Retirement Should Never Be the Goal

Pablo Casals was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.  A cellist, conductor, composer, humanitarian, and freedom fighter he said, “to retire is to die”.

When I studied Taekwondo some time ago, I learned that the most powerful way to punch something was to aim one foot past the point of contact.  That way, you have full momentum and power when contact is made.  If you aim for the point of contact itself, by the time you reach it you’ll already be slowing down, so the punch will be less powerful.  The result is less successful.

I think retirement is similar.  Regrettably, many who are actually planning to retire begin to slow down in their 50’s and into their 60’s.  They lose much needed momentum and begin the process of deceleration.  This explains why so often retirement begins to impact mobility, increases the likelihood of illness, decreases mental health and people begin to get “old”.  I’m seeing this myself as I watch many of those around me begin the journey to this mysterious place called retirement.  A place they have been convinced is the destination of choice.

Retirement really is a 20th century experience, and the basis of this antiquated notion makes little to no sense today.  Sixty-five just isn’t considered old anymore – this age was chosen at a time when the average life span was 63 and the system was designed to serve those who were really in need.

The suggestion that people over 65 can’t provide meaningful work and bring value to organizations makes no sense either.  Retirement became a thing when most of the work performed was manual labour but today much of what we do is knowledge-based.  And if there’s anything lacking in today’s society its wisdom and experience from those who have spent a lifetime refining both.  Retirement should never be the goal.  It is not a destination.

Really, until our last breath, we are fully capable of working in some way.  My 90 year old father can out walk, out think, and out work most of my friends who are thirty years younger.  They’ve already began the process of deceleration while my father continues to generate momentum.

I have no intention of stopping or slowing down.  Contrary to today’s popular beliefs, people do get better with age