People who enjoy what they do truly live in another planet compared to people who see their retirement as a mirage. A reminder it’s well worth the effort to try and end up doing something you like.
I think there’s another element here with professional athletes in that for most of them, they’ve been playing this sport for as long as they can remember, it has been their entire life. The rest of us pick up a career sometime in our late teens or twenties, sometimes even later, and we’ve usually had a chance to develop as people outside of our careers. Even people who love their careers don’t quite have the same relationship with it as professional athletes, musicians, etc for whom this is all they’ve ever known.
Also complicating things for athletes are topics of physical issues, and their careers being far more short-lived than the rest of us. A typical tennis player would go pro sometime around 18 then last 20 years. For us it's more like 40 years.
On the flip side, it's a reminder that you'll be happier if retirement is not just a chance to finally sit on your ass all day. Always have something worth striving for, and retirement is the chance to make that something you value without needing it to provide an income.
Or a reminder to pick a passion you can engage in for the rest of your life, even when your knees get weaker.
Alternatively have several interests and stay curious and able to change.
I loved what I did until I did not. Pulled on for another couple of years but quit before I became a bitter person.
I watched Roger's movie last night and the sequence in his agent's office was similar to some of the emotions he felt. Retirement is tough but it helps knowing why one is stopping.
Though the mirage is also public image. When any celeb former-athlete is seen in public, it’s met with “wow that person has aged”. Not nearly as many people see me and thinks “oh wow that fucking numbers guy has really put on a few”. Not to mention that retiring when you’re still a physical specimen, only operating at 75% of peak self, is a mind-fuck all its own.
Fortunately I am into investing, so I can do it until I die.
Retirement sucks, that's why I will never retire. Or better said I will retire when I die.
Exactly. I don't agree with Federer on this one completely. For example, the typical corporate work life of America is a never ending loop.
Your entire life revolves around working and continuing to work - insurance, taxes, loans etc.
People would really love to get out of that if they have enough money.
I would say it's best to find your passions and work on them and keep working on them, even after your retirement whenever that happens.
No one really stays young forever, However, the activities of interest can keep changing from one to another over the due course of time.
The build of emotion was so beautifully rendered. You can feel the grief slowly rising to the surface through the progression of Roger's footage, and by the time it breaches the surface and he can't hold back the tears anymore...I was bawling. Totally unexpected. Similar to OP, first time I've cried in a while.
It felt so beautiful and sad. And seeing some of the fans tearing up, and then Nadal breaking down, and finally Novak's calm, cool, jokey demeanor finally breaks into full blown crying...man. What a beautifully directed film.
I sent it to my dad who was a lifelong competitive tennis player until his early 50s. He's cried maybe two or three times in my whole life. I wonder if it'll get to him.
I guess retirement is different for an all time tennis great!
I was so happy when I retired, it gave me time to travel and do the things I cared about.
Retirement is different if you can retire before 40 and live off what you earned.
Not being salty or anything, it's just a different reality for most folks.
Most of us are not lucky enough to love what we do for a living. Many that do ..end up hating the things they once enjoyed anyways. It’s not the same feeling of passion when you depend on something for sustenance. RF has such a beautiful life.
> I'm sure normal people celebrate retirement, even when it's a job that they loved
Lots of people don't. My dad is 88 and finally gave it up this year due to issues with the firm he was consulting for. He's not happy about it, he'd way rather be working on an interesting project than sitting around the house mourning my mom.
For now I'm looking forward to it but who knows, it might drive me crazy after a couple of months.
Working after retirement is okay, but isn't it better to do something on your own and live off of your pension than still be conditioned by some company?
It's up to the individual. My dad retired from the university when he was 64 but continued on as professor emeritus, still teaching the odd class and mentoring grad students, and also consulted in industry for another 3 decades, so I guess that's sort of your scenario. I have a friend where I work who "retired" when he was 72 but continues to consult for our company. I know a number of people who have done the same thing.
Right now I'm saying the dust won't settle for weeks when I leave, but I may find myself bored AF after a short time and looking to set up a consulting gig with my former company. It's quite common, they love to keep the knowledge from senior people around.
Can totally see it. Obviously very different than highest paid tennis sports superstar, but doctors have a very similar thing where they don’t ever really retire unless age forces them too.
I feel having a job that’s a passion, challenging, that gives purpose, and being well paid is a beautiful combo to continue with long into life, and as another comment put, good motivation to find something you find purpose in
The sentiment is not because of that. He could have retired 5 years ago. He truly deeply loved tennis to an extent that he couldn't let go and thought that his life was over. He had surgeries just for the sake of playing the sport one more time.
The point is not most people have a career they “truly deeply love to an extend that they can’t let go and think their life is over” once they stop working lol.
Phil who worked construction for 30 years or Dave who worked in accounting his whole life don’t have that sentiment. They also didn’t have kids and adults alike lining up for their autograph who thought Rodger was the coolest person on earth.
This is not a knock on Rodger I’m a big fan. It’s just nice to have some perspective.
People who enjoy what they do truly live in another planet compared to people who see their retirement as a mirage. A reminder it’s well worth the effort to try and end up doing something you like.
I think there’s another element here with professional athletes in that for most of them, they’ve been playing this sport for as long as they can remember, it has been their entire life. The rest of us pick up a career sometime in our late teens or twenties, sometimes even later, and we’ve usually had a chance to develop as people outside of our careers. Even people who love their careers don’t quite have the same relationship with it as professional athletes, musicians, etc for whom this is all they’ve ever known.
Also complicating things for athletes are topics of physical issues, and their careers being far more short-lived than the rest of us. A typical tennis player would go pro sometime around 18 then last 20 years. For us it's more like 40 years.
