Retirement often brings a newfound sense of freedom and an opportunity to reconnect with long-lost passions. For many, one such passion is reading. After years of a busy career and the hustle and bustle of daily life, retirement provides the perfect stage to rekindle the love of books.
Surprisingly, the return to reading in retirement can be a unique and transformative experience. As The Wall Street Journal shared, a person’s love for reading can be reignited in the golden years. Our connection with books can significantly fade away in the hustle and bustle of work and family. However, upon retirement, we can rediscover the joy of reading in a different form.
Retirement often makes us realize that our time horizons are shorter than we once believed. As retirees, we may find ourselves selecting books with a more manageable length to enjoy. This is because shorter books are not only accessible but also less daunting. So, they are ideal choices for retirees seeking literary enjoyment.
What makes this rekindled passion for reading even more intriguing is the role that travel can play in the process. Post-retirement, readers can actively seek out the homes and haunts of their favourite authors. Walking in the footsteps of literary giants like Pearl Buck, Ernest Hemingway, Victor Hugo, and Anne Frank allows us to rediscover their works through the lens of our life experiences.
Intriguingly, retirement reading helps us gain a new perspective on timeless stories. For instance, revisiting Frankenstein’s monster may reveal a deeper understanding of the character’s quest for acceptance and love. This vital reflection is a stark reminder of the modern-day struggles youngsters and older adults face.
Additionally, retirement encourages us to connect with our local library. During our career-focused years, the library may have been an overlooked gem. However, we can rekindle our love for this literary sanctuary in retirement. The library offers access to a vast world of books and serves as a communal hub for lifelong learners.
So, retirement can be a golden period to find joy in reading with new enthusiasm and a different perspective. Looking at our favourite books through the lenses of our life experiences helps us rediscover the same story in a different light altogether. If you want to pursue retirement reading, here are some ways to start doing so.
Select Books Suited to Your Time: Embrace the reality of your shorter, more finite time horizons. Instead of taking on intimidating tomes, opt for books that align with your sweet spot, typically around 350 pages or less.
You can do this by choosing literature that respects your time and is more accessible, ensuring that you can fully immerse yourself without feeling overwhelmed.
Combine Travel and Literature: Embrace the unexpected by merging your love for reading with your travel adventures. Seek out the homes and locations associated with your favourite authors. Walk in their footsteps and connect with their stories in a new way. These literary pilgrimages can help you gain unique insights and fresh perspectives on timeless tales.
Revisit and Reflect: Take the time to revisit classic stories or books you once read and loved. As you read them with the wisdom of your years, make sure to do so with an open heart and a critical eye. You may find that your life experiences have given you a deeper understanding of the characters and themes, allowing you to appreciate them in a new light.
Therefore, retirement opens the door to a world of possibilities, including rediscovering the joy of reading. In retirement, we can find the time and space to rekindle old passions and explore new ones, ultimately leading to a richer and more fulfilling life. Share your opinions on the topic by joining our forum. Register today and join the movement.
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