Here's part 7 of a series from US News and World Report that gives seven reasons you shouldn't retire. Today's reason:
Work may add meaning to your later life.
Their summary of this issue:
Financial concerns may be the first reasons older workers offer to explain why they're staying on the job, but researchers have found that one deeper reason--the need to make a meaningful contribution--is often the more important motivating factor.
"At a certain time of life--call it midlife--you look beyond just making a living for yourself and your family to thinking about what your contribution is or could be," says Marika Stone, co-author, with her husband, Howard, of Too Young to Retire. He speaks and gives courses on the concept of pursuing a "renaissance" rather than a retirement, while she promotes the idea on their website, 2young2retire.com, and in her work as a yoga instructor. "I've come to believe it's hard-wired into us as human beings--this ancient turning inward," she says.
I must admit, I'm in this transition process -- moving from simply earning money to wanting to make a difference. And I hope to make a (bigger) difference in retirement -- but working at least part-time for a non-profit organization.
How about you? Anyone out there thinking about how to help out others and make a difference in their lives?
I think a lot of people think of reitirement as the day that you can start doing nothing for 15+ years!
I have been very lucky to have found a job that I love and where I feel like I make a difference. My ultimate dream is to become a high school english teacher and one day I hope to pursue that actively. For now, I am hanging out in the corporate world and hope to max out my 401K by the end of the year (currently 17% with a 6% company match).
I am hoping to retire by the time I am 45....by that I mean....out of the corporate world. I believe that one's life is lived in phases. My next phase will be to pursue teaching, volunteer, get certified to be a yoga teacher, create a few oil paintings, and just try to gain as much wisdom as I possibly can.
I think that we all have a responsibility of being of use to others....be it in retirement or not. All of us have a daily duty to be the best person that we can be, towards ourselves and others. If we do that....we are already living a wonderful life....and that will always attract more money and happiness to us because we are giving out an aura of abundance.
Don't get me wrong...I love my spa days and the cute outfits, but I shop around and make sure that I always get a bargain. I live below my means, give to worthy causes, and pay myself first. These three things alone will pay off handsomely in the long run.
BTW....awesome site :)
Posted by: Citrine | June 22, 2006 at 05:47 PM