Redefinition, Not Rest: Finding Purpose After Work

 In one version of the creation story, God created for six days and then rested on the seventh. That rhythm, work followed by rest, has echoed through human history. Rest is important. It restores us, helps us reflect, and allows us to recharge. But lasting fulfillment rarely comes from rest alone. It comes from redefinition.

I once had a cousin who retired after decades of hard work. He told his family, “I’ve worked all my life. Now it’s my time to rest.” He meant it. He didn’t take up hobbies, didn’t help around the house, didn’t socialize or play sports. His days were spent in his chair, watching television. Within a year, he passed away. I can’t say for certain that inactivity shortened his life, but I believe the lack of purpose, the absence of something to look forward to, played a role.

Contrast his story with others I know. One friend went back to school in his 70s to pursue a lifelong interest in history. Another joined a hiking club, finding both exercise and camaraderie. Still another found joy in tending a backyard garden and sharing the harvest with family and neighbors. Each of them redefined themselves beyond “worker” and discovered new reasons to get up in the morning.

The Trap of “Eternal Rest”

Too many people still view retirement as a permanent pause. They step away from work but don’t step into anything else. The danger isn’t just boredom; it’s the erosion of identity. For decades, our careers define who we are. “I’m a teacher.” “I’m an engineer.” “I’m a nurse.” When that role ends, if we don’t replace it with something new, a part of us feels like it disappears.

Redefinition as a Lifeline

Redefinition doesn’t mean everyone must take up marathon running or start a business. It simply means asking: Who am I now? What matters to me? How do I want to spend this chapter?

It might be travel, learning, volunteering, mentoring, or creating. For some, it’s caring for grandchildren or finally tackling that list of unread books. For others, it’s as simple as finding joy in a morning walk or a daily call with a friend.

A Story of Reinvention

Let me share one story that inspires me. One of my brothers retired from Law at 66. For the first few months, he was at loose ends. He missed the buzz of the courtroom and the energy of the other lawyers. One day, he decided to volunteer at a local literacy program. Before long, he was mentoring adults who were learning to read. Myt brother told me, “I thought my days of helping people were over. Now I realize they’re just different.” He found purpose not in a paycheck, but in giving his gift to others.

The Invitation

Retirement offers us something rare: the freedom to choose. But that freedom is wasted if we treat retirement as endless rest. Rest has its place, but redefinition is what brings meaning.

So, ask yourself: What story will I write for this chapter? Will I sit in the chair like my cousin, waiting for time to pass, or will I find ways, big or small, to redefine who I am?

Retirement is not the end of identity. It’s an invitation to reinvent it.

Living the Third Act with Intention

 At a recent provincial Senior Summer Games, my brother had a humbling and inspiring experience. At over 75, he and his partner played in the doubles tennis event. They fought hard but came in second. The winners? A team made up of a 95-year-old and his 85-year-old partner.

That victory says something powerful about aging. Retirement is no longer a brief period of rest at the end of life. It’s an extended act, sometimes longer than school or early adulthood, which requires its own form of vision and preparation.

From Two Acts to Three

Traditionally, life was seen as two acts:

• Act One: Education and work preparation.
• Act Two: Career and family.
  Retirement was a short epilogue.

But now, retirement is a full third act. Thirty-plus years of living, learning, and creating new meaning. If we treat it as a passive stage, it can feel empty. But if we embrace it as an intentional act, it becomes a stage for reinvention.

Building the Third Act

So, how do we build this stage of life? The answer lies in balance:

• Physically, we need to stay strong, not just to avoid illness but to keep doing what we love, like playing tennis at 95.
• Emotionally, we need community and purpose. Without them, the years feel longer and lonelier.
• Financially, we must prepare for decades of living, not just a handful of years. That means smarter planning and ongoing adjustments.
• Creatively, we must cultivate joy. Whether through hobbies, travel, volunteering, or entrepreneurship, creativity gives life texture.

Inspiration in Action

My brother’s story is a reminder that older age doesn’t mean stepping off the court, literally or figuratively. The 95-year-old didn’t win because he defied aging; he won because he prepared for it. He adapted his life to stay strong, engaged, and ready.

That’s the challenge for all of us: not to deny aging, but to rethink what it means. Retirement is not an ending; it’s an opening.

Living with Intention

The third act gives us time, precious, powerful time. The question is: how will we use it? Will we drift into it unprepared, or will we step into it with intention, planning, and imagination?

The players at the Senior Summer Games showed what’s possible when we choose the latter. They remind us that we have more control than we think, and that retirement is not about slowing down but showing up.

