Do you like zombies? Judging by the the number of zombie TV shows and movies many Americans are in love. And if you want further proof of zombie love check out the internet and find the graph showing the huge rise in Google searches for zombies since 2008. A zombie apocalypse is coming.
We are on the cusp of a Baby Boomer zombie apocalypse. And if you are a Boomer you better get ready if you don’t want to turn into a zombie.
Every day 10,000 Boomers are leaving the work force. Read that line again. 10,000 Baby Boomers shut the door for the last time and stagger out into the streets. At that moment the dangers of becoming a BBZ (Baby Boomer Zombie) intensifies.
Face it. After 30-40 years in the work force we are tired. We’ve fought to make money, get promoted, and rise to the top in our profession. We’ve raised a family, paid the bills, and navigated life. Many of us are ready for a change. But this is where the zombie danger lurks. It is at the moment of transition from the our established careers into something different where we might “turn” into something unsavory.
If you’ve ever watched The Walking Dead you are an expert in zombies. A zombie staggers along the road with one thought: “I gotta get fed.” It doesn’t matter if the zombie walks in front of a train or someone holds a gun to its head. The zombie is infected with the “me” bug. For the zombie there is no “us” or “we” or “them.” It is only “me.”
The real danger a Baby Boomer in transition faces is getting bit by the “me” bug. As you near retirement age you are told it’s time to focus on yourself. Our culture teaches us it is time to do everything you always wanted to do but couldn’t. Now, finally, life is all about ME.
The Baby Boomer zombie apocalypse is when 10,000 boomers stagger home from work for the last time and embrace the idea life is now all about “ME.”
Nope. Don’t fall for it. This is a trick of the evil King of Zombies lurking in the shadows. Life after your career ends should NOT be all about you. This is the time to embrace the antidote for becoming a stumbling, slobbering “life is all about me” zombie. And the antidote is this:
This is the time to invest your life in others.
There it is. When you transition out of your career don’t become self-absorb. Don’t wallow in your own self-indulgence. But start to invest the rest of your life in helping others and making the world a better place.
Here’s a couple of ideas to get you started:
- Volunteer at the local hospital.
- Find a young person to mentor.
- Become a one person encouraging machine on Facebook.
- On Christmas Eve make a big sign that says “Merry Christmas: Free Money” and stand on a busy street corner and see what happens.
- Take your pastor out for coffee and tell him you now have more time to work at the church and ask what needs to be done.
- Start a blog and try to encourage the discouraged.
The Baby Boomer zombie apocalypse is upon us. Every day more and more BBZs are roaming the streets. Be safe. Use your time, gifts, energy, and resources to invest in the lives of others.
It’s not all about you.
It’s all about others.
Hi Randy,
Couldn’t agree more! I love helping young people, though since I moved this summer I’m having trouble connecting so far … but it’ll happen.
In the meantime, there’s my blog and the work I plan to do to help others share their words and wisdom.
You’re right — it’s so NOT about me. Thanks for a great post!
Thanks for reading and leaving a comment. You are a great writer. Feel free to drop your blog address in another comment! Good luck on connecting!
Thanks so much Randy! Same to you!