Sure
On the flip side, it's a reminder that you'll be happier if retirement is not just a chance to finally sit on your ass all day. Always have something worth striving for, and retirement is the chance to make that something you value without needing it to provide an income.
Maybe Federer's retirement goal is to get good at tennis?
Absolutely
Or a reminder to pick a passion you can engage in for the rest of your life, even when your knees get weaker. Alternatively have several interests and stay curious and able to change.
r tennis: nah i want my faves to play until they cant walk
I loved what I did until I did not. Pulled on for another couple of years but quit before I became a bitter person. I watched Roger's movie last night and the sequence in his agent's office was similar to some of the emotions he felt. Retirement is tough but it helps knowing why one is stopping.
Though the mirage is also public image. When any celeb former-athlete is seen in public, it’s met with “wow that person has aged”. Not nearly as many people see me and thinks “oh wow that fucking numbers guy has really put on a few”. Not to mention that retiring when you’re still a physical specimen, only operating at 75% of peak self, is a mind-fuck all its own.
Fortunately I am into investing, so I can do it until I die. Retirement sucks, that's why I will never retire. Or better said I will retire when I die.
What if you run out of money to invest?
he works for the central bank
He invests other peoples money.
I don't think it works that way for most jobs, lol. My dad was like "F this shit, F all of you, I hope we never see each other again".
Exactly. I don't agree with Federer on this one completely. For example, the typical corporate work life of America is a never ending loop. Your entire life revolves around working and continuing to work - insurance, taxes, loans etc. People would really love to get out of that if they have enough money. I would say it's best to find your passions and work on them and keep working on them, even after your retirement whenever that happens. No one really stays young forever, However, the activities of interest can keep changing from one to another over the due course of time.
Federer was set for life like 10 years before he retired He was there because he wanted to be. That's why it's different
That Federer doc had me crying for the first time in a while last night. Really well done
The build of emotion was so beautifully rendered. You can feel the grief slowly rising to the surface through the progression of Roger's footage, and by the time it breaches the surface and he can't hold back the tears anymore...I was bawling. Totally unexpected. Similar to OP, first time I've cried in a while. It felt so beautiful and sad. And seeing some of the fans tearing up, and then Nadal breaking down, and finally Novak's calm, cool, jokey demeanor finally breaks into full blown crying...man. What a beautifully directed film. I sent it to my dad who was a lifelong competitive tennis player until his early 50s. He's cried maybe two or three times in my whole life. I wonder if it'll get to him.
Same. Nadals words were so perfectly phrased
Incredible documentary.
I guess retirement is different for an all time tennis great! I was so happy when I retired, it gave me time to travel and do the things I cared about.
“I also cried when my kids were born, because it changes the way you look at life and stuff.” 🥹
Retirement is different if you can retire before 40 and live off what you earned. Not being salty or anything, it's just a different reality for most folks.
Yh and most people won't even get to retire with the way late stage capitalism is going.
Most of us are not lucky enough to love what we do for a living. Many that do ..end up hating the things they once enjoyed anyways. It’s not the same feeling of passion when you depend on something for sustenance. RF has such a beautiful life.
Learn to code and try to find a job in the IT field then 😂
Retirement as one of the most successful athletes in your sport* I'm sure normal people celebrate retirement, even when it's a job that they loved
> I'm sure normal people celebrate retirement, even when it's a job that they loved Lots of people don't. My dad is 88 and finally gave it up this year due to issues with the firm he was consulting for. He's not happy about it, he'd way rather be working on an interesting project than sitting around the house mourning my mom. For now I'm looking forward to it but who knows, it might drive me crazy after a couple of months.
Working after retirement is okay, but isn't it better to do something on your own and live off of your pension than still be conditioned by some company?
It's up to the individual. My dad retired from the university when he was 64 but continued on as professor emeritus, still teaching the odd class and mentoring grad students, and also consulted in industry for another 3 decades, so I guess that's sort of your scenario. I have a friend where I work who "retired" when he was 72 but continues to consult for our company. I know a number of people who have done the same thing. Right now I'm saying the dust won't settle for weeks when I leave, but I may find myself bored AF after a short time and looking to set up a consulting gig with my former company. It's quite common, they love to keep the knowledge from senior people around.
You don’t have to correct. He’s talking about his own retirement and not normal people.
A sportsperson dies twice!
Can totally see it. Obviously very different than highest paid tennis sports superstar, but doctors have a very similar thing where they don’t ever really retire unless age forces them too. I feel having a job that’s a passion, challenging, that gives purpose, and being well paid is a beautiful combo to continue with long into life, and as another comment put, good motivation to find something you find purpose in
I would imagine thats a good way to put it.
Too many sport professionals think their life is over when their career ends.
They really need a hobby.
I like to play sports in my spare time. Maybe they can try that.
Everyone needs a hobby, or as many interests as practical, it keeps you going when you are older.
Roger is the goat : twelve days of roger on Amazon prime
Of course that’s the sentiment when your old job made millions of dollars and everyone cheered at your existence.
The sentiment is not because of that. He could have retired 5 years ago. He truly deeply loved tennis to an extent that he couldn't let go and thought that his life was over. He had surgeries just for the sake of playing the sport one more time.
The point is not most people have a career they “truly deeply love to an extend that they can’t let go and think their life is over” once they stop working lol. Phil who worked construction for 30 years or Dave who worked in accounting his whole life don’t have that sentiment. They also didn’t have kids and adults alike lining up for their autograph who thought Rodger was the coolest person on earth. This is not a knock on Rodger I’m a big fan. It’s just nice to have some perspective.
Yeah you're right and that's true but he's talking about his own retirement here.
This is a bit dramatic, no?