In the summer of 2019, my parents were still working full-time. My Dad was 77 and my mom was 75. Though they still enjoyed their work, the stress was starting to take a toll. Both of them had blood pressure rates higher than ever before. Their doctor suggested they slow down and work less. They reluctantly planned to retire at the end of 2020, but Covid cut that even shorter.
It was a tough transition for both of them. My Dad had been a dentist and then a sleep physician for a combined total of 53 years, and loved helping people. My Mom ran both of his practices. Who were they anymore without these roles in their lives that provided so much intrinsic worth?
The subject of “when to retire” has been prominent in politics right now.
When is the “right” age to retire? When “should” someone stop working? And what do people even do when they retire?
We just finished the life story video of quite possibly one of our oldest still-working clients. The Honorable Jane Roth is a Senior U.S. Circuit Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
When asked about retirement, she responded, “What would I want to do if I retired? Well, I’d want to write briefs and review legal documents – which is what I’m doing now – so why would I retire? If I enjoy it and can keep doing it, why would I stop?”
Jane is 89, and I might add, her mind is still razor-sharp.
I loved listening to all of Jane’s stories, but my favorites were all the things she endured and accomplished to break down barriers for women, particularly in the legal profession.
I won’t profess to have the answer to the question of when someone should retire. I do think it’s an individual choice that depends on many factors.
COVID helped Judge Roth continue to work without the commute, as she can now do most of her sittings via Zoom.
My Dad continues to teach and do research at area hospitals and lectures at various conferences. He’s also taken on the hobby of creating wire art, and their house is now filled with wire sculptures. My Mom is settling into a different kind of rhythm and finding joy in creating greeting cards for family and friends.
Perhaps the best part about being close to retirement or retired is the ability to reflect on your life and all you have achieved.
If you’ve been wanting to reflect more on your life and document those stories, or have been thinking about it for a loved one, please connect with us. We’d love to help!
My family, my mother’s family in particular, is fortunate to have a long, storied history that has made frequently for a fun family dinner discussion. My mother did her best to pass those stories on, but we were at risk of losing much of the stories she had memorized. We asked Debbie to help us put together a history of our family as well as some of the highlights of my parents’ lives. The ultimate result was a one-hour video of the stories we want to pass on to future generations. Debbie and her team did a great job of culling the stories and helping us assemble a variety of family photos and period pictures to go along with it. It is something that I hope many generations of family will watch. Bud RothFalls Church, VA