Those words fixed themselves in Schmidt’s brain.
Decades later at age 66 they still have a hold on him.
“I was, I am, a really good employee,” he says.
“I see something that needs to be done, I do it,” he says.
Thechange of pace of retirementwas rough.
His life became a cycle of alternating between bed and couch, eating and watching Netflix.
After six months, Schmidt found a job working at a sexual-health clinic for two days a week.
When we think of retirement, we often think ofendless leisureand zero responsibility.
In fact, many retirees live like this.
But research suggests a life of pure leisure doesn’t make you happier or healthier.
But that’s not what most people are doing.
Americans are doing retirement all wrong.
The norm was for people to work until they could not work anymore.
We’re working longer and living longer.
Twenty years ago, just under 5 million Americans over 65 were employed.
Schmidt straddles these scenarios.
Now finances are tight.
“In that sense, retirement has been a letdown and a struggle,” he says.
“It can feel like jumping off a cliff.”
For some, the solution isto never give up work.
With it, “I don’t feel useless,” he says.
“I do work that feels like I’m really giving something to the community.”
So whatdoespurpose outside a career look like?
Paul Draper thinks he’s figured it out.
Draper’s first thought was to work at a hardware store.
He was somewhat handy but wanted to learn more about home repair.
He got a part-time job at his local big-box hardware store handling doors, windows, and staircases.
The job was never meant to be a forever thing.
He plans to replicate that experience and pursue other areas of work he’s fascinated by.
“I just want to intern there.”
His dream role, however, is to lead city tours on Segways.
Since Draper isn’t worried about needing an income, he can focus on learning.
Plus, he says it’s been fairly easy to find these gigs.
“I have found that there’s a lot of employers that love retirees,” he says.
“One, because they’re good with people.
But any of these arenas can be a source of purpose.
Some activities can provide purpose in several of those areas.
Bothgreater social interactionandincreased physical activityare associated with happier and healthier aging.
Sometimes older adults have to first overcome the idea that because they are older they are limited.
In reality, there’s no expiration date for finding new sources of fulfillment.
Of course, some people are perfectly happy with a leisure-filled retirement.
“The risk I see is that people brush aside those feelings,” he says.
They’re not, and they don’t have to be.
