Last year my husband, Bill, took an early retirement after years of fighting through burnout in his corporate career.For much of our lives, we're rewarded for being productive. We check off tasks, meet deadlines, solve problems, and build careers. We become known for what we do. Our titles carry weight. People seek our expertise. We have places to be, people counting on us, and calendars that remind us we matter.

Then retirement arrives.

Almost overnight, the phone stops ringing. The meetings disappear. The deadlines end. The title you've carried for years is suddenly part of your past.