When I was made redundant in my late 50s, I was astonished by how many people asked: “Are you going to retire?”
I need purpose more than most. With ADHD, I could be a champion daydreamer, and spare time vanishes quickly. If I have no reason to get up, I might still be daydreaming at 6pm!
When I work on something that interests me, I get immense pleasure from hyperfocusing, and my body tires long before my brain notices it’s time to rest. I might enjoy daydreaming for a couple of weeks, but retirement would mean losing the intense buzz productivity gives me – and I may NEVER be ready for that!
So when redundancy came along, I knew I wanted to work – but I also knew I didn’t want more of the same. I needed my work to be meaningful rather than merely enjoyable.
At my age, friends sometimes become seriously ill. Most recover, thankfully, but I began to feel a sense of urgency – realising this chance may not come again.
I think many of us hit our 50s or 60s and realise… we’re not done yet. Far from it. We’ve still got energy, creativity, unfinished business, and maybe even a brand-new chapter that’s been quietly waiting in the wings for an opportunity to take centre stage.
Retirement as we know it is a modern idea. Before pensions and cruises, people contributed as long as they could. Work was about craft, community, and contribution – not just jobs. With longer lives, retiring at 60 means possibly 30 years of… what? Golf and gardening? Nice, but not enough for many of us.
Does “Traditional” Retirement Work for Anyone?
Let’s be honest. Sitting still has never suited the human spirit for long. Purpose is a nutrient, just as vital as vitamin D or omega-3. Without it, we wilt.
How many retirees, excited for a break, soon lose their spark? They miss structure, challenge, and a sense of purpose. Days stretch out, and freedom becomes a never-ending Sunday.
On the other hand, consider those who reimagine retirement as a launchpad. The neighbour who became a wildlife photographer at 62. The colleague who started teaching English online from their spare bedroom. The guy who finally wrote that novel at 70, and discovered he’s pretty good at it.
These aren’t exceptions. They’re examples of what happens when we refuse to buy into the ‘rest and relaxation’ retirement model.
Could You Swap Retirement for Rediscovery?
Rediscovery can happen at any time, but often a major transition – a redundancy, divorce, empty nest, or health scare – triggers the change. Or maybe your friends talk about retirement plans and your inner voice shouts, “I’m not done yet!”
What if retirement were a chance to upgrade your life, not slow down? What if you could rediscover who you are, free from the external expectations that led you to settle for something misaligned with your values?
Rediscovery isn’t just about career choice. It might mean:
- Starting a passion project you never had time for.
- Launching a small business doing something you love, rather than what you’re qualified to do.
- Volunteering in ways that make a real difference.
- Taking up a creative pursuit just because it feeds your soul.
It could even mean working less, but working with joy.
The Myth of “Too Late”
The biggest myth about midlife rediscovery? That it’s too late.
But did you know that…
- Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first “Little House” book at 65,
- Colonel Sanders started KFC at 62, and
- At 77, John Glenn became the oldest person to go into space.
Meanwhile, you’re worried that 55 is too late to take a pottery class?
Think you’re too old to change? Think again! You have wisdom, resilience, and perspective your 25-year-old self lacked. You’ve survived deadlines, heartbreak, bad haircuts, flared trousers (more than once!), and the rise and fall of fax machines. If that doesn’t prepare you for change, what does? Age can be a qualification, not a disqualification!
The Curiosity Factor
The secret ingredient here is curiosity. What have you always wondered about but never dared to try? What little voice pipes up when you daydream? Follow it. Curiosity is the breadcrumb trail that leads you toward rediscovery.
If you’re nervous, start small. Try an online class, volunteer a few hours, test an idea on a tiny scale. Nobody’s asking you to leap out of a plane without a parachute. But I promise you this: curiosity will help you discover – or rediscover – the thing that makes your heart sing!
Retire or Rewire?
Let’s face it, “retirement” often conjures up images of elastic-waist trousers, comfortable shoes, and staring at the same four walls. Though the elastic waist is appealing and comfortable shoes are essential, the same walls don’t sound like a meaningful future when there’s so much else I want to achieve.
If that’s how you’re feeling, too, I’m telling you from personal experience that you’re not too “old” to change, and you don’t have to settle for more of the same. Instead, you could choose to “retire” from what drains you and “rewire” into what excites you…
These are the exact questions I support people with in my work as a Life + Values Coach, helping you reconnect with what truly matters, no matter your age or stage.
Your Next Step
As a starting point, grab a notebook and answer this question:
If nobody expected you to retire, what would you want to do with the next 20 years?
Write it down. Be bold. Be outrageous. Dream out loud.
Because retirement is optional, but living with purpose, fully aligned with your values? For me, that was non-negotiable. What about you?
Curious to explore how others are reshaping this stage of life?
Check out this Forbes article on reinventing retirement for inspiring stories and practical ways people are embracing purpose after 50.
