When I first started talking about "RIPE," people got the concept -- rich, rewarding work after 50 -- right away. Their faces lit up with excitement and hope.
Some of them even realized that being 50-plus was about to become the place to be. Philanthropic consultant Julia Howell blurted out, "I'm 47 1/2!" We laughed: when was the last time we appended half a year to our ages? When was the last time we wanted to be older?
Like, Julia, there are a growing number of us who look forward to what's next. I've identified six reasons people decide to ripen. Does one of these sound like you?
"I'm successful and looking for a new challenge."
He'd had a big career, culminating in a senior role at one of the largest global companies. He told me that he felt he'd learned everything there was to learn and done everything he could do. "I'm at the top of my game, and now I want to try something new."
"I gave my life to others."
When they married, she had earned a degree from a good university and was using her skills at a worthy not-for-profit. For nearly 30 years, she'd stayed home to raise their family. At 53, she was climbing the walls. "I made a conscious choice," she told me. She was glad she'd been there for her kids, "but it's my turn now."
"I realized I need to work."
He'd done everything right but lost his life savings when the financial crisis hit. He told me he was over the shock of having to continue to work -- and he really wanted to shift his view of the situation. "Now I want to believe this really can be the most satisfying period of my career. Could I actually want to work?"
"This road has come to an abrupt end."
"I'm lost in a dark wood with no way out," he mumbled, slumped in his chair. A successful venture capitalist for decades, at 56 he had become yesterday's man. Effectively pink slipped in his prime, he was unmoored and miserable.
"I haven't lived up to my potential."
She felt she got off on the wrong foot professionally, and moving countries repeatedly to follow her husband's career meant hers never quite got on track. "Do you think we have second chances?" she asked. "Is there still time?"
"I retired and want to go back to work."
Walter Cronkite was publicly candid about the fact that retirement was the worst decision he'd made; he called it "statutory senility." Many people enjoy the break at first, but then they are eager to find their way back in. This includes those who were nudged into retirement -- involuntarily, sometimes by their spouses -- and have come to regret it.
The impetus for your journey could be any of these realizations. But something else will mark its official start -- a decision to wholeheartedly reject the notion that it's time to stop working. That may sound minor (or obvious), but it is absolutely essential. Shifting our perspective -- deciding that we're ripe for change -- is the cornerstone of the foundation on which our new work will be built.
Are you over 50 and ripe for change? Are you feeling at the top of your game? Are you finding that the world wants you to go away? Share your story with us below or feel free to email me via my website.
"RIPE" is here! This spring, I'm writing about "RIPE: Rich, Rewarding Work After 50," a 12-week course on discovering passion, purpose and possibility at midlife. Check out the video (a.k.a. book trailer!):
Be part of the "RIPE" community on HuffPost, Facebook and Twitter. Together, we are going to change this phase of life!
Follow Julia Moulden on Twitter: www.twitter.com/juliamoulden
I'm not sure that I mentioned this before, but I wanted to make sure.
People over 50 have a harder time dealing with stress, which is the cause of a great many medical problems. They would all be very well served by learning and practicing meditation techniques to better handle stress and thereby prolong their a careers. Too many people rely on alcohol which has more negative side effects over the long term and as we get older. Modern medicine typically ignores Eastern practices because it is profit driven and there is much more profit in selling drugs that only treat symptoms rather than provide real healing. They always say, where are the studies? But more studies are coming out about the benefits of meditation, which can have a major impact on peoples' ability to function.
Work can be very gratifying, and there is often an endless supply of work to be done, even though compensation is short. People over 50 can have more of that gratification if they take care of their health and use meditation to avoid aggravating medical issues.
ATD : At The Doctor's
BFF : Best Friend Fell
BTW : Bring The Wheelchair
BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth
CBM : Covered By Medicare
CUATSC: See You At The Senior Center
DWI : Driving While Incontinent
FWBB : Friend With Beta Blockers
FWIW : Forgot Where I Was
FYI : Found Your Insulin
GGPBL : Gotta Go, Pacemaker Batttery Low
GGLKI : Gotta Go, Laxative Kicking In
GHA : Got Heartburn Again
IMHO : Is My Hearing-Aid On?
LMDO : Laughing My Dentures Out
LOL : Living On Lipitor
OMMR : On My Message Recliner
OMSG : Oh My! Sorry, Gas.
