By : Françoise Stanton (Translation : Guy Côté)

Nearly 40% of the population of Lac-Brome is over 65, making it one of the oldest towns in Quebec. But living in the heart of a retirement community doesn’t automatically simplify the transition to retirement.

While retirement offers leisure and freedom, it can also lead to anonymity, a loss of bearings, social isolation, distress, and sometimes even depression. “Retiring is a bit like disappearing!” a former head of an engineering consulting firm recently remarked.

The Emotional Phases of Retirement

Maryse Villiard, a trainer in retirement preparation sessions offered by Collège Marie-Victorin and now semi-retired, estimates that about one in five retirees is disappointed and dissatisfied with his new life. “The biggest shock? Suddenly losing your network. That’s certainly the comment I’ve heard most often,” she says.

Experts believe that the transition to retirement generally occurs in three phases:

• The initial separation or grieving process.

• Euphoria (doing what you want, when you want, traveling, etc.).

• Introspection and repositioning. It is estimated that it takes an average of two to three years to find renewed meaning in retirement.

A former executive in the maritime sector, Jeremy Mackenzie-Lee recognizes his own journey in this.

After six months of enjoying his newfound freedom, he went through a sort of lull. Reading, watching soccer on TV, going to the gym, and various other pursuits filled his time without fully satisfying him. It took him four years of this routine before he finally dedicated himself to a meaningful activity. And that activity was photography, an old passion that he rediscovered to the point of becoming a seasoned photographer.

First, Identify Who You Are

According to Ms. Villiard,

“The secret to a fulfilling retirement is first and foremost finding out who you are, clearly identifying what motivated you in your work, your passions, and even your unfulfilled dreams. This allows you to better choose your activities and structure your life, whether alone or with a partner. I believe this is the key if you want to give meaning to the years, even decades, that you have left to live. It’s an exercise that no one can do for you.”

“I would say that this is our most important job in retirement,” the trainer concludes humorously. “Make it happen!” as Jeremy says.

For more on retirement, Une retraite heureuse? Ça dépend de vous, written by Marie-Paule Dessaint.