Words for Retirement Wishes

It's always exciting to hear that someone you know is retiring. Retirement is an important milestone for many people. They've worked hard to build a successful career, and now they can step back and appreciate their accomplishments. Retirement is an opportunity for people to spend the rest of their lives the way they want to spend it, whether that involves spending time with grandchildren, focusing on their hobbies, or traveling the world.

It's important to show your appreciation and support for every soon-to-be retiree. The prospect of retiring is exciting, but it can also be nerve-wracking. The person retiring is used to working at their job and conversing with their coworkers almost every day. For many, the shift from getting up and heading to work to sleeping in each morning can be jarring. Knowing that their closest friends, either from work or from their personal life, are there to support them during this transition can be a huge relief. You can show your appreciation and support for soon-to-be retirees in a variety of different ways.

A simple yet meaningful way to wish them well is with a handwritten letter, whether it's a standalone or an attachment to another gift, such as a bouquet of flowers or a retirement plaque. In this guide, we’ll go over some thoughtful words for retirement wishes and offer advice on how to plan a retirement letter so you can write something that your coworker, boss, or a loved one will remember for years to come.

A Step-By-Step Guide To the Retirement Card

It isn't always easy to come up with a thoughtful message for your letter or card, especially if you're writing for someone you weren't particularly close to. It's hard to write for family and friends, too, especially with such a limited amount of space and so much to say. If you're at a loss for what to write, don't fear. You can look through these writing prompts for guidance and inspiration! Before long, you'll have the perfect retirement card to give to the retiree.

A Simple Congratulations

You don't need a bunch of words to properly convey how you're feeling. Congratulate the retiree on their retirement and let them know that you're happy for them. Sometimes, the simplest message is the one that feels the most genuine.

Acknowledge Their Accomplishments

The retiree has had a long, fulfilling career that was filled with accomplishments. If you're a coworker, let them know that their work ethic and talents haven't gone by unnoticed. You can talk about how much you admire them and their work or bring up a specific accomplishment that left you and everyone else in awe.

Share One of Your Favorite Memories

If you're a coworker, you can mention one of your favorite memories of the retiree from work, whether it was a project that you worked on together or a hilarious joke they made in the break room. If you're a family member or friend, you can share what you remember most about their journey to success. The day they were hired at the company that they're working at currently, for example, is a good example, and so is a time that they overcame a huge obstacle in their career.

Well-Wishes for the Future

It's important to send the retiree off with plenty of well-wishes, whether you're wishing them a relaxing retirement, endless vacations, or plenty of time with family and friends. If you're planning to stay connected with them once they retire, you can add a small note that mentions how much you're looking forward to spending time with them.

Their Best Characteristics

What are their best characteristics? Are they compassionate? Are they honest? Are they dedicated? Let the retiree know what their greatest traits are, and how those traits have positively impacted the people around them.

How They've Helped You

If they've helped you get through a tough time by supporting or encouraging you, let them know about it! The retiree will be touched to hear about all the ways that they've unknowingly helped the people around them.

Retirement Messages for Coworkers

Whether you're celebrating the retirement of a fellow coworker or your boss, it's important to send them off with a meaningful letter and a small retirement gift. You might not have known the retiree personally, but that doesn't make your words of appreciation and well-wishes any less impactful. They'll be happy to know that you thought of them! Writing a letter for a coworker and boss can be tricky, unfortunately. You want to make your letter sound professional without sacrificing the meaning behind your words. These words for retirement wishes are great examples of what you can include in your letter:

• I was always impressed by your hard work and optimism! We'll miss the joy and humor you brought to the office. Wishing you a relaxing and enjoyable retirement!
• Congratulation on being promoted to an official retiree! Hope you have plenty of fun lounging on the beaches on spending time with your family and friends.
• Wishing you the best on your next adventure! If you put in as much effort at enjoying retirement as you did at work, you're bound to be successful.

Retirement Messages for Friends and Family

It's only natural to celebrate the accomplishments of the people closest to you. Whether it's a parent, sibling, spouse, or a close friend that's retiring, it's important to do something that recognizes their hard-earned achievements and wishes them a pleasant and eventful retirement. You can throw them an in-person or virtual party, give them a gift, write them a handwritten letter, mix-and-match, or do all the above! If you're planning to write a letter, don’t forget to check out these examples for reference and inspiration:

• It's been such a delight to watch you grow! You've earned your retirement. I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time filling up your schedule with the things you love and enjoy.
• Now that you've retired, you have all the time in the world to do those things you never quite got around to! Let me know if you need someone to hang out with while you're working on your retirement bucket list.
• You're done working, and now it's time to have some fun! Hope your retirement is filled with plenty of smiles and laughter.

Now that you have your personalized letter figured out, why not pair it with a present that the soon-to-be retiree is guaranteed to love? A customized retirement plaque from Crystal Central is a great way to commemorate their professional achievements and wish them well during the next chapter of their life. Come and design a stunning, high-quality plaque for your coworker, boss, or a loved one today!