What’s a first retirement?

Here’s the thing…

For many of us, it seems certain the career paths of a generation ago – loyalty to one company, crossing the finish line on schedule at 65, pension in hand – are gone. And there’s something great about that.  We’ve outgrown the old model of work, where employees defer to benevolent, paternalistic corporations who look out for us (and have authority over us).  We’re growing up into the equivalent of rebellious teenagers.

Now, there is so much freedom, for company and employee alike. But, for me at least, I see many of my friends and peers still working the way our grandparents did, or subconsciously expecting the same benefits. Sure, we can job hop, side hustle, become internet famous…but we still want our employers to provide the comfort and security of routine and a regular paycheck. To say nothing of the fact that most professionals I know simply assume there won’t be a true “retirement” the way we think of it today.  We’ll move on to less demanding jobs, or different industries as we focus on family, hobbies, travel, or other dreams deferred. But either for financial reasons or just because we are too damn type A to imagine otherwise, we expect work to be a permanent feature of adulthood.

So. Do we just relinquish the idea of rest, reflection, a shift in focus that the end of work brings? Or blaze a trail that not only reinvents our relationship to work, but to all of life’s journey.

I’ve been working in the same industry for 18 years. It has been life affirming, joyful, frustrating, ridiculous and hard work – a revelation and a race all at once. I’ve changed immeasurably over the last two decades; who hasn’t?

And when you think about the conventional idea of retirement as a reward delayed, why wait? And why settle for just one?  Like Tolkien’s hobbits, let’s have first retirements, second retirements, elevensies…a whole smorgasbord of experience.

At least, that’s what I’m going to try to do.  I’ve quit my job – right in the middle of an amazing string of career successes – to take a year off.  And I’ll take my first retirement: seeing friends and family, trying new things with the eyes of kid, learning about myself, who I am today and where I’m heading, sleeping and watching Netflix (let’s not lie to ourselves), and a whole hell of a lot of “I don’t know but let’s figure it out.”

It was an almost two-year journey to realize this was my next step. One that included hospitalization for depression, a rainbow parade of changing hair colors, gaining 60 pounds, amazing travels with a squad of kickass women, tarot readings, energy work and lots of laughter and tears.

I can feel myself Awakening with a capital “A” – and I’m ready.  For things that scare me. Things that heal me.  And things I can’t even imagine.  I hope you’ll join me.