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More than half of retirees take on other jobs to pay bills and get ahead. Passion-driven work is the best.

Loneliness, risks of depression, and alcohol misuse climb during the retirement years.

“Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else,” the late Fred M. Rogers once said. Mister Rogers’ emotional intelligence impacts all ages of people who have big feelings around life changes, self-acceptance, new beginnings, loss, and loneliness.

The Emotional Roller Coaster

People anticipate the day they’ll have no commute, office gossip, or problematic people. Colleagues may offer gift cards, books, and travel advice, and pitch volunteer opportunities. Some fete with a party.

Those first few weeks may find the newly retired jetting to a well-deserved vacation. Some exhale responsi­bilities, sleep in, now off the clock. Yet for others, anxiety, disappointment, and despair surface when reality hits fantasy, especially if retirement was not their choice.

A business closes, artificial intelligence (AI) takes over a job, or a federal career ends amid RIF (reduction in force) or VERA (voluntary early retirement authority). In 2025, the term “fork in the road” quite aptly applied. Physically demanding jobs wear workers out; yet, with home and car payments, plus dependents, they cannot forgo work.

In a field clobbered by venture capital (VC) firms, even therapists have left practice rather than compromise licensure, ethics, and liability once they discover the downsides of large chains that lured them.

Recognize the Symptoms

An upcoming, zero-ending birthday summons reflection. Markers like 55 and 65 raise questions: Is this all there is? What have I accomplished? What’s left for me? How much longer can I survive in [said job]?

What if you’ve experienced a few months to decompress, then begin questioning whether ends meet amid inflation,........

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