The beginning of the end
Well, this month I had the first of what I am sure will be many lasts, as I count down to retirement. I participated in my final board meeting. It really hit me as I looked around the table that there is a good chance I will never see some of these people again…certainly not in this setting.
That experience reminded me that I want to be particularly mindful during these next couple of months. Of course, when you are planning something as momentous as retirement, you spend a lot of time thinking about the future. That is, after all, the nature of planning. However, I don’t want to be so focused on beginning a new phase of life that I forget to savor the end of this phase.
There is much about my career and my day-to-day work activities that I love.
As much as I hate the morning alarm, I do enjoy the sense of purpose that comes from getting up early and going through my morning routine, knowing that I have a job to get to…work to do…people counting on me.
Most of all, I love the people I work with…the daily interactions, the celebratory lunches, the laughs, the sense of accomplishment that comes from working together to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. In truth, I like that people turn to me for a clear head and calm demeanor when things get crazy. I am always touched…and a little surprised…when someone tells me they have learned from me or been inspired by me. I consider it a compliment of the highest order.
And on the rare quiet days, I delight in the sense of purpose and productivity that comes from working through my to-do list, checking things off as I go…getting organized.
I love the tired sense of satisfaction I have on a Friday evening, when I’ve survived another busy week and the entire weekend stretches ahead of me.
I will greatly miss our company’s annual hiking challenge. Of course, I can hike without a formal challenge…and will have more time to do so after retirement…but it won’t be the same without the energy of the group, comparing adventures and photos, sharing advice, ticking hikes off the list…and earning prizes and cash for doing so.
None of this is to say I am rethinking my decision. I am definitely ready to step away from my career and focus my time and energies elsewhere. I just want to make sure I enjoy these experiences that are nearing an end…that I don’t rush mindlessly through them, only to look back later and say, “I should have paid more attention to those moments, savored those feelings.”
Your turn
- What is (was) your favorite thing about working?
- Do you have any regrets about how you retired?
- What is your favorite thing about retirement?
- What else is on your mind? Anything at all…I just love hearing from you.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin.
I observe that the people who adjust to retirement the best are the ones who like you said “can hike without a formal challenge.” It’s more about taking responsibility for your own sense of purpose, less about being dependent on other people to tell you what to do next. You’ll do great
Thanks for the advice and the encouragement, Ally. I look forward to the challenge. By the way, I love what you did there…making my simple words “can hike without a challenge” into a metaphor for all of retirement.
Hi Christie – one of the biggest regrets that I have about leaving work is that it happened so quickly and in response to such a toxic degeneration in the “atmosphere” of where I’d initially thought I’d be happy to see out the next 10 years. I think being able to gradually let go will make the adjustment process much more pleasant – releasing small things slowly, rather than having to let go in a rush. Enjoy the process.
That is exactly how I feel/felt, Leanne. Within 2 months of learning I needed surgery, I was retired. In some ways, it was like yanking the bandaid off. But I prefer to work them off, loosen them a bit first so I don’t create more raw soreness underneath the bandage.
I hope you will have people and relationships to fill in for those you have enjoyed at work, Christie. I know you have family, and new friends in Utah. Most of my friends were still working when I retired. And I missed the children at school most of all.
Sending you confetti and hugs as you celebrate each little milestone leading up to your first day of retirement.
Thank you, Leslie. Like you, I do better if I have time to mentally and physically prepare and have at least some semblance of control. I have been blessed with both in this situation. I do have a few friends who are retired, both up north and down south, so that will definitely help. One of my best work friends is retiring a month ahead of me, so I anticipate that we will keep in touch. In fact, I make a commitment here and now to make that effort. Thanks for the confetti and hugs. You are the sweetest!
Thank you, Leanne. I do appreciate that I am leaving on good terms, my terms. I’m sure that makes things easier. However, I must say, from here, it appears that you have made the adjustment to retirement about as well as anyone I know. I’m looking forward to joining you in that exploratory getting-to-know-yourself phase of life.
You’re going to love it Christie – even just the extra headspace to discover new things to engage you and grow you. I’m grateful every day for this wonderful stage of life that I didn’t expect to reach for several more years! x
Thanks, Leanne. I think I’ll love it too. It does sound lovely to have the energy and headspace, as you say, to engage in what I want to do for myself and my family.
Endings can be tricky things as I learned when I missed the final class in my university course. I was ill, but the fact that I was struggling to deal with it coming to an end is probably what made me vulnerable to the virus I caught (way back, so not The virus). It meant I didn’t have a proper goodbye with some people who were important to me. The ending of a second course mid-year meant the same thing nearly happened again, but this time I made the effort to meet up with them all at the end of their course to have a proper goodbye.
