In 2026, 4.1 million Americans will reach the age of retirement, turning 65. Although not everyone will retire at 65, approximately 11,000 individuals retire daily. While many plan throughout their professional careers for the day they no longer are part of the work force, the focus of that planning is often financially-based. Current financial pressures in the U.S. delay retirement for many and approximately forty percent of Americans aren’t confident they will have enough income and assets to last through retirement, or indeed, be able to retire at all.
Another concern about reaching the age of retirement is maintaining a level of activity that supports a healthy lifestyle. Media sources constantly push physical exercise options and healthy diets. Socialization, stress management, and mental stimulation are also part of the equation. Being a healthcare provider for people in the later years of life keeps all of these concerns at the forefront of my mind.
However, one significant issue that I have not previously considered may be the key to experiencing rewarding years after retirement. That oft overlooked issue is called “mattering.” Mattering is closely related to having a purpose, a topic I frequently discuss with people. Having a purpose is the thing that gets us out of bed in the morning, and it is different for everyone. A mother may see her purpose as raising children who can successfully find their place in the world. A husband and father may see his purpose as providing for his family through work and a career. But “mattering” is a bit different. Mattering is defined through four components: feeling significant, appreciated, invested in, and depended upon. As your identity changes from being work or career driven to being focused more on relationships and contribution, you find a sense of well-being from a very different source. Purpose and mattering do not grow out of leisure, but rather out of pursuing relevance through sharing of yourself. Volunteering, mentoring, and community service are all ways to matter. Finding a cause that is important to you and building a framework for sharing it with others is a way to matter to those benefiting from that cause. Building relationships within your community adds to personal satisfaction and makes you matter to those in your corner of the world.
As retirement approaches, think about what small change you can make to make a difference…
“And that infinitesimal change ripples outward-even smaller but everlasting. I will get forgotten, but the stories will last. And so we all matter – maybe less than a lot, but always more than none.” ~John Green, An Abundance of Katherines
Just my two cents,
Penny
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