Never Too Late

A woman I’ve known for a number of years is retiring later this year. She is not yet 60 years old, but the prospect of retirement is not something she views with apprehension. Rather, she is quite excited about the whole thing. 

          She was a stay-at-home mom for a while after her marriage, and raised three children. When the youngest one was in second grade, she decided to rejoin the workforce, and found a job with a large law firm. She enjoyed her work and was fascinated by the process of law. She’s the only person I know who reads law cases for entertainment! Eventually, she took some introductory law courses in the evening and did quite well.    

         One day, she confided in me that her aim was to get a law degree and become a legal aid lawyer. She wanted to help those who need it most. However, her plans had to be put on hold when she was injured in an accident. As she underwent therapy to regain the use of her legs the study of law fell by the wayside. But she was very proud when she was again able to walk unaided

         She wanted to continue her studies, but found it difficult to do it in the evening, so she set out to define her long-term plan. She decided to retire early and go to university full-time which will give her many years to practice law. She will begin full-time studies in the fall. With the credits and the experience she already has, she expects to graduate in just a couple years.

         Some people say that she’s crazy. That she should retire to enjoy life. She intends to do just that. As she told me, her law degree will make her life most enjoyable. Her husband supports her; he himself plans to write a book when he retires in a few years. I admire them both. They make the most of life. They truly believe that it’s never too late to learn or try something new. The bottom line is that retirement is really a time to do the things we are passionate about.