I just got back from taking two of our Grandsons to Basketball Camp.
Josh who runs the camp every Christmas break is not only a very good Basketball Coach but also a Great Motivator. Each day of the camp he presents the group with a lesson or message of the day.
Today’s lesson was having a goal. He began by asking the kids what they wanted to be when they grow up. The answers ranged from Horse Rider to Engineer. It surprised me not one wanted to be a Pro Basketball player.
Josh continued by asking how many went to sleep last night by nine o’clock. A few raised their hands. Again he asked how many went to sleep by ten o’clock. Most raised their hands. Again he asked how many went to sleep after eleven o’clock. The rest raised their hands looking tired and sleepy. After all, this was their Christmas Break and I would expect them to stay up late and sleep-in in the mornings.
He then began the lesson. To reach their goal when they grow up they must begin by developing and having good habits. He shared his goal was to be a pro basketball player. He would get up at 4:30 in the morning and go to the gym. Shoot hundreds of shots, lift weights, eat lunch, take a nap then back to the gym for more practice and a couple of hours of scrimmages. He was to bed early each night so he would be well rested for the next day. He did this everyday during his summer vacations. Not only did he become a very good College Basketball player he did play some Professional Basketball before becoming a Coach and Teacher. It was the good habits he developed, learned and used each day that helped him reach his goal.
While sitting there listening to Josh talk to the kids I found myself thinking what good habits I wish I had developed at their age. It also got me thinking, I probably need to work on developing some new habits now that I’m retired.
“Retirement is almost like when I was a kid. Being a little bit scared but still excited by not fully knowing what the future will bring.”
I guess if Josh would have asked me what I want to be when I grow up I hope I would have said to have a healthy and productive retirement. To be the best I can be in my remaining years.
To meet this goal I will need to make sure I’m maintaining and developing good retirement habits and goals like:
- Getting plenty of sleep
- Exercising each morning and remaining active
- Trying to learn something new every day
- Working to maintain good social connections with family and friends
- Finding ways to pass on the lessons I’ve learned over the years to our Kids and Grandkids
- Limiting the Cookies and Ice Cream
It would be easy to develop bad habits in retirement. Almost like the kids that were staying up late and wanting to sleep late in the morning instead of getting up and going to camp. In retirement it’s Christmas break everyday.
At the end of the lesson Josh returned to his question of what time did you go to bed last night. He told them to be the best at whatever they wanted to be would require them to be well rested before starting each day. He asked the group to raise their hands and commit to try to get to bed early and be ready and well rested for camp the rest of the week. I believe all agreed.
Even old grandad sitting in the stands raised his hand a little.
Like I said earlier, Josh is a Great Motivator.
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