I Am 75 and Have No Plans to Retire. Here’s Why My Experience May Inspire You

I turned 75 years old in January and feel excited about all the possibilities for my life and work. I have chosen not to follow the traditional retirement path—to not let socially constructed age norms cast me aside. I feel like I have more to contribute, more to give. I choose to work, not only for the income, but because I enjoy what I do.

Yet, when I share my enthusiasm for working, I often get skeptical looks or questions like “You’re still working?” I think these questions come from what our society has embedded in our thinking about older people. Research indicates that negative attitudes and stereotypes about older people persist.

I don’t buy into those old beliefs that older workers are less motivated, unproductive, resistant to change, and not willing to learn.  These stereotypes don’t fit me, and I bet they don’t fit a lot of other older adults as well. It’s time to stop letting age-related stereotypes define who we are.

Here's what I am learning as an older adult who still works.

Lesson No. 1: Working can boost your self-esteem.  I believe working has positively enhanced how I feel about myself as an older adult. I get an opportunity to use my strengths as curator of learning and leadership and organization development consultant. I get to help others achieve their goals for a living. This work helps me feel like I’m making a difference in the lives of others, which ultimately helps boost my own self-esteem. Continuing this work I love has also helped me see my age and wisdom as an advantage.

Lesson No. 2: Working fosters a positive mindset about aging. I try not to let age-related norms and ways of thinking get into my head. I know that if I routinely tell myself I am old—or too old to be working—I have put myself into a negative mindset trap. It is self-defeating and plays into the negative stereotypes, like a self-fulfilling prophecy. I recently had a conversation with a younger colleague and referred to myself as an “old girl.”  After that conversation, I wondered why I said it. It is so easy to fall into the “I’m old” mindset. Yet working is not about age but rather about what you bring to the work—and the wisdom, skills, and insights I have in my 70s are far greater than what I brought when I was in my 20s. Remembering this helps me focus on all of the ways I can feel positive about my age.

Lesson No. 3: Working ignites my purpose and passion. I am passionate about facilitating learning, leadership and organization development. I believe my purpose is rooted in my passion.  Working keeps me energized about helping people and organizations learn and grow. I think so often as we age, societal norms influence us to think that our passion and purpose inherently decline—that they are no longer important or needed. Yet I think igniting your passion and purpose is more needed in your 70s and 80s than ever before, to invigorate hope and vitality. Doing meaningful work that is grounded in your purpose and passion is one way to stay vital and make a difference.

Lesson No. 4: Working keeps me learning and growing. Staying up to date with my professional field activates my curiosity to learn new and different ways to approach my work.  In this way, I’m better able to help my clients, mentees, and students. It excites me to learn something new and to figure out how I can apply it to my life and work.  New ideas, new ways of doing things, and keeping up with technology fires up my brain.  This is helpful as our brains are aging. We are never too old to learn, and I’ve found having this kind of always-learning mindset has enhanced my confidence, competence, and capability to do good work.

Lesson No. 5: Working allows me to stay connected with professional associations and networks. As a working 75-year-old, staying active and visible in my field keeps me from being isolated. It provides a support network of colleagues with similar interests.  These connections have proven to be invaluable.  They provide an opportunity to exchange new ideas and share useful knowledge. The interactions spark my creativity and help me to do better work.  They are also an excellent resource for career opportunities and growth.

According to a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report, the number of people 75 and older in the workforce is expected to grow nearly 96.5 percent by the year 2030. Take that in for a moment! This is a solid indicator that we are going to see an increasingly age-inclusive workforce. I’m excited about this.

Don’t let what others think about your age hold you back from working. If you want to work, go for it—and the options just keep getting better.

Diane L. Dixon is a leadership and organization development consultant/adviser and curator of learning. She is the author of Diversity on the Executive Path: Wisdom and Insights for Navigating to the Highest Levels of Healthcare Leadership. Diane has over 35 years of experience in the field of human and organizational learning working with organizations of various sizes and complexity. She is also an adjunct lecturer in Health Policy and Management at the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

Question from the Editor: What are your plans for retirement? Do you plan on (or are you currently) taking some time off work? Will your work change? We'd love to hear your thoughts!