I hope you get to fully enjoy the final phases of your working life (it certainly sounds like you are) as that will allow you to move without regrets into your new retired life. Have fun with both!
Thank you Debs! I’m glad that you made the most of your second mid-course exit. I do believe a proper goodbye can make the transition easier. I smiled at your clarification of “not The Virus.” The times we live in…
I definitely remember what you’re talking about. I tried to schedule lunches with everyone knowing I might never see them again. I also remember walking through our campus of buildings and thinking about never doing it again. We were in the middle of a big renovation so many had been displaced and our buildings were less connected. It made it tougher to see everyone.
I love being retired. My favorite thing? No alarm!! Having a flexible schedule is also wonderful. Savor all your “lasts”!!
Hello Linda. It encourages me that all of my blogging friends ultimately love retirement, though some took longer than others to reach that point. I can relate to the renovation at the office during your retirement…or the feeling at least. We are not going through a building renovation right now, but we are in the middle of a lot of changes, and it feels a little chaotic and perhaps not the best time (or maybe the very best time) to say goodbye. I am SO looking forward to ditching the alarm and taking advantage of a more flexible schedule. Less than two months now…
Hi, Christie – You are very wise to mindfully enjoy your final experiences of your career. I did the same thing and believe that it made a huge positive difference for me. In answer to your remaining questions:
1. Striving to make a positive difference in the lives of children.
2. No. Not at all.
3. Waking up every morning and shouting “Yippee”!!
4. Thank you for another great post.
Hello Donna! I have learned from the best. Who knew starting a blog would introduce me to so many real-life retirement experts? In all seriousness, I have been inspired and educated by what so many of you have shared through your blogs. Isn’t it great that you loved your work and you love your retirement? Every day really does deserve a Yippee!
I remember very distinctly being aware of a series of “lasts” I experienced before retiring (in fact, I wrote a post about them years ago when I was in the process of leaving my job). Although I was excited to retire, I had feelings of sadness and loss too. Fortunately, I can see my favorite co-workers for lunch when I want – or maybe when they can get away, if they are still working. In fact, I just got a text from a coworker/friend from two jobs ago (almost 20 years ago) who is putting together a lunch for a few of us. How great is that?! Enjoy your lasts… then enjoy your firsts as you enter retirement!
Isn’t it wonderful, Janis, to be aware of the experiences we are having in the moment with an appreciation of their significance? I’d love to go back and read your post from that period, if you wouldn’t mind sending me a link. I’m so happy to hear that you have kept a connection with some of your coworkers. I do meet up on occasion with a friend who retired several years ago. One of my closest work friends is retiring a month ahead of me. We like to hike and go to Orangetheory together, so I anticipate that will continue. I am doing my best to enjoy these lasts and getting excited for those retirement firsts. Thanks for the encouragement.
Hi Christie! I’m way behind in my blog and comment reading and just saw this reply from you. I’m so happy that you asked for the link to my “Last Ofs” post because reading it again brought back some wonderful memories of what those days felt like (I wrote the post back in early 2014). Anyway, I think we both had similar bittersweet feelings about what we were leaving behind.
https://retirementallychallenged.com/2014/04/13/the-last-of-the-last-ofs/
Thank you Janis. I’ll jump right in!
The things I love about my job are the kids and my coworkers. I will definitely miss that when I decide to be done working. I won’t miss the occasional bad behaviors and recess in the cold.? I’m really happy for you sis. I’m guessing you will adjust quickly!
Relationships really are the most important thing…at least in my humble opinion. I don’t blame you for not loving recess when it’s cold. The good news is we are just starting the warmer weather, and summer break will be here before you know it. Enjoy!
One of the things I did was print out all the “goodbye” messages I received from people and put them into a scrap book. It really helped me that first year when I struggled with my identity… to look back and savor a bit, reminisce a bit. I love the fact you are savoring the “lasts” with intention. For me so much had changed in my job that some of my lasts went by without me realizing they were the lasts…it was one of the reasons I retired early. So much was changing in ways I didn’t like. So, it’s lovely you have those moments to savor!!
I like that idea, Pat, of printing out your goodbye messages. I hadn’t thought about the fact that they will likely come on the company email, which I will no longer have access to once I leave. Things are changing at my office as well…not necessarily in bad ways, but in ways that made me realize my heart isn’t in the long-term strategic plans and all the work that goes with them. It’s time to pass the baton to someone with the enthusiasm for making those things happen.