Voice

Finding yourself with too much time on your hands can be disorienting and I knew that many people I used to work with wouldn't take well to retirement. 

I just received news that a high level manager I've known for years went to work for another firm as a consultant. He is pushing 70 but his identity is too much entrenched in his career to be able to adjust to falling into the void. I had predicted as much and so the announcement was not that surprising. 

Retirement forces you into questions of identity. It begs that you answer the question "who are you?" If you hadn't already answered it beforehand. The constant obligation which spurs action distracts for a while until there are no distractions left. 

Those who think travel and hobbies fill that void are mistaken because they are not a "raison d'etre". They are activities which aren't helpful when we are awake at night, the mind is tempted to race and asks the deep questions about our purpose in life. 

I read that not everyone has an inner dialogue running in their head and I discussed this recently with my son who is a thinker. That voice which is constantly running in the foreground or background serves as the origin of my writing. 

It is also in the silent moments when it is the loudest.

NB: Happy Canada day to my fellow Canucks:) elbows up!