In short, Tournier says that retirement isn't hanging on to your former way of life but finding something new to devote your energy to. Leisure is good, but you need something to relax from. Otherwise, you'll just be bored.

One needs to accept the end of the former goals of life and make building himself his goal—including how that self can love others.

Growing old and death are part of life. There will be anxiety—even Jesus dreaded the thought of death—but to trust Christ that something better (that we can't begin to understand) lies beyond.