Beyond Retirement: Embracing Evolution in Life's Later Chapters

In a culture fixated on retirement as the ultimate goal, I find myself on a different path entirely. At 75, facing life-limiting cancer, I'm not retiring—I'm evolving.

The Problem with "Retirement"

The very word "retirement" has always troubled me. It suggests withdrawal, an ending, a fading away. It implies that our productive years are behind us, that we've completed our contributions to society. But what if our most valuable contributions lie in how we transform our roles rather than abandon them?

For many of us, the concept of "working to live" eventually shifts to "living to work"—not in the sense of grinding labor, but in finding purpose through meaningful engagement with the world around us.

From Doer to Guide

My evolution has been deliberate and necessary. I'm no longer the person who can be counted on to execute every task, to be in the trenches day after day. Instead, I've stepped into a role that leverages decades of experience in a different way:

- As a supporter, offering encouragement from the sidelines

- As an advisor, sharing hard-won wisdom when asked

- As a mentor, helping others avoid pitfalls I've already navigated

- As a connector, bringing together people and opportunities

These roles don't require the same energy as being the primary "doer," but they often deliver disproportionate value to those I'm privileged to support.

Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places

The film "The Intern" brilliantly illustrates this concept. Robert De Niro plays a 70-year-old widower who rejoins the workforce not to climb a ladder but to share his wisdom, emotional intelligence, and perspective. His character doesn't try to recapture his former glory—he creates a new kind of value that only someone with his life experience could offer.

This resonates deeply with me. The entrepreneurs I support aren't looking for someone to do the work they're already capable of doing. They're seeking the perspective that only decades of experience can provide—the pattern recognition, the contextual awareness, the emotional steadiness that comes from weathering countless storms.

A New Vocabulary for Life's Evolution

Perhaps what we need isn't retirement but a new vocabulary altogether. Instead of retired, I might be:

- **Evolved**: Having adapted my contribution to match my current abilities and the needs around me

- **Redeployed**: Using my skills and wisdom in new contexts where they can create maximum impact

- **Refocused**: Concentrating my energy on fewer, higher-leverage activities

- **Wisdom-engaged**: Actively participating in ways that emphasize judgment over labor

Embracing Limitations, Expanding Impact

My life-limiting cancer diagnosis hasn't dimmed my desire to contribute—it's clarified it. With finite energy and time, I'm more selective about where and how I engage. This isn't a diminishment but a refinement.

I've found that being asked for input by successful entrepreneurs who have become friends is not a burden but a privilege. These connections keep me engaged with the world, thinking about meaningful problems, and continuing to learn even as I share what I know.

The Invitation

If you find yourself approaching the traditional retirement age or facing health challenges that force a reevaluation of your work, I invite you to resist the cultural pressure to "retire." Instead, consider how you might evolve your engagement with work and the world.

Ask yourself:

- What wisdom have I gained that others might benefit from?

- How might I structure my contributions to match my current energy and abilities?

- Where can my perspective create the most value?

- Who in my network would welcome my support, advice, mentorship, or connections?

The answers might lead you not to a golf course or a rocking chair, but to a transformed relationship with work—one that honors both your limitations and your continuing capacity to make a difference.

After all, we don't need to retire from purpose. We just need to find new ways to express it.

*What term do you use to describe this evolution beyond retirement? Share your thoughts in the comments below.*