An old college pal called to share the exciting news that he was going to be a grandfather. His voice was filled with happiness and excitement. For some reason, it started me thinking about the similarities between child birth and retirement from the viewpoint of a baby and a retiree.
Transitioning into retirement is like being a baby before it’s born. I must be getting old, I can’t remember much before I was born. But I can picture a baby pre-child birth sitting in a cozy, warm space, growing and sucking its thumb, unaware of the future that awaits.
As it gets closer to delivery day, the baby starts to realize things are changing, the space becomes a bit cramped, and they hear their mother’s comments about “tired of being pregnant” and “it’s time to be born”. The day finally arrives, and they realize they’re leaving their familiar space. It’s a bittersweet moment, as they’ve spent their entire life in that space.
Some of us were ready for this transition and embraced it with ease. It was like a natural part of life, and the delivery was no big deal. However, others of us found it more challenging. We may not have been ready, felt a bit scared or needed more time, so we resisted the change. We knew we had to go, but we held off for hours, usually kicking and screaming when we finally emerged.
This transition into retirement is similar to the one we face when we leave the workforce. Work and life centered around work may be all we know. For many of us, it’s like the warm and comfortable womb of our lives. But then, we start to realize that things are changing. We begin to think about when we should retire. Friends and colleagues ask us when we’ll make the change. Some of us are ready to embrace it, while others may not be.
Some of us have worked long enough and are ready for some deserved rest and relaxation. Others may not be ready yet and feel they need a few more years to prepare. The transition can be long and tiresome. We may not have done the necessary preparations to make the transition easier. While others genuinely enjoy their work and may not want to leave it behind, but that day will come, whether we’re ready for it or not, just like when we first came into this world.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that I’ve become more childlike. I’m not back to sucking my thumb or pooping my pants but I can’t do all the things I did just a few years ago. I know as the years progress, I will require more help and guidance from others no matter how hard I try to resist. Maybe there’s something to this idea of the Circle of Life. We start as new born babies kicking and screaming, grow up, transition into adulthood, and then eventually retire, becoming like babies again in our own way.
Thank you for taking time to read this article.
If you would like, please leave a comment below or you can email me at www.feedback@wewaonthenet.com.
I’m also starting a YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/@wewaonthenet where I will be discussing various retirement topics and topics I come across that I think may be of interest. Check it out!
Recent Comments