Do you bristle at the term "retirement" that connotes a life free from work and focused on some newfound pastime? If so, that's because your parent's concept of the years following a dedicated career is not acceptable or appealing to today's vibrant and energetic baby boomers who are on a quest for meaning in their later years. The interesting factor here is that the quest for meaning does not necessarily exclude all forms of work.
Marc Freedman, author of Encore: Finding Work That Matters In The Second Half Of Life, captures the essence of an extraordinary shift that, according to researchers, will result in a cultural phenomenon as transformative and significant as the women's movement.
According to Freedman, "If the old golden years dream was the freedom from work, the dream of this new wave (of baby boomers) is the freedom to work—in new ways, on new terms, to new and even more important ends."
The years after 50, now referred to as "The Third Age", "Encore Years", or Second Half of Life", currently generate over a million Google results, when only a decade ago, the topic might not have taken up as much as a bookshelf at Borders. But, today, there are a vast array of books available with examples of individuals who closed the chapter on careers that shaped their earlier identities to initiate new experiences that addressed their desire to serve a greater good or enliven some lesser known aspect of themselves.
This shift in the focus and intention of life and work is indicative of the life phase when individuals begin to lose interest in the "what should I be?" question inherent in the first half of life to address the "what am I meant to be?" quest of the second half.
Since this is a topic of great interest to me personally and professionally, you can count on seeing more of my blogs dedicated to it in the future.
In the meantime, here are a few questions to consider as you ponder your next life phase:
- What would I do if money was not a primary concern?
- What skills, abilities or gifts do I want to offer the world or my community?
- What would I feel proud of doing?
- Whom do I admire in the world today and what are they doing that might suggest a new direction for me?
For committed couples who want to explore a joint vision for second half of life years, consider this unique weekend retreat focused on a plan that incorporates both the individual's and couple's hopes for life after 50.
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Upcoming events featuring or sponsored by Heart At Work
April 4,5,6: Women's Life Expo, Portland. Barbara presents once each day: Live Your Life, Love Your Work...At Any Age.
April 19-May 10: Saturday Career Workshop Series with Amy Jaffe
Details: http://www.barbarababkirk.com/amy.html
May 8: HR Conventionn at the Samoset Resort in Rockport: Barbara and Amy Jaffe, will co-present a workshop: "Averting Quarterlife and Midlife Crises in Your Workplace: 5 Key Retention Strategies".
May 17 & 18: Your Second Half Of Life: A Unique Couples Retreat facilitated by Barbara and Doug Babkirk - Danforth Inn, Portland, ME
September 21-27: Barbara's annual Women's Retreat in Provence. Now accepting registrations.
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