. I printed photos and glued them back-to-back on skewers so it was double sided. He won’t let me dismantle it – he loves looking at the old photos on his table and its better than being hidden in a photo album.
Capture the Magic
Make sure someone is taking photos or videos. You’ll love looking back on these memories later! Whether you hire a professional or ask a friend to help out, capturing the moment is key. I always ensure there is someone taking the photos – for mum’s 80th we engaged a professional photographer thinking it might be the be the last time we would all gather until her funeral due to her declining health. The photos are very special especially the one of her getting out of the limo.
Enjoy the Moment
On the big day, take a deep breath and enjoy yourself! You’ve put in the hard work, now it’s time to celebrate and make wonderful memories with your loved ones.
Happy celebrating!
Here’s five inspirational quotes to get you thinking about your next milestone celebration:
"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate." — Oprah Winfrey
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." — Maya Angelou
"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. Celebrate the milestones on your path to greatness." — Unknown
"It’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years." — Abraham Lincoln
Life is a series of thousands of tiny miracles. Notice them." — Roald Dahl
Key learnings from today’s episode: So, from our chat about celebrating retirement milestones, here's what really stood out:
1. Celebrating is Vital: It’s more than just throwing a party—it’s about acknowledging your journey and feeling proud of how far you've come.
2. Feels Good, Does Good: These celebrations boost happiness, help you reflect positively, and can even reduce stress—like a big dose of feel-good vibes.
3. Connections Matter: Whether gathering loved ones or sharing stories, these milestones strengthen relationships and build a support network.
4. Tips for Planning: Planning ahead with a budget, the right venue, and personal touches makes your celebration uniquely yours.
These insights are about celebrating a life filled with achievement and joy.
Conclusion:
As we conclude this episode on celebrating milestones in retirement, let's reflect on how these special moments enrich our lives. Whether it's a birthday, anniversary, or personal achievement, each milestone symbolizes our unique journey and accumulated experiences. By celebrating these events, we not only acknowledge our accomplishments but also strengthen our connections with loved ones, creating lasting memories along the way. In preparing for this episode I opened mum’s box of letters and got lost in the wonderful memories. It is certainly a lasting memory that keeps giving even seven years after her passing.
It’s important to appreciate how far we've come and eagerly anticipate the adventures that lie ahead in retirement. Don’t let these milestones pass by unnoticed—embrace and celebrate them wholeheartedly. Each milestone marks personal growth, celebrates love, and encapsulates the extraordinary moments that shape our lives.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope you feel inspired to celebrate your milestones with joy and gratitude. We’d love to hear from you! Share your milestone moments by emailing us at dontretirereinsire@gmail.com, as listed in the show notes.
Until next time, remember: don't retire—reinspire!
This podcast was produced by Antony Radley