The third act: Life beyond career

Early this year, I made a phone call to invite several women to breakfast at Oscar’s in Hiawatha. This group were unrelated to each other; in fact, some had never met. They were united in that they had served, at some point in the last twenty years, as mentors to me — each had taken time out of her own busy life to make time to encourage and guide me toward opportunities to make a difference. It was important to me, at this stage, to reconnect with them, to thank them for their work and their kindness, and to give them their flowers for all they have been to so many. We gathered around the table, there was some laughter at the remnants of a mammoth cinnamon roll that I had bested just before they arrived, and then each began to describe to me their life and work beyond the role in which I had met them initially. From taking on volunteer victim support work to increasing access to education for women across the nation — my mentors, true to their character, had taken on new opportunities to build and shape their community beyond retirement (and sometimes, in the second or third phase of retirement!)

I thought immediately of this dynamic group of women when I learned that Republican nominee for Vice President cosigned on a podcast host’s statement that grandchildren are “the whole purpose of the postmenopausal female.”

A financial planner I spoke with recently informed me that most people are more afraid of retirement than they are death; from his perspective, because retirement means eking out an existence on whatever you have managed to invest and save throughout your highest earning years. What I have come to realize as I approach membership in the “sandwich generation” (middle-aged adults caring for both their children and parents, often facing pressures from both generational needs while managing their own lives) is that there are other and sometimes more daunting reckoning with the idea of letting go of career: what to do with all that time, how to navigate an evolving identity, and particularly for the high-achieving — how to continue to make an impact.

According to a Pew report, the number of adults over 65 in the workforce doubled over the 35 year period ending in 2023. These numbers didn’t account for whether those who remained in the workforce did so due to necessity or by choice, but research has demonstrated health benefits to continued engagement whether in the workforce or as a volunteer. These include cognitive, physical, social, and mental health advantages — people are not only living longer, they’re living better when they have a meaningful pursuit.

So what are people doing post retirement? There’s been a lot of buzz about Pickleball, but one avenue you may not expect is entrepreneurship. More than 22% of entrepreneurs were over age 55 according to a 2021 report published by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Some of those starting their own enterprises may be doing so due to age discrimination in the workplace or the jobs pool. The statistics on workers citing age discrimination as a source of anxiety in their job hunt are staggering; 40% of employees over just forty years old feel they face long odds in achieving employment because of their age. However, research shows that older entrepreneurs tend to fare better than their younger counterparts when striking out on their own.

Others find purpose in volunteer work. Many social service agencies can attest to the importance of older adults in ensuring that boards are filled, meals are delivered, houses built, children read to in school, polls worked, funds raised, and events planned. The contributions made by volunteers are invaluable to the well-being of those most in need, and are far too often taken for granted. Most of us know someone who at some time or another has been in need of support from an organization working to improve quality of life for those who are struggling — sometimes the easiest way to find your niche is to engage with an issue that has impacted you or someone you love personally.

While nearly half of older adults engage in no physical activity as part of their leisure time, more than a quarter are regularly physically active. While there is certainly room for improvement, there are also many opportunities to find an activity or a group that is aligned with your fitness and health goals — and many insurance companies and plans are incentivizing physical activity because more activity means better health outcomes. Some even find a way to combine both physical activity and philanthropic pursuits. I met the dynamic Betsy Ann Cooksey last month, who at over 60 has taken up horseback riding and combined it with a passion for fundraising for unhoused children and families. She had just completed a 400 mile fundraiser ride across Mongolia — where she was joined, among others, by an octogenarian who rode as many miles as she.

For more information on pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors: https://www.score.org/eastcentraliowa

For opportunities to volunteer in a variety of industries:

https://www.uweci.org/volunteer/volunteer-initiatives/

For some ways to get physical:

https://www.crmetroymca.org/