Retired people are valuable, full of potential, important and worthy. After spending a lifetime working, and possibly raising a family, this is your time to finally find yourself. This is especially true for women. It’s a time of freedom and self-actualization: a time to be yourself, even if you don’t know who that is yet! It’s time for yourself to grow and learn and become something amazing. What an great opportunity!
Where You’ve Been
As a working person, you were identified by your job title: bus driver, teacher, paralegal. You may have worked in a job that paid the bills but didn’t inspire you. Your job may have exhausted you until retirement came as a welcome relief.
As a parent, you identified for years as “Emily’s” Mom. You focused on raising your family and getting them launched into the world. There wasn’t time to focus on you. Now, you can find the self that was under there all along. Retirement is the time to finally be you.
Where You’re Going
Retirement is a time of energy and exploration because this is for you now, not the company, not your children, just you. Forbes recognized that 80% of its 100 most powerful women are over 50.* The third quarter of our lives is an incredibly productive time.
At A Turning Point
What are you passionate about? Where would you like to make an impact? It’s ok if you don’t really know right now. The fun is in the discovery. Having support to reinvent yourself is key. (This is why I’ve developed workshops and programmes.)
Ageism works against us and we need people on our side who see our power and potential. Life has taught us to gather supportive people around us. No one succeeds in a vacuum.
How to start finding your new opportunities?
- Take the time to identify and clarify your values. This allows you to assess which paths will be most rewarding for you.
- Dig back into your history to unearth those passions that were set aside by life, career, family or other circumstances. Passions, that when re-discovered, fill you with purpose and bring sparkle to your life.
- Dedicate time to self-reflection (journaling, walking alone, meditating) to listen to what resonates with you. Don’t try to answer what you want to do with your life. That’s too big a question. Ask “What do I feel inspired to explore more deeply?” That’s a more manageable question that takes the pressure off.
- Explore: go to new places, read, try new things, go to concerts, eat new foods, listen to new ideas, and be open to discovery.
These steps are not in order. Do them in any order that you like. The process will be challenging, fun, frustrating, annoying: all the emotions!
You will learn a lot about that person that you spend your entire life with: you. You will find new paths and energy and motivation for the next chapter of your life that truly resonates with you. A path that resonates with purpose and meaning benefits you. And a fulfilled you, benefits us all.
Retired, And Now What? 