Discussing your dreams is harder than you think! It is also vitally important as you approach any life transition point, including retirement. Before having a conversation with your partner, you need to be organized and extremely honest with yourself.
• What do you really want in your life?
• What values will guide your decisions?
• Do you have the skills as a couple to navigate the tough conversations where you may have disagreements about your life dreams and goals?
• How will you handle ideas and feelings from your partner that are different from your own?
The challenge for each of us as we face conflicting values and ideas is to arrive at an acceptable compromise. Whether your partner wants to do an archaeological dig in Egypt or start his or her own business, providing support in a nonjudgmental way is important to finding a practical compromise.