I have many thoughts about this as I anticipate a significant change in my work life by May 1. Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom. I too have been planning this for about 3 years and am ready for new adventures and carefully chosen projects.
Today was my first “official” day of not being a lawyer. I have to say that it felt really great. I look forward to hearing about your plans and new adventures Christine.
This is a great post, and one I can relate to quite easily. I've seen many of my contemporaries struggle with 'retirement', because they've lost a sense of identity which they had in their working years. And I've seen others who stay very busy, but IMO (which doesn't and shouldn't matter to them!) they're busy w/o a purpose. Of course, we're all on our own journey, so what matters most is the course we chart for ourselves. For me, which sounds like you, I need a focus, a purpose, and so don't think in terms of retirement at all. Best wishes to you on your journey, and congratulations!!! P.S. If I may, here's a short post I wrote with this very subject in mind. https://open.substack.com/pub/davidkreager/p/are-you-busy-being-born-or-are-you?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Thank you for your comment David. You made a good point about people who stay busy without having a purpose. I can see how that may be attractive to someone in the initial stages--I'm busy doing the things I want to do. And purpose is in the eye of the beholder. I'm doing what I want to do, and that includes my coaching "business." I just don't want it to consume my life like law did for many years. It's aligning that purpose with my intention to live and enjoy my life the way I want to. I look forward to reading your post. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you. Very well written article on “the next phase of life”…we can make and adopt many phases in our lives and as you rightly point out thus bringing fulfilment and identity.
Thank you for the compliment, Susie. I appreciate it. I believe going into our next chapter with some kind of a plan, even if it's planning to explore things that are fulfilling and that we can identify with and enjoy.
Congratulations, Daria!! So happy for you!! We planned well in advance, too. And transitioned into our bookstore. I'm a reader and a former journalist and it was great to be surrounded by books every day, all those authors! Eventually we transitioned out of that to 'real' retirement bc the beach looked too enticing to miss daily, which is what all of our customers were doing! All the best to you! Love what you have chosen as your Act 2!
Thank you Jeanine! A bookstore! One of my wildest dreams was to operate a bookstore, coffee and tea shop, and yoga/fitness studio all under one roof. Focusing now on the coaching and fitness, but there's a chance if the stars align at some point, I might try to do just that. For now I have all I want on my plate, and I don't ever want my passion and my dream to feel like work. You did it. You loved it. And now you're enjoying the beach and writing on Substack. Sounds like a wonderful life!
I serialized my memoir of moving to Mexico and my book obsession in my Substack. I’d published it, where the Sky is born: Living in the Land of the Maya, and figured interspersing a chapter every other week between Mexico travel, pyramids, Maya civilization, mx art and culture would work. It was a fun way to extend out the book’s shelf life. All the best to you, Daria!
Thank you Sue! I'm so looking forward to it! I love to hear that your transition has worked out well for you. As I get older, I realize that there's no right or wrong decision. If it doesn't go as planned, pivot and try something else.
It was great to get a view behind the curtain of your fulfilling first career, which was both satisfying and as you pointed out, also very consuming.
Your passion and experience in health coaching shines through in every piece you publish. I’m always enjoying how you casually combine scientific results with your own perspective and advice.
Purpose is such an important part in life. After 7 years in my role in health management, I’m in still grateful for the position i have, my colleagues and the freedom I enjoy, but I can hear the knocking on the door louder and louder that change is needed.
I wish this applies to the business in building, but it may as well involve another role in the corporate world.
I know we are connected here, which is pleasure. For now, I wish you a great start into…how should I call it, the new and exciting journey which now gets you full attention
Thank you Philipp. And when you hear the knocking, answer the door to see what's there. Invite it in and sit with it for a while. You'll know when it's the right time.
Congratulations on retiring to something as you put it so well Daria!
I was in a similar boat with my older adult fitness teaching, when I was a part-time contractor in coaching early on in that career I had time to teach but then when I went back to working full-time, I just couldn't do it justice so I kept my certifications active and it is something I plan to pick up again when I get to retire purposefully one day.
Thank you Melanie! Like you, I never let any of my certifications lapse, and I also acquired some new ones along the way. I'm just thrilled that I can now teach, coach, write, and do the things that make me happy and that make a positive impact on people's lives and mine too.
Thank you Cara. What you're doing now seems far removed from engineering. That's so beautiful that you believed in yourself and went for it. I'm so looking forward to the path forward.
Hi Daria, congratulations on stepping into your next journey. On January 1, I began my 3rd year of “retirement,” my wife, her 4th.
For at least three years we’ve struggled to identify a term that is not “retired” for our stage in life, and are still looking for one.
I retired at 63 and that decision was made easy because my wife worked for our county government for 35 years before retiring at 56 with an ability to sustain our health insurance coverage and be covered by a pension that gave us a nice foundation of income to cover our basic living expenses.
I see this as my third career after two very different enjoyable and fulfilling roles as a professional baseball executive and then as a leadership and then as a workplace communication speaker, trainer, and coach.
