Jack of all Trades

Jack of all Trades
“The complete saying was originally “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
I have noticed during my retirement that while I was considered a “professional” during my working years, now that I am retired, I have become what could be referred to as “a jack of all trades yet a master of none”.

Think about that statement for a moment. When we worked, I would expect that most of us had specific tasks we were required to do day in and day out while at work. And if we did those tasks right without flaws, we were recognized by our superiors as good workers or masters and ones that could be relied upon.

But now that we are retired, unless we were fortunate enough to retire rather wealthy, we are required to be electrician, plumber, carpenter, and so forth in addition to learning, in some cases, how to do dishes, assist with the laundry, make beds, cook, and well, the list of duties required of homemakers goes on and on and on.

Personally, I have embraced some of these roles although dependent upon what service is needed, I do rely on more experienced individuals to do the job at hand (for instance, some plumbing jobs, electrical work, repair the roof and so forth). Let’s face it, tackling repairs on our home air-conditioning/heating system should something go wrong with it is not in my ballpark.

But I have no qualms about assisting my wife in the kitchen whipping up something for lunch or dinner. Now that we are retired, we do the laundry together in addition to assisting each other accomplishing many other things that need being done at the house. And then there are the “Honey-Dos” which are added to the list of things I personally hope to accomplish by days end usually put together either after breakfast or in the evening prior to going to bed).

Let’s face it, while retirement is usually defined as “the action or fact of leaving one’s job and ceasing to work, truth be told, chances are we will be involved with one sort of work or another the balance of our lives. And why not? Who wants to sit around vegging out the balance of our days? Besides it is much better doing it with a partner than it is doing it alone. But that is not to say that there are widows and widowers out there who aren’t making the best of it in their retirement years. The idea is to keep busy both in mind and body.

Oh, while I am on the subject of not sitting around vegging out – walking is a good way to spend some of your day and if you can go outside to walk, more the better because you’d be amazed at how a walk in nature watching the birds, squirrels, smelling the flowers and trees and just enjoying the outdoors can vastly improve one’s mental attitude.

The secret to a fulfilling and happy retirement, in my humble opinion, is to stay active doing things you love so that you look forward to waking each day so that you can – how shall I put this – “Get Up and At ‘Em!”

I am a big Willie Nelson fan and being retired now going on some twenty-five plus years, I look forward to waking up each morning and reciting the words to one of his songs.

I Woke Up Still Not Dead Again Today

Let’s face it, it beats the alternative.

Until next time!