Rethinking Retirement

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I am on a mission to retire the word "retirement."  What does it mean to retire something?  According to the dictionary, it means "withdrawn, reserved, secluded, quiet ..."  Is this how we are going to see ourselves when we are ready to leave our careers?  I don't think so. 

So much of retirement planning is based on financial planning.  No doubt, this is important.  But once we have our basic needs met, there is so much more to a quality life.  As Richard Leider says, "What is our reason for getting up in the morning?" 

It is time to retire this word and replace it with other more appropriate terms that reflect how we need to think about our lives in this next phase.  We need to:

• rethink what we want to do
• revise our agendas and calendars
• redefine who we want to be
• rediscover what we enjoy doing
• reinvent ourselves in meaningful ways
• redesign how we spend our time
• re-imagine the future that is NOW
• recast the norms for people our age

We need to take our sense of curiosity, courage, and wisdom with us wherever we go and change the world in ways that benefit all of us.  There is much work to be done.  And the future needs us!

What else should I be thinking about on my journey to "retire retirement?"

Jann's Note: There is no retirement on the journey to becoming a Sage.  It is a life long path based on life experiences.  The more experiences the more opportunity for wisdom if we reflect on what we are learning along the way.  We just need to keep going.

Comments

[Amand Whittle]

I totally agree with this article and thoughts on retirement. My grandpa just turned 84 and he still farms with my dad. He could have quit 15 years ago, but he is so proud of working that he keeps going. The doctor told him 10 years ago that he would probably not be alive if he did not continue to work because he has congestive heart failure. The qoute by Richard Leider says, "What is our reason for getting up in the morning?" My grandpa does chores every morning and night and even runs the tractor for field work. I think that as long as he has a reason to get up or a purpose than he fights to keep going. I agree with this post that even if we do "retire" someday, we should find other ways for our life to have meaning.

[Jann Freed]

Absolutely Amanda. It sounds as if you have a good role model. You can learn a lot from him. Thanks for reading.

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[Zach Marks]

This is a really interesting thought. Retirement makes it sound like you are just there,not working anymore, and looking for death to come. When really this is untrue. My grandparents are retired yet, it seems like they are just as active as I am. They do things around the house, and go to all of the grandchildren's events. They seem to be just as busy not working as they would be if they are (which they really are).

[Jann Freed]

It sounds as if they are really healthy people who have figured “it” out. Based on what I have read and studied, the key is to keep learning, growing, actively involved, and connected. They are doing that and that is great! Thanks

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[Nicole Wenstrand]

I agree that this word should be changed. The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the word retirement is older people without a job sitting around having coffee and playing golf. I know people that are retired that still work. I feel that retirement is used to say that you can't do what you were doing anymore. I disagree, retirement is just a new chapter in one's life and the word just makes it ten times worse.

[Jann Freed]

I agree. The word sounds so passive and feels as if people become reclusive and retrench. At whatever age, we need to keep growing, learning, and striving to improve. Thanks

[Chrys Bregar]

I've never understood the concept of retirement. At a certain arbitrary age (just when people are starting to really know what they are doing), we kick them out of the work force. We should honor them for their knowledge instead. To me people who are retirement age and refuse to slow down have always seemed like the most interesting people around.

Plus, today's 65 year old has a lot more life left to live than a 65 year old in the 1930's when social security was enacted. The US life expectancy has greatly increased. They should be encouraged to keep living instead of going to a segregated retirement community where society in general loses their wisdom.

[Lee]

I think retirement can be used as you wish to change focus to other things in your life. You may retire from doing one job to devote the time to a new pursuit in life. Maybe your priorities have changed, or you have made some discovery and enjoy doing something else in life.

"The two most important requirements for major success are: first, being in the right place at the right time, and second, doing something about it." -- Ray Kroc

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities - brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems." - John W. Gardner

[Jann Freed]

Chrys--I agree that this is a phase in which people need to keep growing. I also believe people in this phase have so much to give back in so many ways. It is finding the ways that are meaningful to each person that is key. But being intentional about it is important. Otherwise time just keeps on going--and it is gone. Thanks