I left a chief HR officer job at 55. Now I work 3 days a week and still get benefits.

Angela Cheng-Cimini enjoys her role as a mentor, particularly to Asian people.

Courtesy of Angela Cheng-Cimini Angela Cheng-Cimini worked full-time in HR for more than 30 years.

She reconsidered her career in her mid 50s after losing friends her age to cancer.

Cheng-Cimini quit her fast-paced job for a part-time position that allows her to mentor others.

This story is based on an interview with Angela Cheng-Cimini, 56, a veteran HR professional who lives near Baltimore.

It has been edited for length and clarity.

A few years ago, my husband, Michael, and I started losing friends who were around our age.

Three, in particular, died of pancreatic cancer , which was very sudden.

Those kinds of things really stop you short.

It's an aberration when you're in your 30s, but it becomes more common in your 50s.

The natural reaction is to consider your own mortality.

I'd been working full steam ahead for 30 years, across everything from start-ups to mature companies, and needed to reassess.

Have you taken a step back in your job or profession? Please email Jane Ridley at [email protected] to share your story with Business Insider.

I was the chief HR officer at Harvard Business Publishing at the time, a role that was extremely fulfilling.