Retirement. Graduation. No matter what you call it, can you ever truly leave behind something that's been at the core of who you are?

My dad.

My dear friend Paul Graves.

Exemplary Performance Founder, Dr. Paul Elliott.

All three have "retired" and yet somehow manage to invest more hours in their craft than when they were working full-time!

Rafael Nadal's announcement of his retirement from professional tennis has left many reflecting on his remarkable career, which has spanned over two decades and includes 22 Grand Slam titles. Despite his decision to retire after the upcoming Davis Cup, Nadal's passion for tennis remains undeniable. His emotional farewell video acknowledged that his body had reached its limits, but his love for the sport, as well as the energy he drew from his family and fans, never wavered.

This surfaced an interesting question for me: If you're truly passionate about something, as most Top Performers are, can you ever really retire? Passion-driven people often find it difficult to completely step away from what they love, even after their formal careers come to a close.

In life, when you've committed to excellence for so long, it often continues to shape you beyond your professional involvement. Whether it's through mentoring or coaching others, engaging in different roles related to your passion (becoming a referee or sports commentator or team owner), or simply following the sport or field you once excelled in, true passion doesn't have an off-switch. Nadal’s announcement may mark the end of his competitive career, but it’s clear that tennis will always be a part of his life. How could it not?

When determining my sport goals for 2025, Holly pitched the term "graduation" from some activities and races as opposed to "retirement." Neither sat well with me. Both imply (to me) that a fun chapter is closing. "It's not the goodbye that hurts. It's the memories and flashbacks that follow." If you're truly passionate, your relationship with your craft doesn’t ever end, but evolves. Passion, I suppose, keeps the door open to new ways of staying connected, even when formal participation comes to an end.

"I leave with the absolute peace of mind that I gave my very best." ~ Nadal.

Would love to hear your thoughts: Can passion for something you love ever truly fade?