Retirement or Reincarnation?

 

Retirement: When you have given so much of yourself while you were working for the Company so that you don't have anything left that the company can use.
- Wise Unknown Retired Person

Before I was retired I liked the word "retire." However now that I am retired, I have come to dislike the term. Unfortunately, the word "retirement" sounds like you are tired again or are close to death.

 

However, as everyone knows, baby boomer's are living significantly longer than previous generations and the majority of us continue to work differently in our current roles, pursue new career opportunities in completely different capacities, volunteer with non-profit organizations, or "relax full time."

 

The best word I have been able to come up with instead of retirement is "reincarnated." Of course most people think of this exclusively in religious terms. But I prefer to think of it as being reborn as a new person while I am still alive.

 

The American Heritage Dictionary defines reincarnation as

"1a) rebirth of the soul in another body.

   b. Belief in this rebirth;

 2) A rebirth in another form; a new embodiment."

Whatever meaning you choose, I think that "reincarnated" seems better than "retired." Although retiring can be difficult for some people, it is also challenging and hopefully fun. It forces us to reexamine ourselves and think extensively about our past lives, in addition to carefully considering what is most important to us.

 

The old saying "one door opens and another door closes" certainly applies to retirement. Similar to caterpillars who spend most of their time constantly eating, before we retire we spend most of our time working.

Don't think of retiring from the world until the world will be sorry that you retire. I hate a fellow whom pride or cowardice or laziness drive into a corner, and who does nothing when he is there but sit and growl. Let him come out as I do, and bark.
- Samuel Johnson

Then, like the caterpillar we are reborn or reincarnated as butterflies and no longer have to eat at all; we can spend most of our time flying around and playing. Butterflies can never become caterpillars again and we typically cannot resume our old lives. On the one hand, this is disappointing and can even be depressing. On the other hand, this is quite exciting and hopefully rewarding.

 

The "stages of grief" model by Elizabeth Kubler-Ross also applies to retirement. Specifically, these stages are: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and finally Acceptance. It is important to keep in mind that we do not pass through these stages in strict order. In fact, we tend to bounce around between two at a time before we finally completely reach acceptance.

 

For anyone who is thinking about or has become reincarnated, I strongly recommend the books by Ernie Zelinski, particularly How to Retire Happy Wild and Free, and also The Joy of Not Working.

 

Ernie was fired from his engineering job in his late twenties for taking too long of a vacation and never returned to his career. He has a wonderful sense of humor, along with providing extensive and insightful advice.

 

Like other great authors on retirement,  Ernie writes about how throughout history the primary objective of most civilizations was leisure. Unfortunately, due to the Puritan work ethic, we have come to revere work and often look down upon leisure. In fact, many people do not even know how to really enjoy themselves.

 

We have become obsessed with and pacified by vicarious entertainment, like TV, the Internet, and spectator sports.

 

I was recently reading Walden by Henry David Thoreau and he supported himself by working approximately 6 weeks a year for five years. His conclusion was that the bible had it backward. That is we should work one day a week and rest for the remaining six. Perhaps we should start the American Association of Reincarnated People!

Retirement: When you quit working just before your heart does.
- Anonymous person in fear of retirement 

 

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