ROFL ...ACGU : Rolling On The Floor Laughing ... And Can't Get Up!
TTYL : Talk To You Louder~
WAITT : Who Am I Talking To?
WTP : Where's The Prunes?
WWNO : Walker Wheels Need Oil
Watch for me on the road to ripening, beep, beep!
I think that Seniors would benefit from organizing better as a social group.
It's unfortunate that we are all defined, at least in the public media, by our market potential.
Maybe what we need is a Seniors only network to organize and promote public works and other activities by Seniors. Those other activities could include education on various issues including economic ones, like a Gray Consumer's Reports. Political power is very limited, but economic power in our society is substantial. If Seniors organized to exert that economic power collectively, I think they would get much more respect.
Organizing economic power may not be the nobelist of goals, but it is the world in which we live. Lots of higher sounding goals are bandied about, but all to often, they are just excuses for marketing. And some people would be attracted to it for selfish reasons.
How about Senior online continuing education.
Don't trust anyone under 50.
Just a thought.
Yes, there needs to be all kinds of models for people over 50. AARP covers some of what you're talking about... And, oh, the power of a generation harnessed to making a difference - that will be wonderful to see!
My focus is on helping people who want to and/or need to continue to work and how they can find rich, rewarding work at this age. Human beings, like any living creature, is made to work. It will be very interesting to watch this generation reshape this phase of life.
Please keep reading and sharing your thoughts!!
Stay tuned to Facebook. I'm going to be announcing a tour. May not be BF as in neighbours, but maybe we can meet!
I've been on sabatical for almost a year - allowing me to volunteer for Planned Parenthood, ACLU, PLFAG, joined a grassroot party, became the hospitality "gal" for our local derby gals (who are a non-profit that give a portion of $$ to local charities), started lifting weights and doing some serious workouts with gals 1/2 my age. I also have 2 young boys 10 and 11 - and take care of my 78 year old parents - nothing compares to having this time to start a new path - nothing. I am lucky to have some financial resources in the bank and a younger husband who supports us - and found his long lost career - as a broker!
I have a very good opportunity pending but my real heart is youth: I want to start a non-profit called "
The Raindow Room" for youth - especially outsiders and GLBT youth - a safe place to hang out, learn about wellness, nutrition, self-esteem, the world, books, computers - Zero tolerance for
Now I'm an adjunct professor of English, working at three different schools (two universities, one community college) and making about a third of what I made in the corporate world. My only regret is that I didn't choose something like tech or finance early in my career so I'd have a nest egg.
I am now 59. Since retiring , I have taught college, operated my own training and consulting business, worked as a substitute teacher in the Chicago Public schools, wrote and published my first book a nonfiction based on my investigations of a corrupt Illinois governor, and currently working on my first fiction, a political thriller /murder story. I have also had local news columns published and appeared on both local TV and radio news shows. www.consulthammer.com .
Human beings are endowed by their creator with the ability to emulate his creativity and productivity - in short, to work. We're not whole without it. But "work" can mean many different things, and I want to find something that inspires and stimulates me, not just brings in a paycheck.
On Valentine's Day I arrived at my office and started reading my email. The third email was a horrible, scathing, belittling email from my boss. I stared at it in disbelief. How could he talk to me like that after 18 years of service in a super responsible position?
My fingers typed "Goodbye". My middle finger typed "send".
I picked up my handbag, slammed the doors on my way out and threw my office keys out my car window on the drive home. I am totally shocked that I would do such a thing, but am I ever HAPPY.
I am not financially prepared for retirement. No IRA, no 401K, my house is not paid for. Am I worried? A little.
Did I do the right thing for me? Yes I did!
I am truly RIPE to enjoy the remainder of my life.
I FEEL TOTALLY AT PEACE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS.
Best of luck to you in all you do from this point forward!
With age, we grow less tolerant of rat-race stress, and a career focused on money for family reasons becomes less important and more of a rut.
So take all of that accumlated wisdom and venture out of the rut and into more stimulating and personally rewarding pursuits. While doing that, re-evaluate some of those old materialistic and pride-based standards.
Thanks for inspiring what I felt I wanted to add to the conversation!
And thanks, Julia.... for initiating this important conversation filled with opportunity!
Kathleen
www.QuintessentialYouDesign.com
Thank you, Kathleen, for your thoughtful, honest and tender comment.