The Balanced Script

Retirement: A New Beginning, Not a Second Innings

Retirement is often portrayed as a well-earned reward after decades of dedicated service—a time to finally relax, pursue long-postponed interests, and enjoy the fruits of one’s labour. Yet, as I recently stepped away from a public sector organization after more than thirty years, I found the experience far more complex than the clichés suggest. The anticipation, the mixed emotions, and the sudden shift from a structured routine to uncharted freedom brought both relief and uncertainty. In today’s world, the very concept of retirement is evolving. No longer seen as a definitive end, it is increasingly viewed as a transition—an opportunity to reinvent oneself, explore new avenues, or even continue contributing in different ways. This piece is a personal reflection on what retirement truly means, questioning familiar metaphors and exploring whether life after work is a “second innings” or, perhaps, something entirely new.

Redefining Retirement: From Withdrawal to Reinvention

The root of the word “retirement” is “retirer”, a French verb, which means to withdraw. The suffix “ment” is added to the verb to make it a noun. Retirement, as was understood a couple of decades ago was to permanently stop working, but of late, as the retirement date of a person draws near, one is asked as to one’s plans post-retirement. Such questions on “plans” post-retirement stem from the assumption that the retiree would be willing to offer his services to a new employer (or maybe to the same employer, which often happens in public sector organizations) on a contract basis. This is due to the fact that the concept of retirement has undergone significant transformation. Rather than viewing retirement as a definitive end point, many now see it as an opportunity to reinvent oneself, pursue new interests, or engage in part-time work and volunteering. This shift reflects broader changes in societal attitudes toward aging and productivity, emphasizing continued personal growth and fulfilment beyond traditional employment. However, in such circumstances, the meaning of “retirement” is lost.

Societal Shifts: The Evolving Expectations of Retirees

There could be any reason for a retired person to take up a new assignment or employment. To escape from being at home (here again, the cliched joke in the case of male retirees, especially in India is that he would be forced to do the domestic chores, which for some reason is considered inferior compared to working for someone else in the office), to earn sufficient income to maintain the lifestyle as hitherto, to spend time gainfully, or for the simple reason that one is too young to hang one’s boots. One of the acceptable reasons is, with the strides made in medical field, the longevity is ever increasing and the productive years could be longer, beyond sixty years of age in the Indian context.

Clichés and Cricket: Is Retirement Really a ‘Second Innings’?

More often than not, there are several clichés that can be heard in any speech made in the honour of the retiring person. Apart from lauding one’s achievements during the “illustrious” career, of the retiring person is wished to have a “happy, prosperous, healthy and a long second innings…” Here comes the issue. Is the life after retirement truly the “second innings”? 

The word “innings” is generally associated with the bat-and-the-ball games of cricket and baseball, but figuratively, it could mean a period of opportunity for activity or a turn. The usage of the word “second innings” could have originated in a cricket-crazy nation (or in a baseball playing nation). In those countries, where soccer or football is a religion, whether the retiring persons are wished to have a “happy, prosperous, healthy and a long second half”? 

Whether it is appropriate to call retirement “second innings” is worth considering. Second innings is also part of the active game, where the same set of rules apply, where the players are active as they were in the first innings, or maybe more active and more desperate to clinch a win, if their first innings performance was not up to the mark or the first innings score difference is either too wide to build a lead or too narrow to defend without an outstanding team effort.

Retirement as a Milestone: Policy, Choice, and Reality

Retirement is a forced cessation of service, more often because the person has reached the age that is deemed a cut-off age for not being eligible for continuing in active service. Retirement is generally understood as a mandatory end to one’s professional engagement, compelled by the attainment of a specific age set as the cut-off for active service. This cessation of work is not typically a matter of personal choice, but rather a policy-driven milestone that marks the transition from an employee’s active participation in the workforce to a new phase of life. The organization, following established age-related guidelines, determines when an individual is no longer eligible to continue in their role, leading to the conclusion of their career and the beginning of retirement.

A Fresh Start: Embracing Life After Retirement

Such being the case, there cannot be a “second-innings”. Any activity after retirement is altogether a new beginning. There cannot be a second innings in a new game, where the first innings was not played at all until then.  Retirement, once seen as a final curtain call, is now increasingly seen as an opportunity to new possibilities. While the transition may bring moments of nostalgia and uncertainty of moving out of the comfort zone, it also offers a unique chance to redefine one’s purpose and priorities. Whether one chooses to remain active through work, volunteering, or personal pursuits, the post-retirement phase is less about continuing an old game and more about starting afresh. Ultimately, retirement is not a “second innings” governed by familiar rules, but a new beginning—an open field where each individual can chart their own course, embrace change, and discover fulfilment in ways that are truly their own.