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By *asual777 OP Man 1 week ago
i travel all over |
I am at a stage at work where I am close to a step which I have been working towards . However to really give it my all it would
Mean spending more time away from the kids who are now at ages where I feel I am needed much more . I am therefore having to reflect on what my true purpose is right now .
I have also been discussing retiring in my mid 50s with friends and they are telling me to find a purpose post retirement or I ll stagnate .
Is this a concept which features heavily in your thinking ? Or is having fun or joy enough |
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If your kids are at the stage where you're really needed then that's where you should be. In a few years they'll be preparing to fly the nest and you'll have loads more time to chase the job you're after. Or maybe even retire in your 50's. You'll never get that time back with your kids....and without knowing your financial situation I assume if you're planning early retirement you're reasonably well off? My thoughts are family first always....plenty of time for yourself and work after they're reared!! Best of luck whatever you decide!! ![](/icons/thumb_up.png) |
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It's a very delicate balancing act to manage. More work , more pay. Early retirement more family time, less money. Maybe sit down with your family and tell her the pros and cons of you working more or taking early retirement.
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Your family has reached a stage where your presence is needed more than ever. It's too late, in their lives, for you to be planning your life in a way where you might be less present or available.
You will get another opportunity, when they all grow up, to do the things you really want to do. Perhaps in a few years time.
Having gone through all this, and made a few mistakes myself, I'd put personal ambition on hold until they're at least 18, ...and if you can take early retirement go for it. But have a plan, a new career, a passion, a project. |
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I basically gave up working two years ago so that I could take care off and spend more time with my kids. One of them has a medical need.
The kind of work I do takes me away at weekends and because I have my kids week on week off I don't want to miss my weekends with them anymore.
I've decided to change career and retrain. By my calculation I'll be ready to start my new career when I'm 50. |
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By *asual777 OP Man 1 week ago
i travel all over |
Some lovely PMs on this also
I want to expand this by asking people if they think about their purpose much. I feel that I ll muddle through to a good balance personally but it has really got me thinking about my priorities |
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I have reinvented myself three times now, the middle reinvention allowed me to be present for my children as they grew. Now they are at university and the newest version of me is trying to do some good for others. I stress the word trying |
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"I am at a stage at work where I am close to a step which I have been working towards . However to really give it my all it would
Mean spending more time away from the kids who are now at ages where I feel I am needed much more . I am therefore having to reflect on what my true purpose is right now .
I have also been discussing retiring in my mid 50s with friends and they are telling me to find a purpose post retirement or I ll stagnate .
Is this a concept which features heavily in your thinking ? Or is having fun or joy enough "
I missed a lot of time with the kids when they were young as I worked away from home a lot which I really regret as I feel it had a detrimental effect. I've been coming home every evening for a few years now for considerably less money and have been offered great money to work abroad again but I've dismissed it outright. Mr |
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Purpose is a big theme for many people, but I don’t think it has to be tied to productivity.
Do you feel that your current work still aligns with what brings you purpose, or is the pull toward family making you question that?
Do you see retirement as an opportunity to redefine purpose, or does the idea of needing one feel like pressure?
Maybe purpose doesn’t have to be a single, grand thing but a shifting balance between different priorities at different stages of life.
Who knows? ![](/icons/s/confused.gif) |
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