Do you ever feel like you’re stuck in autopilot? Life feels flat and routine, with one day blending into the next. Something feels off but you’re not sure what to do about it. Sometimes retirement can feel that way. And we need to find ways to shake things up, wake ourselves up, and create opportunities for surprise. That’s what my recent trip to Sicily did for me. I learned unexpected lessons about retirement and I made a meaningful discovery about artichokes, of all things. When it was over, I felt reinvigorated and ready for the next adventure. 

We had a wonderful time in beautiful Sicily! We got to see a little bit of everything. We explored a bustling beach town (Cefalu), stayed in a house in the mountains overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea, took a boat tour and swam in the sea, and went on day trips to a sleepy little town (Sant’ Ambrogio) and to ancient Greek temples in Agrigento. It was incredible. If you’re thinking about destinations for your next trip, I highly recommend Sicily for its beauty, culture, and food. 

But, what made it so great (aside from “We were in Sicily!”)? What does travel do for us that makes us feel alive? How can we recreate that “travel magic” in everyday life in retirement? During my family adventure in Sicily, I learned about artichokes and so much more. Below, I share my lessons learned and tips for living well in retirement. 

It all started with the pretty ceramic decorations that I saw everywhere in Sicily. They came in all colors and sizes. They were displayed in shops and sitting on tables in restaurants. What the heck are those, I wondered. It turns out they were artichokes. I found this interesting because my Nonnie cooked them for us growing up, but I never knew they had a deeper meaning. Artichokes were simply part of our Sicilian family tradition. A delicious treat that I loved to eat at my Nonnie’s (especially the yummy heart!).

Seeing those artichokes displayed everywhere piqued my curiosity about their cultural significance. With a little bit of research, I learned that, in Sicily, artichokes are thought to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. Who knew my beloved artichoke had so much power!?

What do artichokes have to do with retirement, you might ask? It’s not so much about the artichoke itself. It’s about the surprising discovery I made about artichokes and my heritage that was so meaningful to me. What made that discovery possible wasn’t just the trip to Sicily. It was getting out of the rut of everyday life, going on an adventure, being curious, taking the time to notice, and spending time with my family. These are the things that led to my discovery about artichokes and made for a great trip. These are also things that can help you live well in retirement.

The catch? It’s up to you to recreate that travel magic in retirement. Read on to learn how.

From Sicily to Everyday Life: 7 Lessons for Living Well in Retirement 

When I got home, I reflected on what else besides my artichoke surprise made the trip so enjoyable and interesting. I developed this list of 7 lessons that I learned in Sicily, ways to recreate that travel magic in your retirement life, and questions for you to think about to get started. Notably, research shows some of the factors on my list also contribute to thriving and living well in retirement (e.g., social connection, exercise, spending time in nature).

1) Live Life Now! 

In Sicily

• This trip was a chance to see Sicily with my mother and to learn about our family heritage and culture. We talked about it for years and I’m so glad we finally shared that experience (thanks to my brother for planning the trip). We tend to think we’ll travel one day or once we retire. But, you never know what life will bring you, including potential health challenges that make travel more difficult. If you’re thinking about taking a multigenerational trip to see where you come from, make it happen. Ranging in age from 10 to late 70’s, we had a fantastic time together.  Don’t wait. Take that dream trip now.

At Home

• You don’t have to travel abroad for new adventures. You can create them at home. Check out that nearby quaint town you’ve been meaning to see. Explore a park or attraction you’ve never been to. Go see a play or music performance. Go somewhere you’ve never been. Try something you’ve never done. Do something today to spice things up.

Question For You

• What interesting local adventures and faraway dream trips are next on your list?

2) Spend Time Outdoors 

In Sicily

• In Sicily, the shared space at the house we rented was all outdoors. It felt amazing to spend most of our time outside and to have a beautiful view of the mountain and the sea. My nieces were delighted to discover that we had olive, pomegranate, fig, pear, plum, and lemon trees in the yard. They even picked fresh lemons, which we used for cooking and in drinks. We ate our meals outside, had drinks in the pool, and lined up our chairs each night to watch the sunset and enjoy the mountain breeze. 

At Home

• Why reserve that kind of experience for vacation? Find ways to spend time in nature each week to enrich your retirement life, whether in your yard, the local park, or a stroll through a tree-lined neighborhood. Enjoy those green spaces, birds chirping, and butterflies fluttering about. Cook on the grill and eat dinner outside. Go for a hike or play golf. There are so many ways to spend time outdoors and enjoy nature.

Question For You

• What are your favorite ways to spend time outdoors?

3) Spend Time With People You Love 

In Sicily

• Our time in Sicily was a chance for my family to enjoy life, laugh, talk, and savor good food. We drank cappuccinos and ate gelato on brioche, which I am happy to report is a typical Sicilian breakfast! It was with my family that I discovered those ceramic artichokes while perusing the shops. Back at the house, my sister-in-law cooked us up delicious pasta meals using the outdoor kitchen. We had so much fun together. I’m grateful to have those shared memories and fun experiences for us to reminisce about for many years to come! 

