Article December 30, 2019 Issue

Retirement: A fulfilling ‘third act’

Christine Negley

Have you ever left a theater with that “wow” feeling after the third act of a play? You were perhaps energized, captivated, and satisfied all at once with the final resolution. Without that strong third act, the play would have been incomplete, possibly flat or confusing, and certainly not satisfying.

As I approached retirement, I considered the metaphor of dynamic third acts. I wanted my “third act” to be filled with purpose, energy, and satisfaction. However, I was reluctant to actually retire—even fearful of doing so—in spite of telling friends, family, and even clients that I was looking forward to the many directions I could explore.

I was well aware of that oft-repeated advice, “Be sure you are retiring to something.” While I had ideas, I had no specific plans. I wondered, Did retiring mean the end of a productive life after a fulfilling business career? What was my focus; what did I have to offer; what would I do; and what did I want to do?

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