EYE ON THE PROFESSION
A CLOSER LOOK AT TRENDS AND ISSUES IN THE PARK AND RECREATION PROFESSION
What Will I Do with the
Second Half of My Life?
Kay Kastel Forest, CAE |
The healthiest seniors are those who
explore their gifts
and abilities long
after they have left
the workplace. |
It is only natural that as we get older and look toward retirement we think about our real purpose in life—professionally and personally—and ask whether our life really is what we want it to be.
In the first half of adulthood (ages 18 to 30 years) we are looked upon as "provisional adults," just learning the ropes. During this period, typically during and right after college, we develop real independence, start a career, pick a mate or lifestyle, find a social group, develop our leisure activities, and possibly start a family.
By the time we reach middle adulthood (30 to 45 years), or the "half time" of our life, we are independent; we have learned the ropes and are well on our way to successful careers. By this time, we are near the top of the career ladder. We have become leaders in our vocation and possibly in civic areas. We are adjusting our leisure activities to our physical and mental needs and are helping our children become responsible adults.
It is when we reach the second half of our life (over 45 years), mature adulthood, that we begin to question: "What am I really doing here and how can I give something back?"
By the time we transition to the mature stage, we are adjusting to changes in our physical strength, health, relationships and trying to maintain financial strength. Some of us begin to question the level of our future vocational commitment and our purpose in this life. After this analysis, we should begin to make adjustments in the direction that we want to take in what often is described as "the second half of life."
Many refer to this stage as retirement, but research has
shown that it is too early to apply that term. More executives and management types are changing their lifestyles and careers in their early 50s. So, I refer to this stage as "the
second half of life."
|
Older professionals,
are you doing your
job of educating your
staff, preparing
them to be future
executives?
Younger professionals, are you ready for the challenge? |
It's that time to transition to a new and hopefully better quality of life. It's that period to practice what we have preached to the general public for years: "to enjoy life."
I attended a great seminar about a year ago entitled "Finishing Strong" or how to revise your game plan for the second half of your life. The participants' quality of life was the most important issue that we tackled. One of the most eye- opening exercises of the day was writing a short message about how we would like to be remembered. We had to soul-search the most important aspect of our life. We also had to write down what our family, friends, colleagues, business associates, friends and neighbors would say about us.
What we learned was that once you hit the second half of your life, you still have many opportunities to make changes. The mid 40s through the 50s is the right time for that "half-time" analysis. Finishing strong is easy if you take the time to review the "first-half" strategy, be honest with yourself, trust your intuition, consider how you might make changes, and share your journey with others.
After this analysis, many people will make the decision to continue what they are doing until they are forced to retire. Others will choose to do the same job in a different environment or locale. Some will stay connected to their chosen profession but in a different job, as a consultant or in a related field. Others will change careers totally, turn an avocation or hobby into something more meaningful, or may drop out completely. Research has shown, however, that those who totally retire with nothing to do have a much shorter life span than others.
In his August 1 column for the Chicago Tribune, health
8 / Illinois Parks and Recreation
editor Bob Condor highlights a book by Richard Leider entitled The Power of Purpose: Creating Meaning in Your Life and Work. Leider identifies three themes and realizes that the healthiest seniors are those who explore their gifts and abilities long after they have left the workplace. He is another believer in the health benefits of reinventing ourselves at different life stages.
Many of you are probably wondering why I am writing about this issue and what does it have to do with the profession. First of all, today there are many professionals in our field who are in this "mature adult" age group who need to be thinking about that second half of their life. On the other hand, those younger professionals need to be thinking about replacing those who will be making the • "second-half" decisions and whether they have the skills and desire to be those replacements.
The second reason that I am writing about this topic is because, after 27-plus years as executive director of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, I will be transitioning also. On October 1,1999,I will step down as your executive and become the conference/special projects manager and trainer for IPRA. It is something that I have always wanted to do, and what better time than this, my second half of life.
I plan to "finish strong" by trying something different and helping others to do the same. Although I will still be connected to IPRA, it will be in a different capacity.
So, this will be my last "Eye on the Profession" column. I hope you have enjoyed reading my musings.
And I am excited to inform you that IPRA's new executive director is Bill Wald, IPRA's current deputy executive director, who has been with the association for 8 years. I am sure you will give him the same support that you gave to me during my 27 years.
I know I am leaving IPRA in capable hands. All of us who make the decision to transition should make sure that we leave the profession and our agencies in the hands of well-trained professionals.
Older professionals, are you doing your job of educating your staff, preparing them to be future executives? Younger professionals, are you ready for the challenge?
September/October 1999/9