Ten years in business. And three and a bit more years ahead of me until my intended retirement date. Some people say I won’t do it, that I can’t do it. Can’t stop.
I know I am a doer. So I understand that perspective. How can someone so driven simply step off and away?
Maybe my musings might be useful to you, as you ponder the next phase of your life. It is the start of a new year, after all, a time when we often put things in place that help us to work and live differently.
I don’t (yet) know what the purpose of retirement will be for me. I know it will need purpose though. There’s something about continuing to help people feel seen and heard, which is a continuation of what I hope I already do. But I don’t exactly know in what capacity. And which people? Women, men, both? Young, older, all? I don’t know and I am not forcing that to show itself. I am sitting with it though, knowing that when I have put an intention out there in the past, opportunities have shown themselves. I have always been guided by the quote, attributed to Seneca, “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity”. I don’t exactly feel prepared, but I have declared this partially formed purpose here and will continue to do so with friends and family so that we can all be open to spotting the opportunities when they present themselves.
What does that mean for me between now and 2028? It’s going to be a gradual tapering off, still doing work that enables people to feel seen and heard for all of who they are.
And for me, it means seeing and hearing myself more. Bringing all of the parts of me out into the open for others to see and hear too.
But there is one thing that has been bothering me. The noise. The noise of the internet. The noise of the media. The noise that stops us from hearing ourselves.
I know I have been contributing to that noise, with blogs every other week and LinkedIn posts every weekday and even some weekend days. I love getting my voice out there, but at what cost? What is the balance of speaking/writing/provoking vs allowing space for others to find their own voice, their own views, their own intuition? I’m noodling on this for 2025.
Last year’s phrase of the year was to “lead with love”. I am absolutely not letting that one go, as that has had such a profound impact on my home life and my work life and is ever-evolving. Seeing people and hearing them is an act of love in itself. Less noise feels like an act of love too.
And yet, I also notice that if I were to stop writing about love, for example, that would allow space for the voices that are intolerant. And as Mo Gawdat points out, AI learns from what we post. So the best of us must show up on social media, to teach the machines to be the best, not the worst of humanity.
If you were to reduce the noise for yourself, whilst also amplifying the best of you, what would your inner voice say to you about this season of your life?
Thanks for this thoughtful piece Clare. I found myself wondering what assumptions we might make at moments of change in our lives. The western world talks about retirement. For many there is life which – if we are lucky – ends with old age. To reframe, can offer new understanding of what we need from life and what life needs from us. You have left me thinking. Thank you
I’m glad it was thought-provoking. And you have had so much noise to deal with lately. Sending love.
Hi Clare, I love this and it really resonates as I also am looking at slowing down in the next few years and no idea of full retirement, it scares me. Helping people is so in our makeup and what do we do if not coaching, but equally find more time to help ourselves, allow us to help others! Trying to make the transition slowly! The other challenge is stopping from a business perspective. Been self-employed for 18 years and always using my mind to create new opportunities for me and the business, where does that buzz come from when you retire? Lots of food for thought and thanks for provoking them.
yes the brain must still have stimulation, as must the body and all other parts of us. i am considering what groups I wish to be a part of that will enable me to keep thinking, stretching and becoming ever more conscious.
Such a timely post – ‘the noise’ has been noodling with me a lot lately as well. It’s like I’m wanting to rebel against it but at the same time know I want and need to be a part of it. I was pondering last night about what the next chapter might look like (for myself as an individual and what trends in society might shift towards in future). The choices we’re making about all the internet noise out there. I haven’t got any clear answers (yet!)