Retirement is not only the finish line for a lengthy career but rather the beacon of light to a lifetime filled with new beginnings, endless travel and plenty of possibilities. There are some retirees that face this time as an impeding deadline to “now what?”

Some people live their whole lives defined by their title or their career, so their career represents who they are. Consulting often becomes an option for those who do not wish to retire. Consulting is the secret to preserving your career identity and can be an option for those seeking flexibility upon retirement.

Satu Tolvanen, a retiree travelling to Finland, wanted to continue working. She hadn’t the faintest idea on how to continue working during retirement, only that she wanted to continue. She did lay out her conditions to her previous employer. The difference is that the people who choose to continue working past retirement for non-financial reasons do so because they feel that they can make a difference through their work. “I will work as long as it is fun, and I feel that I am making a meaningful contribution without sacrificing my freedom to travel,” Tolvanen explains.

Experience cannot be established overnight. A consultant is often sought out for their valuable experience and knowledge in a certain industry. Pierre Arcand is a business coach to small and medium-sized businesses, offering consulting to baby boomers transitioning their business to the next generation and succession planning. He was not satisfied by a life of planting flowers and had no plans to slow down in any capacity. He was hungry for a challenge, so he ended up becoming a full-time consultant for an ex-colleague.

“For the next four years I helped a colleague re-start his engineering company. This was supposed to be a part-time job but it became a full-time commitment that I was not looking for. So at 67, I took my second retirement,” Arcand explains. According to Arcand, it is essential to ask yourself a few questions to find out what you really want. “This time I asked myself: What do I absolutely love to do? What do I do really well? And what attributes or skills have led to my success in the past? I realized that helping people get the best of themselves is my specialty.”

Working during retirement is not a sacrifice if it’s for personal growth. In fact, it may also help a person feel younger, longer. As the world sits still and one enters retirement, it can seem overwhelming at first. Sometimes getting back to work may help the days go by and keep you busy. An active retirement doesn’t only mean hobbies and vacations. The beauty of life is fueled by passion and purpose and retirement doesn’t have to mean slowing down or giving up what you love to do. Instead, it can be finding a way to do what you love and more of it.