Retire Early Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler

Our table with a view of Roman Emperor Nero's beach at the incredible Turcotto Restaurant, Anzio, Italy

"Focus on your strengths, not your weaknesses.
Focus on your character, not your reputation.
Focus on your blessings, not your misfortunes.”
― Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart

This year was one of abundance.

Oh, there was plenty to be afraid of and worry about, but Billy and I chose to focus on our strengths and blessings instead.

It was the right decision.

Every time a challenge came up, we asked ourselves “How could we benefit from this?” or we asked “What if we looked at this differently? What are the advantages here?”

We almost didn’t go to Europe.

(What if Covid breaks out again and travel is shut down? What if WWIII really DOES start? What if this or that? What if… what if… what if…)

Arranging to implement several Plan B’s if we hit roadblocks on our journeys gave us the courage and freedom to take the chance.

Our commitment was to NOT allow Fear to rule our lives.

Fear is not a fun place to live, and we still have plenty of life left in us. So off to Europe we went – TWICE!

We went once in the spring and returned again in the fall for a total of 4 months.

There were Roman ruins, fortresses and castles, and towns where people for centuries lived in caves. We found long-lost family members in a Medieval town in Southern Italy, went up the Eiffel Tower and experienced exceptional food in glorious, alluring Paris.

Visiting 6 countries, we made a return to “where our retirement started” in Nevis, West Indies.

Different cultures, food, and ways of looking at the world enriched our lives once again. We felt renewed and invigorated.

The message I want to share with you this year is this:

Fear forces us to contract and restrict our options. When we take the path of Fear we don’t see any end to the trouble or any solutions to problems we encounter.

But when we say “NO” to Fear, and replace it with practical plan B’s, and faith in ourselves and the future, courage is reborn again.

Options begin appearing, joy shows her face and there is a momentum that carries us forward. It is both rewarding and Life-affirming.

Our Christmas and New Year’s wish for you is to find that “Yes” inside of you, and find your inner courage. Focus on your blessings and on what you can change instead of your limitations and how Fear has closed you down.

These are lessons and skills that take a whole lifetime to learn and sometimes we forget.

You might not be able to change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails to make for a smoother journey.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and our heartfelt best wishes to you and your Family.

Billy and Akaisha

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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