According to Websters online dictionary:
RESIGN
Function: verb
1 : RELEGATE; especially : to give (oneself) over without resistance
2 : to give up deliberately; especially : to renounce (as a right or position) by a formal act
intransitive verb
1 : to give up one's office or position : QUIT
2 : to accept something as inevitable : Submit
RETIRE
Function: verb
1 : to withdraw from action or danger : RETREAT
2 : to withdraw especially for privacy
3 : to move back : RECEDE
4 : to withdraw from one's position or occupation : conclude one's working or professional career
5 : to go to bed
transitive verb
1 : WITHDRAW: as a : to march (a military force) away from the enemy b : to withdraw from circulation or from the market : RECALL
2 : to cause to retire from one's position or occupation
3 a : to put out (a batter or batsman) in baseball or cricket b : to cause (a side) to end a turn at bat in baseball
4 : to win permanent possession of (as a trophy)
5 : to pay in full : SETTLE
I have retired, at least in the mind of everyone I know, rather than having resigned my position, which is what I actually did. What is interesting to me is that it matters to me and I am bothered every time a comment is made regarding my “retirement”.
Perhaps that is due to our conception that retireing is good and acceptable while resigning is not. Nevertheless, according to the definition I have done the following:
1 : given up my office or position : QUIT;
2 : accepted this as inevitable : SUBMITTED
I could accept “retire” however according to the following parts of the definition:
1 : to withdraw from action or danger : RETREAT.
The danger to my family and emotional health has lead to this “change” be it retirement or resignation.
Either way I rejoice in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (out of context)
free at last,
thank God Almighty,
I am free at last"
