October 18, 2023

In Yiddish, there’s an expression, “bashert,” meaning that some things are destined to happen. Last September, I had the privilege of attending my first writers’ conference, and amid a wealth of wisdom and inspiration, fate led me to a serendipitous meeting with today’s guest. 

David T. Cohen, a retired attorney turned aspiring novelist, brings a wealth of experience to the table. He spent three decades as a litigator at the U.S. Department of Justice and is now crafting epic fantasy novels. In this episode, he guides us through his retirement decision—a story driven by the desire for quality time with loved ones and the pursuit of lifelong dreams. 

David openly addresses the challenges of shedding a career-centric identity, fervently advocating for creative, physical, community-focused, and social engagement as the keys to a fulfilling retirement. Despite missing his legal career, he finds a sense of purpose in writing and emphasizes the enduring importance of making a difference in retirement.

We discussed:

• How the tragic loss of a colleague sparked David’s early retirement journey
• One universally worthwhile question to ask yourself periodically (at any age) 
• How to take a sip of retirement before fully embracing the entire experience
• Why losing the daily contact with your colleagues leaves an unexpected void
• Navigating the transformation from a career-defined identity to a new sense of self 

Connect with David

David can be reached at merusian@aol.com.