Now I’m in the process of writing my first novel and embarking on being a professional writer (fiction mostly) and poet.
I spend about half my day 3-4 days a week writing my novel, a Substack post, or a poem.
And amazingly the rest of our days are filled with just daily living stuff, doctor appointments, and travel.
Honestly, it’s hard to recount where all the time goes but it goes by fast and the end of the day is upon us before we know it.
My wife and I have settled into a nice routine of healthy morning activities together of going to the gym for a spin class, or working with a personal functional strength trainer 4-5 days per week.
Then, we go our separate ways for the afternoon, me to write and her to do whatever is on her personal schedule, and then we reconvene around 5pm for dinner and watching our streaming shows together or reading our respective books.
After my wife retired I feared that I would miss being relevant. with people not needing/wanting my help and “expertise” anymore. I’ve found I don’t miss it at all.
Two weeks into retirement in ‘23 we took a 30-day palette cleansing vacation to New Zealand and Fiji and I remember that first week driving around New Zealand feeling completely free and enjoying that I had no encumbrances or responsibilities anything or anyone other than us enjoying the trip and each other’s company, and I’ve never looked back.
Enjoy this next phase of your life, you deserve it!😀
You have a beautiful life Skip. Thank you for sharing it and your daily routine. I need to get into a routine. I'm not always a good manager of my time. It sounds like you've achieved the perfect balance. I'll let you know how it goes. And also we need to schedule that Live that we've been talking about doing for over a year if you're still interested. We have so many things to talk about.
love this and the realignment of new purpose
Thank you. Having a realignment and purpose going forward is essential. I’ve seen what happens to people when they don’t have it, and it’s not good.
I have many thoughts about this as I anticipate a significant change in my work life by May 1. Thank you for sharing your experience and wisdom. I too have been planning this for about 3 years and am ready for new adventures and carefully chosen projects.
Today was my first “official” day of not being a lawyer. I have to say that it felt really great. I look forward to hearing about your plans and new adventures Christine.
Congratulations my friend. You will “Flourish “ in this new season of your life. You are an inspiration in many ways. Enjoy every moment.
Thank you Beth. I’m touched. First Monday has been great!
Daria, you will have a wonderful retirement because you are keeping a foot in the game, to move gently forward. I wish you every success.
Thank you Catherine. I’ve seen so many people wither when they don’t.
Hi Daria,
This is a great post, and one I can relate to quite easily. I've seen many of my contemporaries struggle with 'retirement', because they've lost a sense of identity which they had in their working years. And I've seen others who stay very busy, but IMO (which doesn't and shouldn't matter to them!) they're busy w/o a purpose. Of course, we're all on our own journey, so what matters most is the course we chart for ourselves. For me, which sounds like you, I need a focus, a purpose, and so don't think in terms of retirement at all. Best wishes to you on your journey, and congratulations!!! P.S. If I may, here's a short post I wrote with this very subject in mind. https://open.substack.com/pub/davidkreager/p/are-you-busy-being-born-or-are-you?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web
Thank you for your comment David. You made a good point about people who stay busy without having a purpose. I can see how that may be attractive to someone in the initial stages--I'm busy doing the things I want to do. And purpose is in the eye of the beholder. I'm doing what I want to do, and that includes my coaching "business." I just don't want it to consume my life like law did for many years. It's aligning that purpose with my intention to live and enjoy my life the way I want to. I look forward to reading your post. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you. Very well written article on “the next phase of life”…we can make and adopt many phases in our lives and as you rightly point out thus bringing fulfilment and identity.
Thank you for the compliment, Susie. I appreciate it. I believe going into our next chapter with some kind of a plan, even if it's planning to explore things that are fulfilling and that we can identify with and enjoy.
Congratulations, Daria!! So happy for you!! We planned well in advance, too. And transitioned into our bookstore. I'm a reader and a former journalist and it was great to be surrounded by books every day, all those authors! Eventually we transitioned out of that to 'real' retirement bc the beach looked too enticing to miss daily, which is what all of our customers were doing! All the best to you! Love what you have chosen as your Act 2!
Thank you Jeanine! A bookstore! One of my wildest dreams was to operate a bookstore, coffee and tea shop, and yoga/fitness studio all under one roof. Focusing now on the coaching and fitness, but there's a chance if the stars align at some point, I might try to do just that. For now I have all I want on my plate, and I don't ever want my passion and my dream to feel like work. You did it. You loved it. And now you're enjoying the beach and writing on Substack. Sounds like a wonderful life!
I serialized my memoir of moving to Mexico and my book obsession in my Substack. I’d published it, where the Sky is born: Living in the Land of the Maya, and figured interspersing a chapter every other week between Mexico travel, pyramids, Maya civilization, mx art and culture would work. It was a fun way to extend out the book’s shelf life. All the best to you, Daria!
That’s so creative Jeanine. I’ve certainly enjoyed the art that you’ve shared. Now I will go to your posts to get the full experience.
Thank you!
Congratulations Daria! I have enjoyed all your writings, and am learning! Thanks for helping us all flourish!
