by Dr. Jeffrey Lant
I am at the age (64 on 02/16/11) when I am asked one
particular question over and over again: "When do you plan
to retire?" My resolute answer delivered con brio surprises
my questioners: "I shall NEVER retire!"
particular question over and over again: "When do you plan
to retire?" My resolute answer delivered con brio surprises
my questioners: "I shall NEVER retire!"
Because they ALWAYS want to know why… I have
decided to write this, a latter-day Declaration of
Independence, to provide a ready means of response
for myself and all the other people worldwide who
are thrilled by what they do and the life they have
fashioned and have absolutely no desire to change
things, no matter what.
decided to write this, a latter-day Declaration of
Independence, to provide a ready means of response
for myself and all the other people worldwide who
are thrilled by what they do and the life they have
fashioned and have absolutely no desire to change
things, no matter what.
J’y suis, J’y reste.
It was le Marechal McMahon at the siege of Sebastopol
in 1855 who memorably barked out this trenchant phrase
which loosely translates into "I am here and here I shall
remain!" It’s the way those of us feel who are adamant
about either retaining our present position or engaging
in other constructive work instead of retiring.
in 1855 who memorably barked out this trenchant phrase
which loosely translates into "I am here and here I shall
remain!" It’s the way those of us feel who are adamant
about either retaining our present position or engaging
in other constructive work instead of retiring.
You see, we know a secret that the vast horde of the
retired either does not know or came to understand too
late: work invigorates, energizes, and exercises facilities
which otherwise quickly enervate and deteriorate. In other
words, productive, meaningful work is essential to staying
young, alive, and alert. So, let’s review all the reasons why
retirement as generally practised and understood is one
of the worst things you can ever do to yourself.
retired either does not know or came to understand too
late: work invigorates, energizes, and exercises facilities
which otherwise quickly enervate and deteriorate. In other
words, productive, meaningful work is essential to staying
young, alive, and alert. So, let’s review all the reasons why
retirement as generally practised and understood is one
of the worst things you can ever do to yourself.
1) Retirement rots the brain.
If you have work you like, one reason you fancy it
is because you have meaningful questions to answer,
challenges to face, and labor to do. Work, as Sigmund
Freud well understood, is crucial to the well-lived life.
Take away work which engages your full attention,
experience, and expertise, and you have removed a
critical factor of your well-being. Formless leisure can
never replace the knowledge that you are engaged in
something worth doing.
is because you have meaningful questions to answer,
challenges to face, and labor to do. Work, as Sigmund
Freud well understood, is crucial to the well-lived life.
Take away work which engages your full attention,
experience, and expertise, and you have removed a
critical factor of your well-being. Formless leisure can
never replace the knowledge that you are engaged in
something worth doing.
2) Retirement leads to physical deterioration.
Take a good,close look at the next person aged 65
or older who passes your way. The ones engaged in
significant, constructive labor (the only kind of work
any of us should ever do) have an aura radiating energy
and purpose. They are "with it". Lights! Camera! Action!
or older who passes your way. The ones engaged in
significant, constructive labor (the only kind of work
any of us should ever do) have an aura radiating energy
and purpose. They are "with it". Lights! Camera! Action!
The presentation of our laborless peers is very, very
different. Having nothing better to do than contemplate
physical infirmities and eternity, they are often peevish,
selfish, with vistas narrowing, hope evaporating. In such
circumstances, it is easy to see why physical problems
and limitations abound.
different. Having nothing better to do than contemplate
physical infirmities and eternity, they are often peevish,
selfish, with vistas narrowing, hope evaporating. In such
circumstances, it is easy to see why physical problems
and limitations abound.
3) Retirement slashes your income and lifestyle.
As every study grimly shows, the average person
hasn’t put away nearly enough money to sustain at
retirement their current lifestyle, much less do the extra
things (world cruise, anyone?) you desire. Do you want to
make do with less? I certainly don’t. Why face the
conclusion of life scrimping, having to count every
penny and cut back… and back… and back? It’s demeaning
and demoralizing. What’s more it’s completely unnecessary…
if you keep satisfying labor in your life.
hasn’t put away nearly enough money to sustain at
retirement their current lifestyle, much less do the extra
things (world cruise, anyone?) you desire. Do you want to
make do with less? I certainly don’t. Why face the
conclusion of life scrimping, having to count every
penny and cut back… and back… and back? It’s demeaning
and demoralizing. What’s more it’s completely unnecessary…
if you keep satisfying labor in your life.
4) Retirement renders a lifetime of experience and
expertise superfluous , useless.
expertise superfluous , useless.
The day you leave your present employ, you are at
the top of your professional game. You know the
most, can do the most, can create the most, and
solve the most. You are a person of knowledge,
wisdom, and insight. Wow!
the top of your professional game. You know the
most, can do the most, can create the most, and
solve the most. You are a person of knowledge,
wisdom, and insight. Wow!
