Gulden’s Secret to a Fulfilled Life in Retirement

Hi, my name is Gulden. I’m Turkish and retired from my job as a lab technician at 50 years old. Initially, I tried to enjoy the slower pace of life. But after a few weeks, boredom began to creep in. I missed the routine, the structure, and the sense of purpose that work had provided. Deep down, I knew I needed more. I needed a challenge, a new passion, a reason to get up each morning.

That’s when I decided to challenge myself in new ways. I began with something I had always wanted to do: learn to speak English. At the same time, I wanted to encourage my two sons to improve their English skills as well. Initially, it was tough. I struggled with vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar rules. However, as I gradually started mastering the language, I felt a profound sense of accomplishment and pride. Each new word and every successful conversation felt like a victory. And I am still a dedicated student of English today.

Next, I started to learn tennis. This was a sport I never dreamed I could play, but one of my friends decided to train a group of four of us. I fell in love with the game, and as I improved each week, I experienced an adrenaline rush with every point won. Tennis became more than just a hobby—it became a way to challenge myself physically and mentally. I hope to continue playing as long as I am physically able.

Traveling to new places is something I always wanted to do, and now that I have the time, I make the most of it. I’ve traveled to places I’d only dreamed of before. I’ve visited the ancient ruins of Rome, marveled at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, soaked up the sun in Dubai, and explored the Netherlands. And I’ve done all this with the people I love most: my husband, my sons, and my friends.

But it wasn’t just about the places I saw or the things I did. It was about the experiences, the people, and the challenges I faced along the way. Every journey was an opportunity to grow, to learn, and to push myself beyond my comfort zone.

And that’s when I discovered the real secret to a successful retirement: it’s not about what you do or where you go, it’s about how you approach life. It’s about embracing the unknown, facing challenges, and redefining yourself.

And while I’ve already accomplished so much, I know there’s still so much more out there to explore. As long as I’m able, I plan to keep traveling, learning, and challenging myself. Because in the end, that’s what life is all about—the adventure