“Now that you are retired, you do not have to be in a hurry to accomplish anything. (At this phase of life, who needs accomplishments?)”

I cringed as I read this quote in a 2013 retirement blog post “Retirement Relocation is not for Sissies” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/claire-n-barnes-ma/retirement-relocation-is-not-for-sissies_b_5381146.html) by Claire N. Barnes in the Huffington Post. I am a firm believer that accomplishments are important in every phase of life. Just because one has stopped working doesn’t mean that you should stop striving to improve yourself, your relationships, your education, your community, etc.

Accomplishments are integral parts of building and maintaining self-esteem. Depending on the scope of the accomplishment, you may feel an immense sense of satisfaction, contribution, and pride. Small accomplishments pave the way for larger accomplishments. Larger accomplishments pave the way for legacies.

In retirement, your accomplishments may be as profound as improving your community in ways that benefit future generations or as simple as leaving a smile on the face of someone waiting on you at a store.

Answering the question “What do I want to accomplish in retirement?” is a key part of the exploration and creation of a post-employment retirement experience that is satisfying and gratifying. Accomplishments that connect us with others, build relationships, and allow us to use our talents and resources not only make us feel good they make a difference in our lives and the lives of others.

At this stage of life, who needs accomplishments? We all do.