A bit corny? Okay maybe, but we can't take ourselves too seriously! Try plein air painting and see for yourself.  Check out my plein air painting board on Pinterest for inspiration.

Retirement. This word comes with many emotionally charged ideas. Mostly negative. For my father's generation retirement was the reward that came after a long working life. If you were lucky the company pension plan would kick in at age 65. If not you had to rely on what little you had saved and the government pension would take care of you. This concept of retirement has not survived as long as those still believing in it. It is deader than roadkill. 

Today we know that retirement is still a goal for the working masses. A time when we can relax and play with our grandchildren. Except we have had to plan for retirement with private retirement policies and savings. Not much of change from my dad's days, but more empowering for sure. More scary too if you not built up a decent nest egg over twenty or  more years. This idea of retirement also needs to be put to sleep.

Forget retirement. It is a word best suited to appliances, old cars and farm animals that are put out to pasture. Instead let us consider another idea. Instead of retirement we need to reinvent ourselves. This process is not for our sixties either. Reinvention is best undertaken many times over our lifetime. At least every five years, maybe more, beginning from when we leave school.

What is reinvention all about? For starters if you have been an adult for some time, lets say in your forties, then you have probably reinvented yourself many times already. Perhaps a change in job, career, marriage, children, clothing and in many other ways to survive and thrive. The trick is to recognise these changes and use them for a process of mental change too. To put it bluntly sometimes we need to catch a wake-up! Do ourselves a favour and live life. Stop moaning and blaming others and get on with it. 

How to do this? Many ways beckon and opportunities abound if we look for them. Continuing education is critical. Learn skills. Read. Listen to podcasts, audio books and try out ways to expand your mind and horizons. Each time we do this we are reinventing ourselves. It is a process of empowerment. Freedom from established dogma.

Reinvention in our sixties? Do you know that the most affluent retirees have multiple income streams after retirement? 98% according to figures from insurance giant Sanlam. In my dad's day the idea of income streams in retirement, other than pension, was laughable. A sign that you have failed to carry out the masterplan. Today we understand that keeping our minds active in work that we love and choose to do is the key to fulfillment. Sure you need a financial cushion in place for peace of mind, but you can now remain part of the economy, contribute and share in ways that were unthinkable twenty years ago.

Why is this article headed Artists Don't Retire? Artists refers to anyone thinking and acting creatively. Artists take responsibility for themselves and take action. Reinvention is the way for all artists of the world.

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How to make a hard choice? Imagine you have a child finishing high school. Your child announces that he has considered several career options and has narrowed it down to artist or attorney. As a parent what is your reaction? When I reached this milestone in my life a career in arts meant something more industrial like textile design or even fashion design. A fine arts career was an oxymoron since everyone knew that outside of the education department there was no such thing as a career for fine artists. It was a life of struggle and desperation. Simple as that. It is law my son and that is that.

Thirty years later the world has become more enlightened. A degree is so generic that it seems almost pointless unless it is for a specific profession like medicine or engineering. Yet a decision between arts and traditional trades and professions is still a hard choice. Especially in "these tough times".  So how does one choose in these circumstances? Philosopher Ruth Chang on TED Talks puts forward an empowering argument. 

Consider the artist or attorney decision. Why do so many people opt for law instead of art? Because the fear of the unknown makes law seem like a less risky option. At least with law there is a prospect of earning more plus the social cachet of being a lawyer. Those TV programs glamorising lawyers also help a lot. But to base this decision on these criteria - fear and reward for example - is a mistake. You cannot hammer a round peg through a square hole without it ending in tears.

I can assure you that there are many young lawyers without work. Many others have had to start their own practice only to find that business is based on cashflow and the bank manager does not care what certificate hangs on your wall. No cashflow no mercy. Many young lawyers have had to close up shop deep in debt. Of those that have reasonably lucrative careers in law there are many who yearn to be doing something else more creative. To make it an the legal business, like any other business, requires hard work, hustle and many years of dedication. Passion too. So to succeed as an artist you will need the same dedication to the task. If you put in the work the rewards will come.

What we see then is that a law career and an arts career are on a par. Both can work out and both can implode.

How to choose between careers that are on a par? Will more income sway you? Lets say you love art, but you can expect to earn 25% more as a lawyer. Will that make you choose law even if it makes you miserable? It is unlikely that money alone will make the difference. Chang argues that  in a hard choice situation you have the power to make your own reasons. What are your unique qualities and how do they fit in with the career. If you love art, but are lukewarm on a law career then it is likely that your law career will collapse in the near future. 

If your joy and happiness are focused on art then it is more likely that art will sustain you. You have the power to be the author of your own life. Your subjective reasons are valid.

How to make this hard choice in mid-life? The fear of losing what you have accumulated now kicks in. Suddenly your assets and things that were the goal before become the shackles that bind you. The decision should be easier if you have a financial cushion to absorb a career change. Sadly this is not often the case. Fear increases with age. There is also a sense of noble matyrdom that keeps many professionals slogging on with work they hate. Sacrifice for a noble cause.

Just maybe our loved ones would rather have a happy mom, dad and spouse at home? It is a thought. Perhaps we can face these hard choices more clearly and make the correct choice for ourselves? 

For a limited time only Udemy are offering 75% off to instructors, like myself, to promote their courses. So if you are interested in a comprehensive painting course offered by yours truly then now is a good time to save big. Use the coupon code  SUMMERSAVING75 when purchasing the course and save 75%. The offer expires on 22 July 2014 so go for it today! 

Learn To Paint With Impact

I was pleased with the outcome and the experience. However at 2 degrees celsius my brain reminded me that there a bottle of port indoors crying out for attention. All things considered it would have been rude to ignore its' plight so I decamped for a fireside seat and a glass of that which restores you.

I look forward to visiting this delightful village again - in the summer. Until then Cheers!