James. This is so well written, so engaging, so important. Thank you again, my friend. I use the word “again” because you write so many relevant pieces.

Yes it is true that what works for one is not good for another and that is just fine. But:

Because of my current consulting practice, I see so many individuals believing that “retiring” is a natural and predetermined automatic phase of life. Some loved their jobs but retired because “ that is what one did” and now are totally miserable. Others retired because they hated almost everyday of their working lives, working for the man, they say. Yet now that they are “free” they too are miserable.

As I help them deeply dive into themselves to find a passion that could actually become a business, they are amazed. Shocked because to paraphrase what some say: “ I retired like I was supposed to do and look at me, I look and feel 15 years older than I am. I wake up each day and say: Now what? Why?”

If I could have a wish, James. I wish people would ask more often: “ Why? Who said I have to do this?”

Life is continuous until it ends. As long as kindness, respect for all humans, law abidance etc. prevails, people should be free of pressure about a host of things: retiring, whether to have kids, religion, hating one’s job, whether to buy or rent, hell, the list is long. The pressure to conform is huge.