Thank you, Rachel! And isn't flourishing the most beautiful way to live?
Congrats on your next chapter! I transistioned to a dramatically differant lifestyle and embraced all that came with it. It's been great journey.
Thank you Sue! I'm so looking forward to it! I love to hear that your transition has worked out well for you. As I get older, I realize that there's no right or wrong decision. If it doesn't go as planned, pivot and try something else.
Congratulations, Daria! 🌟 Well Done! 👏 I can't wait to see all your new activities!
Thank you Patti! You've been so supportive and generous. I appreciate it. I'm so jazzed to spend on what I love doing most.
You are inspiring! 🌟
Thank you Pamela. I'm touched that you think so.
Hey Daria,
Heather pointed me to your beautiful article.
It was great to get a view behind the curtain of your fulfilling first career, which was both satisfying and as you pointed out, also very consuming.
Your passion and experience in health coaching shines through in every piece you publish. I’m always enjoying how you casually combine scientific results with your own perspective and advice.
Purpose is such an important part in life. After 7 years in my role in health management, I’m in still grateful for the position i have, my colleagues and the freedom I enjoy, but I can hear the knocking on the door louder and louder that change is needed.
I wish this applies to the business in building, but it may as well involve another role in the corporate world.
I know we are connected here, which is pleasure. For now, I wish you a great start into…how should I call it, the new and exciting journey which now gets you full attention
Thank you Philipp. And when you hear the knocking, answer the door to see what's there. Invite it in and sit with it for a while. You'll know when it's the right time.
Congratulations on retiring to something as you put it so well Daria!
I was in a similar boat with my older adult fitness teaching, when I was a part-time contractor in coaching early on in that career I had time to teach but then when I went back to working full-time, I just couldn't do it justice so I kept my certifications active and it is something I plan to pick up again when I get to retire purposefully one day.
Thank you Melanie! Like you, I never let any of my certifications lapse, and I also acquired some new ones along the way. I'm just thrilled that I can now teach, coach, write, and do the things that make me happy and that make a positive impact on people's lives and mine too.
And I’m sure you will Daria! Wishing you well in all your endeavors :)
Love how you frame this. Perfect and beautiful.
Thank you so much Heather!
Congrats Daria! 🎉
A well thought out transition. May your plan take you in directions you never dreamed of!
I left engineering nearly 25 years ago and found a whole new world awaits!🙂
Thank you Cara. What you're doing now seems far removed from engineering. That's so beautiful that you believed in yourself and went for it. I'm so looking forward to the path forward.
Your past will inform your present after some amount of time. That will be part of what makes what you have to offer special!
You’re so right Cara. The person I am today is because of my life experiences, which become a part of everything I am and offer to others.
Hi Daria, congratulations on stepping into your next journey. On January 1, I began my 3rd year of “retirement,” my wife, her 4th.
For at least three years we’ve struggled to identify a term that is not “retired” for our stage in life, and are still looking for one.
I retired at 63 and that decision was made easy because my wife worked for our county government for 35 years before retiring at 56 with an ability to sustain our health insurance coverage and be covered by a pension that gave us a nice foundation of income to cover our basic living expenses.
I see this as my third career after two very different enjoyable and fulfilling roles as a professional baseball executive and then as a leadership and then as a workplace communication speaker, trainer, and coach.
Now I’m in the process of writing my first novel and embarking on being a professional writer (fiction mostly) and poet.
I spend about half my day 3-4 days a week writing my novel, a Substack post, or a poem.
And amazingly the rest of our days are filled with just daily living stuff, doctor appointments, and travel.
Honestly, it’s hard to recount where all the time goes but it goes by fast and the end of the day is upon us before we know it.
My wife and I have settled into a nice routine of healthy morning activities together of going to the gym for a spin class, or working with a personal functional strength trainer 4-5 days per week.
Then, we go our separate ways for the afternoon, me to write and her to do whatever is on her personal schedule, and then we reconvene around 5pm for dinner and watching our streaming shows together or reading our respective books.
After my wife retired I feared that I would miss being relevant. with people not needing/wanting my help and “expertise” anymore. I’ve found I don’t miss it at all.
Two weeks into retirement in ‘23 we took a 30-day palette cleansing vacation to New Zealand and Fiji and I remember that first week driving around New Zealand feeling completely free and enjoying that I had no encumbrances or responsibilities anything or anyone other than us enjoying the trip and each other’s company, and I’ve never looked back.
Enjoy this next phase of your life, you deserve it!😀
You have a beautiful life Skip. Thank you for sharing it and your daily routine. I need to get into a routine. I'm not always a good manager of my time. It sounds like you've achieved the perfect balance. I'll let you know how it goes. And also we need to schedule that Live that we've been talking about doing for over a year if you're still interested. We have so many things to talk about.
yes, let's do it. How about sometime in March? We're heading to Mexico next week - we'll be gone from 2/8-2/21.
You will find your routine and what works for you over time, just be intentional about what you want the next phase to look and feel like.
Good through most of the week of March 16th. Send me a message and let me know what works for you.