The document discusses the volatility of the stock market and challenges the notion that one should simply hold investments and wait for markets to recover from downturns. It notes that bear markets can last for years, leaving investments stagnant, and advises being flexible and making changes to one's portfolio as conditions change. The document also cautions against relying on averages, as planning withdrawals from investments based on assumed average returns does not account for the impact of losses on the portfolio in down years.