Living Your Best Encore: Judith Nadratowski

What was your previous job/career, and how many years did you dedicate to it? Would you be open to sharing your age? 

I spent my 40-year career at an international law firm in New York. I started there in the late ‘70s, fresh out of secretarial college, as a clerical intern sitting at one of those vintage green metal desks in a steno pool (yes, I even took steno!). With the support of three remarkable mentors, I had the opportunity to create and develop a management role where I collaborated closely with the firm’s leadership to assist in implementing its key priorities. I loved that job. That position, which didn’t exist before, has since become an important part of the firm’s management structure.  

I just turned 69 in February and am now enjoying my eighth year of retirement. 

What sparked your current journey—whether you’re still working, enjoying retirement, or embracing a “second act?   

The spark for my somewhat winding journey to a second act came shortly after I retired and began working to find a new direction for myself. I spotted a crowdsourcing call on LinkedIn from authors gathering insights for a book about life after work and decided to share my thoughts. While writing about my experiences, I realized how much I enjoyed it.  

I’ve learned that while we may think we’ll know how we’ll feel and who we’ll become after retiring, real understanding only comes through living it.  

Writing about my discoveries during this phase of life has become my second act. By sharing my stories, I hope to foster greater openness about the changes we may encounter in retirement and encourage confidence and curiosity while addressing common challenges along the way.  

What was the defining moment that led you here?  

The defining moment that gave me the push I needed to make a change came when a secretary who had worked at the firm for 67 years was retiring, and a colleague casually asked if I would follow in her footsteps and stay that long.  

I’d been quietly contemplating a change after I turned 60, having noticed a drift away from my work and both a sense of urgency to try new things and a fresh realization that I could shape retirement—something I’d dreaded—on my own terms. Hearing his words—the idea of doing the same job in my 90s, even if possible—hit me hard. It became clear to me that I wasn’t afraid of retiring, but that I was afraid of not retiring. That realization gave me the confidence to make the change I wanted. 

What is one powerful lesson you learned later in life that you wish you could have whispered to your younger self? 

One powerful lesson I’ve learned since retiring is the value of patience and resilience as antidotes to the frustration that arises from uncertainty during times of change. Finding a new direction after leaving my job was no small task. I had no idea what would work for me, though I knew what wouldn’t.  

In the past, I tended to be impatient with that kind of big personal challenge and would settle for something less, simply because of the urgency I felt to find an answer. But I stayed with it and wanted to see what clicked.  

There was coaching, studying nutrition, and even considering a cheese store—each teaching me something, even if none ultimately felt like a good fit. I remembered tapping into the initial enthusiasm I felt just to have this time and drew inspiration from role models (thank you, Dad) while saying yes to giving something a try and no when needed.  

And it’s paid off. I’m less anxious about uncertainty when taking on significant endeavours, trusting that even the smallest steps can add up. 

Please complete this sentence:  The thing I value most about where I am in life right now is...

My autonomy. 

Judith Nadratowski writes Retirement Commentaries, exploring what modern retirement looks like beyond the financial side of life. Her essays explore the balance between pushing for achievement and embracing small yet meaningful joys. Judith spent her 40-year career at an international law firm based in New York. You can find out more about Judith on her website, retirementcommentaries.com and on Substack. 

Check out all our Living Your Best Encore series guests here!