Alan Watts wisely said,
“No valid plans for the future can be made by those who have no capacity for living now.”
Too often, we postpone living. Many people spend their working years imagining that retirement will suddenly unlock joy, purpose, and fulfilment. In doing so, they risk undervaluing their present life—especially those busy years spent raising children or pursuing career goals. They place life on hold, hoping that meaning will magically emerge once the work chapter ends.
Bob Buford, in his thought-provoking book Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance, offers a more empowering perspective. He suggests that retirement satisfaction isn’t something you stumble into—it's something you build. His core idea? The first half of life is often about achievement and success. But eventually, those external milestones lose their motivational spark. Without deeper purpose, success can start to feel empty.
Peter Drucker added another key insight:
“Efficiency is doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things.”
It’s a simple but profound distinction. Being productive isn't enough—we also need to feel purposeful.
Taken together, these reflections point to a vital truth: meaning doesn’t begin at retirement—it begins now. Living with purpose in the present moment is what fuels a more satisfying life, both before and after we leave our formal careers behind.
Three core elements of the PERMA well-being model—Engagement, Meaning, and Achievement—are all amplified when we pursue purpose with intention. That purpose may not be tied to your job title, but it may well draw on your skills, passions, and lived experience in surprising ways.
So, why wait? Begin now. Live with a sense of purpose that uplifts you today and carries you into the future. When purpose becomes your compass, work and retirement no longer sit on opposite sides of life—they begin to merge into one rich, rewarding journey.