AFTERWORK, rightly, encompasses a full range of endeavors.
I have friends who have taken on part-time work, enjoying extra income and social interaction. Others love being able to volunteer time to causes dear to them. In my husband's case, he has funneled 10 years of creative, sales, leadership and entrepreneurial skills into developing a medical device. It was not an instant disruptor with huge, immediate profits to attract big medical and pharma companies. It has proven to be absolutely of interest and help to doctors and patients in several fields. A younger person might never have had the means or perseverance to culminate what, to our surprise, has become a 10-year project without recompense other than the "joys and challenges of the journey". We now finally await FDA approval and prospects of financial rewards. But best of all is that more worthwhile treatments and ideas (and the needed relationships) have been unlocked and are on the drawing board.
I like the idea of one’s life course as a group of modules rather than being linear. Very helpful in terms of where one is at a particular time and identifying more opportunities for how one can best spend time ( in terms of real satisfaction).
"AfterWork". I love this! Absolutely agree in every sense - and I think there are increasing numbers of jobs that will accommodate it, especially for the self-employed...
In a sense, I feel like this is the other half of something I've felt strongly about for years - the options to delay University or higher education until your early or even mid-Twenties. You leave high school/secondary school, you go off and either travel the world, or intern yourself madly into lots of interesting careers, or even try building a 5-year business to learn entrepreneurship, and then when you've seen what that side of the world is like, *then* you step into Further Education.
In my case, I was aged 30 when I studied Archaeology (BSc) at University. I appreciated it so much more, I had a different mindset (I was definitely not ready for it at age 17/18) and even though I was a very late starter in so many ways, it helped me carry a perspective into my studies that I suspect you only get from working a job first.
And the flipside of this: maybe there are some professions that you're just not quite ready for until you reach the Afterwork period of your life. Seriously. What would that look like? What work would it be?
And maybe switching to this view on things will further help the world move away from this toxic "when you reach retirement age, your usefulness to the world has run out" prejudice. Not just venerating the old, but giving them new (and *different*) employment opportunities to show them what they're capable of, if they want to take them.
(As I said, this is kinda happening? It struck me when I was watching Star Trek: Picard. Has Patrick Stewart retired? He has not. And it seems like acting is one of those professions where "retirement" is seen as down to what YOU want to do as an individual. Lots of AfterWork there!)
I'd also like to examine the definition of "work". I volunteer pretty much daily which positively contributes to society (especially older adults) and to the environment (landscape maintenance in a public park, and picking up litter in my neighborhood). It's physically demanding, time consuming, and doesn't pay a dime. Best jobs I ever had. Do I work? You bet. So, "afterwork" still doesn't quite fit for me, but I applaud your analysis of why retirement needs redefinition.
It sounds like you've found meaningful "work" after completing your paid work. Good for you! I hope you continue to feel fulfilled and purposeful in what you do.
AFTERWORK, rightly, encompasses a full range of endeavors.
I have friends who have taken on part-time work, enjoying extra income and social interaction. Others love being able to volunteer time to causes dear to them. In my husband's case, he has funneled 10 years of creative, sales, leadership and entrepreneurial skills into developing a medical device. It was not an instant disruptor with huge, immediate profits to attract big medical and pharma companies. It has proven to be absolutely of interest and help to doctors and patients in several fields. A younger person might never have had the means or perseverance to culminate what, to our surprise, has become a 10-year project without recompense other than the "joys and challenges of the journey". We now finally await FDA approval and prospects of financial rewards. But best of all is that more worthwhile treatments and ideas (and the needed relationships) have been unlocked and are on the drawing board.
What a great story, Bev! Hat's off to your husband for persevering just for the challenge, and to both of you for following your passion!
I like the idea of one’s life course as a group of modules rather than being linear. Very helpful in terms of where one is at a particular time and identifying more opportunities for how one can best spend time ( in terms of real satisfaction).
It makes a lot of sense to me too, Betty. (Hope your recovery is going smoothly and quickly.)
"AfterWork". I love this! Absolutely agree in every sense - and I think there are increasing numbers of jobs that will accommodate it, especially for the self-employed...
In a sense, I feel like this is the other half of something I've felt strongly about for years - the options to delay University or higher education until your early or even mid-Twenties. You leave high school/secondary school, you go off and either travel the world, or intern yourself madly into lots of interesting careers, or even try building a 5-year business to learn entrepreneurship, and then when you've seen what that side of the world is like, *then* you step into Further Education.
In my case, I was aged 30 when I studied Archaeology (BSc) at University. I appreciated it so much more, I had a different mindset (I was definitely not ready for it at age 17/18) and even though I was a very late starter in so many ways, it helped me carry a perspective into my studies that I suspect you only get from working a job first.
And the flipside of this: maybe there are some professions that you're just not quite ready for until you reach the Afterwork period of your life. Seriously. What would that look like? What work would it be?
And maybe switching to this view on things will further help the world move away from this toxic "when you reach retirement age, your usefulness to the world has run out" prejudice. Not just venerating the old, but giving them new (and *different*) employment opportunities to show them what they're capable of, if they want to take them.
(As I said, this is kinda happening? It struck me when I was watching Star Trek: Picard. Has Patrick Stewart retired? He has not. And it seems like acting is one of those professions where "retirement" is seen as down to what YOU want to do as an individual. Lots of AfterWork there!)
Wow, Mike! Thank for that thoughtful commentary. And long live Capt. Picard!
I'd also like to examine the definition of "work". I volunteer pretty much daily which positively contributes to society (especially older adults) and to the environment (landscape maintenance in a public park, and picking up litter in my neighborhood). It's physically demanding, time consuming, and doesn't pay a dime. Best jobs I ever had. Do I work? You bet. So, "afterwork" still doesn't quite fit for me, but I applaud your analysis of why retirement needs redefinition.
It sounds like you've found meaningful "work" after completing your paid work. Good for you! I hope you continue to feel fulfilled and purposeful in what you do.
Interesting, important, insightful, inspiring!
Thanks, Wayne. Can I quote you?
Of course!