When you’ve spent the better part of your life as a devoted employee, the final clock out can feel liberating, and yet somehow bittersweet. Many say their jobs have defined who they are, and no longer being Mary or Joe in the corner cubicle can feel like an identity crisis. Back in the day, retirement meant you moved to Florida and took up golf right? This might be the case for some, but baby boomers are taking this opportunity to reinvent themselves, pursue dreams, and show society that there’s no better time than now to seize the day.
Retirees who decide to continue working after leaving their 9-5 job, often seek a career change doing something they really enjoy. Many become entrepreneurs or even go back to school to earn a degree. I knew a lady in her early 60s who graduated with a doctorate in psychology, and now has a flourishing career doing what she loves.
What are you passionate about? Have you thought about writing a novel, moving abroad, or becoming a motivational speaker? A lot of us spend years sitting behind a desk with ideas, and aspirations swirling around in our heads waiting for the right moment. The baby boomer generation is thriving and surpassing fresh-faced college kids in their ability to make it happen.
Reinvention doesn’t mean changing who you are, what you love, or making drastic decisions. It’s about repurposing your given talent. Taking risks helps us grow, and there’s no such thing as being too old to learn something new. People think retiring well means ample money in the bank or that it’s reserved for the privileged. Living well means knowing what makes you tick, and if it feels right, then go for it! I love this quote, “To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong.”