If life is a play in three acts, retirement is no encore. It’s the act that ties the story together, the place where all our learning, resilience, and creativity come alive.

The New Retirement Math: Why 65 Is Just the Beginning

 When my brother came home from the Senior Summer Games, he shook his head in amazement. At 75+, he competed in the doubles tennis event. He and his partner fought hard but came in second, beaten by a pair of players who were 95 and 85 years old. “It used to be easy,” he said with a chuckle. “When I first moved into this age category, I could outrun the older players. Now, they’re catching up, or passing me!”

This story flips the script on aging. For decades, the common narrative has been that retirement marks the slowdown of life. But the truth is changing. School may last 12 to 20 years. A career can stretch 35 to 45 years. But retirement? It could now span 30 years, or more. That’s an entire adult lifetime.

The Old Formula Doesn’t Work

The traditional retirement model was built for a time when life expectancy was shorter. Retire at 65, enjoy a few quiet years, then fade into the background. But with people living well into their 80s, 90s, and beyond, this formula leaves us unprepared for the length and complexity of modern retirement.

The 95-year-old tennis player wasn’t winding down. He was competing, striving, thriving. That’s a better picture of what retirement can be: active, intentional, and resilient.

Four Pillars of Retirement Readiness

·        Physical health, Staying fit and active is not optional; it’s essential. Longevity without vitality doesn’t serve us.

·        Emotional well-being, Retirement can leave a gap in identity. We need friendships, communities, and new roles to fill that void.

·        Financial security,  Money is not just about survival; it’s about options. Retirement funds must cover decades, not just years.

·        Creative purpose, Whether through art, volunteering, travel, or learning, creativity fuels meaning and joy in later life.

A Life Stage to Be Designed

We no longer have the luxury, or the limitation, of thinking of retirement as “the end.” Instead, it’s another chapter, as long as school or work. That means we can, and must, design it intentionally.

Just like students map out their education and professionals plan careers, retirees need to imagine what they want to create in their third act. It’s about asking, “What’s next?”

My brother’s story of the silver medal is proof: retirement isn’t about decline, it’s about redefinition. At 95, you might still be winning tennis tournaments. At 85, you might be coaching, painting, or leading community projects. At 75, you might be learning to play an instrument or writing your memoir.

The old timeline is outdated. The new math tells us that retirement is not a pause, it’s a pursuit.

Rethinking Retirement Through the Lens of Longevity

 When my brother returned from the Senior Summer Games this year, he was full of stories. At over 75, he competed in the doubles tennis tournament and walked away with a silver medal. He told me something that struck me as more than just a sports anecdote, it was a life lesson. When he first entered this age category years ago, winning was relatively easy. The older athletes seemed slower, while he still had speed and stamina. But this time was different. He and his partner lost to a 95-year-old and his 85-year-old teammate.

Think about that for a moment. A 95-year-old not only competing in tennis, but winning against players decades younger. This is not just impressive, it’s a reminder that retirement, aging, and capability don’t fit into tidy timelines.

We’re used to thinking of life in stages: school for 12 to 20 years, work for 35 to 45, and retirement for whatever time remains. But here’s the reality: retirement can now stretch 30 years or more. That’s as long as some people spend in their careers. Longevity is changing the math, and it means we must rethink what it means to “retire.”

Preparing for 30+ Years of Retirement

If we’re going to live long enough to see retirement as a third act instead of an afterthought, preparation matters. Not just financially, but physically, emotionally, and creatively. My brother’s tennis opponents were living proof. At 95, you don’t win a doubles match without taking care of your body. You also don’t step onto that court without mental resilience and the creativity to adapt your game to your strengths.

Physical preparation means staying active long before retirement begins. Emotional preparation involves building connections, nurturing purpose, and finding joy outside of work. Financial preparation is about more than saving; it’s about aligning money with the life you hope to live. And creative preparation? That’s often overlooked, but it might be the most important. It’s the spark that makes those extra decades meaningful.

A Retirement That Isn’t “The End”

Too often, retirement is framed as a wind-down, less doing, less striving, less dreaming. But if retirement lasts three decades or longer, it can’t be about less. It has to be about different. Retirement can be a period of growth, adventure, and reinvention.

The 95-year-old tennis champion reminds us that retirement isn’t a finish line. It’s a new season. It’s not about asking, “What will I stop doing?” but rather, “What will I keep doing, and what new things will I try?”

As life expectancy extends, so should our imagination about what’s possible. Instead of clinging to old notions of slowing down at 65, we need to ask: how do we build lives that keep us strong, connected, and fulfilled at 75, 85, and even 95?