At Home

• Of course, you don’t need to be on vacation to enjoy time with your family and friends. But, life gets busy and time goes by fast. Make it a priority to spend time with people who you feel happy being around. Plan a family dinner, invite a friend to meet you for coffee, or host a board game night or a watch party for a sports event. It’s not only enjoyable, but staying socially connected is one of the biggest contributors to well-being in retirement.

Question For You

• Is there a family member or friend who you’ve been meaning to make plans with that you can reach out to this week?

4) Combine Exercise With Fun

In Sicily

• We walked everywhere in Sicily—when sightseeing around Cefalu, exploring the sleepy town, and at the Greek temples. We went swimming at the beach, in the pool, and in the sea. I’ll never forget floating in the warm, calm sea with my family and watching my nieces jumping off the boat with glee. Travel is a great chance to exercise while having fun. 

At Home

• How can you recreate this back at home? We know it’s important to exercise regularly in retirement, but it’s not always easy to stay motivated. If you dread hitting the gym and you’re struggling to get into an exercise routine, try making it more fun and enjoyable. Take walks in pretty places. Go on a walking tour with family and friends in your own city or nearby town. Have a pool party. Go to the beach, lake, or local swimming hole. Turn exercise into a fun adventure.

Question For You

• What’s one thing you can do this week to combine exercise with fun?

5) Disconnect From The Stress Of Daily Life

In Sicily

• Going on a dream trip allows you to take a complete break from life, news, and the stress of the world. You can finally let yourself relax, restore, and rejuvenate. It’s a chance to stop worrying about things that you can’t control (or at least take a break from it). In Sicily, I avoided news, doomscrolling, and TV. It was pretty darn nice. 

At Home

• Disconnecting from stress is something you can do at home too. These days, the news can feel overwhelming. Take a news break for a day or for a week even. Put your phone away for a little while. Turn off the TV. You’ll feel better for it.  

Question For You

• What’s one thing you can do this week to give yourself a break from news, social media, or TV?

6) Be Curious

In Sicily

• Travel offers a great opportunity to be curious, open, and learn new things. Being curious is exactly how I stumbled on the meaning behind those ceramic artichokes. That discovery reminded me of the importance of curiosity and of creating opportunities for surprise in my life.

At Home

• At home, curiosity can lead you to new and interesting discoveries too. Let your curiosity roam wild in retirement, whether it’s going to a museum, the library, botanical gardens, or whatever roaming wild means to you! Ask questions in conversations with family and friends to learn about what’s important to them these days. Take a class in your community or online about a topic you’ve always been interested in. Try a new hobby.

Question For You

• What new skills, hobbies, or topics are you most curious to learn more about?

7) Be Present 

In Sicily

• I made an effort to be present and pay attention to what was right in front of me. What did I notice? The changing terrains as we drove across Sicily. The clothes hanging to dry on balconies. The local artist making a living painting scenes from Italy. The food. Oh, the food! The Sicily trip went by in a flash. There was so much to see. I made sure I experienced everything—the colors of the sunset, the taste of perfectly-made cappuccino, the feel of the water as it cradled me floating next to the boat, the sound of the silly local goats on the mountain yelling “baa,” and the smell of the lemons picked fresh from the yard. 

At Home

• The same goes for life at home. Life gets busy and we often get stuck in autopilot. Slow down and be present. Savor that delicious meal out with your best friend. Really listen when your grandchild, niece, or nephew tells you a story about their day. When out in nature, notice the pretty bird in the tree and the delicate flowers along the path in front of you. It’s all those little moments that make retirement life so rich, but only if we pay attention. 

Question For You

• Can you think of a time when you were happy you stopped to notice something that you would have otherwise missed? 

Closing Thoughts:

If you’re feeling stuck in autopilot, then try taking some of these concrete actions to enrich your life in retirement. Research on retirement and well-being supports these ideas to stay socially engaged, maintain health, spend time in nature, and be open and curious. But, it’s up to you to find your own ways to make life more exciting and interesting, and to create opportunities for surprise and meaningful discoveries. And you don’t have to wait until retirement (I’m looking at you, fellow Gen Xers!). You can add that travel magic to your everyday life right now.

For me, I was surprised to find artichokes played an important role in my Sicily trip both for learning about my heritage and for reminding me that it’s important to be curious and create opportunities for surprise back at home. I’ll never know if my Nonnie believed that artichokes bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. Maybe that’s why she always made them for us, not only to nourish us, but to bring us good things and protect us. That sounds like something Nonnie would do. 

How about you? What’s one thing you can do this week to make life more interesting in retirement? If you’ve been feeling like you’re stuck in a rut and life feels flat, then what can you do to wake yourself up? I would love to know your thoughts and reactions. Let me know in the comments. 

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