Walk out that door… cut the ties with what you
have done before and your skill level and all you
can do with it starts to deteriorate at once… each
day diminishing your knowledge and skills. You are
now walking away from everything you have
aimed at and achieved for so many years. Does this
make any sense at all?
have done before and your skill level and all you
can do with it starts to deteriorate at once… each
day diminishing your knowledge and skills. You are
now walking away from everything you have
aimed at and achieved for so many years. Does this
make any sense at all?
5) Retirement reduces respect, deference, and
awe.
awe.
Are you good at what you do? Have you worked a
lifetime to perfect your skills, to be and do better
than others in your field? Are you a master of
your craft, with the respect, deference and even
awe that that generates? Will you like doing with
less and less of this, as the relevancy of what
you know and can do inevitably diminishes; as
you move farther and farther away from the peak
of your skills?
lifetime to perfect your skills, to be and do better
than others in your field? Are you a master of
your craft, with the respect, deference and even
awe that that generates? Will you like doing with
less and less of this, as the relevancy of what
you know and can do inevitably diminishes; as
you move farther and farther away from the peak
of your skills?
When was the last time you watched a retired
person at any event in your field? They were no
doubt greeted politely, even enthusiastically. But
the conversation quickly moved on to today’s
questions, today’s challenges… and as it did so
the retired person, no matter how supreme he
had been before, became inevitably de trop.
Remember when this happened to former
star Norma Desmond when she returned to
Paramount Studios in "Sunset Boulevard"? It was,
in the truest sense of the word… pathetic. Is this what
you really want, to be forgotten… but not gone?
person at any event in your field? They were no
doubt greeted politely, even enthusiastically. But
the conversation quickly moved on to today’s
questions, today’s challenges… and as it did so
the retired person, no matter how supreme he
had been before, became inevitably de trop.
Remember when this happened to former
star Norma Desmond when she returned to
Paramount Studios in "Sunset Boulevard"? It was,
in the truest sense of the word… pathetic. Is this what
you really want, to be forgotten… but not gone?
6) Retirement reduces your ability to help others.
The best careers are always about the good you
do to others. Retire and that important ability declines day
by day, painfully, inevitably.
do to others. Retire and that important ability declines day
by day, painfully, inevitably.
Have people benefited from what you know and
can do? Has the need for this knowledge and skill
abated in any way? Or is it as robust as ever? If
the latter, then why (except for purely selfish reasons)
would you ever want to stop helping? Stop improving?
Stop transforming and enlightening? It makes utterly
no sense… no sense at all.
can do? Has the need for this knowledge and skill
abated in any way? Or is it as robust as ever? If
the latter, then why (except for purely selfish reasons)
would you ever want to stop helping? Stop improving?
Stop transforming and enlightening? It makes utterly
no sense… no sense at all.
How a wily German prince , long dead, is
influencing your life.
influencing your life.
Prince Otto von Bismarck was probably the most
important statesman of the 19th century, conniving
as he did at the unification of Germany. But perhaps
his even more important (and invidious) legacy is the
fact that he determined the age of retirement for much
of the world. This determination is having a very
definite and pronounced influence on… you!
important statesman of the 19th century, conniving
as he did at the unification of Germany. But perhaps
his even more important (and invidious) legacy is the
fact that he determined the age of retirement for much
of the world. This determination is having a very
definite and pronounced influence on… you!
Prince Bismarck, first Chancellor of the Imperial Reich,
wanted to dish the fast-growing German Socialists, alarming
people with a very different national vision than his own.
Old-age pensions provided him with the means of seeming
benevolent to folks whose votes he wanted, without costing much.
wanted to dish the fast-growing German Socialists, alarming
people with a very different national vision than his own.
Old-age pensions provided him with the means of seeming
benevolent to folks whose votes he wanted, without costing much.
German statisticians (then as now superb at their craft) made
it clear to him that most people would never live to 65 and that that,
therefore, was a most admirable date to pledge pensions. And so
a sacred cow was born, with Prince Bismarck’s raucous
laugh reverberating through the years, keeping millions enthralled
to one of the most cynical of men and his very cynical policy: promise
what you will never have to give.
it clear to him that most people would never live to 65 and that that,
therefore, was a most admirable date to pledge pensions. And so
a sacred cow was born, with Prince Bismarck’s raucous
laugh reverberating through the years, keeping millions enthralled
to one of the most cynical of men and his very cynical policy: promise
what you will never have to give.
Today, you are young at 65… act like it!
Today’s 65 year olds are completely different from those
of over a century ago. For one thing, we are alive. For another,
we are healthier, more fit, more active…. and thus in no particular
practical need of retirement or the trickle that is Social Security.
of over a century ago. For one thing, we are alive. For another,
we are healthier, more fit, more active…. and thus in no particular
practical need of retirement or the trickle that is Social Security.
It’s time, therefore, to take a new view of retirement; to see
it for what it is, not the solution to but the enemy of our well
being. Join me: say no to retirement. It’ll be the very best
decision you have ever made and will put you in the company
of sovereigns and pontiffs, none of whom ever retire either!
it for what it is, not the solution to but the enemy of our well
being. Join me: say no to retirement. It’ll be the very best
decision you have ever made and will put you in the company
of sovereigns and pontiffs, none of whom ever retire either!
