The Gifts of Letting Go – How Retirement Becomes More Rewarding

Markets climbed as oil gains and solid earnings kept optimism alive

The quick scan: U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, led by strength in energy and a resilient round of corporate earnings. With oil prices spiking and recession fears fading slightly, investors found fresh footing heading into the weekend.

S&P 500: +0.58% to 6,738.44 – holding near record highs as energy and financials carried the load
Dow Jones: +0.31% to 46,734.61 – steady advance powered by industrials and big-cap banks
NASDAQ: +0.89% to 22,941.80 – tech rebounded modestly after recent volatility.

What’s driving it: Oil prices surged more than five percent after the U.S. announced new sanctions on Russian crude exporters, fuelling a rally in energy stocks that lifted the broader market. Stronger-than-expected earnings from several blue-chip names reinforced confidence that corporate profits remain healthy despite global headwinds. While inflation worries linger, investors appear willing to bet on steady growth through year-end.

Bottom line: Markets continue to show resilience even as uncertainty lingers under the surface. For L-Plate Retirees, it’s a good reminder to stay invested but balanced – enjoy the upside, keep your diversification intact and don’t chase rallies that look stretched.

The Gifts of Letting Go in Retirement

The scoop: In a recent Forbes piece, retirement researcher and author Jann E. Freed reflected on “The Top 10 Losses I Welcomed After Retirement.” But she isn’t mourning them – she’s celebrating them. Freed argues that what we often see as “losses” in retirement are, in fact, gains in disguise. They mark the shedding of an old skin – deadlines, job titles, and performance reviews – and the rediscovery of a self that had long been running on autopilot.

Among her top “losses” were the predictable culprits: the daily commute, the relentless calendar, and the pressure to prove one’s worth through productivity. Freed admits she once feared losing her professional identity – the sense of importance that comes from being needed, busy, and in control. But, as she explains, letting go of that external identity made space for something more authentic: purpose, curiosity, and presence.

She also highlights the joy of losing urgency. Without the tyranny of the clock, she can finally follow energy instead of obligation – whether that’s reading over breakfast, volunteering in the afternoon, or simply going for a walk when the mood strikes. The absence of structure, she writes, can feel unsettling at first, but it eventually transforms into freedom.

Another unexpected gift was losing the need to chase money. Once her financial foundation was secure, she realised she could make decisions based on meaning rather than income – choosing projects, causes, or experiences that genuinely resonated with her values. That shift from “earning” to “serving” brought a new kind of satisfaction that no paycheck could match.

And perhaps most importantly, Freed talks about losing the need to do everything. Retirement taught her the power of selective attention – saying yes only to what aligns, and no to what drains. In her words, “The best part about getting older is not caring so much about things that don’t matter.”

It’s a timely reminder for anyone in the L-Plate Retiree community: retirement isn’t just about gaining time – it’s about gaining perspective. What you choose to release may be the very thing that makes space for joy, purpose, and calm to take root.

Actionable Takeaways for L-Plate Retirees

• Audit your invisible burdens: Identify one habit or routine you’ve carried from work life that no longer serves you – and consciously let it go

• Redefine your identity: Write down one line that begins, “In retirement, I am…” and update it as your days evolve

• Reclaim unstructured time: Instead of filling your calendar, try leaving open spaces – and see what naturally calls to you

• Choose meaning over money: When new opportunities appear, ask whether they bring fulfilment, not just income

• Practice intentional no’s: Every “no” to something that drains your energy is a “yes” to something that restores it

Your turn: 
What’s one “loss” you’ve welcomed – or want to welcome – in retirement?
How might that letting go open a new door for you?

👉 Hit reply and share your thoughts – your answers could inspire fellow readers in future issues.

☕ If today’s reflection helped you see the upside of slowing down, you can shout me a coffee on Ko-fi.