Life After Retirement

When people talk about the best places to retire, the same names tend to come up again and again. Florida. Arizona. The Carolinas. A sunny town near the water. A low-tax state. A popular retirement community that a friend, neighbor or magazine article recommended. There is nothing wrong with any of those places. Many people love them…

Every morning, before I get out of bed and while I do my hip flexor stretches, I think about my day. It helps me focus on what I have to look forward to. Maybe it’s lunch with a friend, a different walking route to try, or even a new episode of a favourite series. I do this every morning. It helps me get up with a smile. I feel positive about the day ahead, even when there is nothing…

Older adults have been getting a bad rap lately. Everywhere you look, there are videos about old men yelling at neighborhood kids or silver-haired women calling the police over a noisy pool party. So what is going on? Why do some older people act this way?

Most people count down the days until retirement, imagining a time when they can finally leave the stress, commute and long hours behind. They imagine a time with no commitments or schedules to keep and nothing taking all their time. At first, this life may feel like freedom, but for many people who have spent decades working, the drastic change can be hard to get used to…

I feel I should highlight what I love about life in my 60s. It is only natural that as we get older certain things and situations will annoy us from time to time. But on balance there is so much more to enjoy and be grateful for…

Being made redundant can be difficult financially and emotionally. Some people may experience feelings of grief and loss, and worry about where to turn next. It’s also normal to feel a loss of control, which can be unsettling. However, while it might not feel like it…

In our many conversations with women over 60 over the past few years, one theme has quietly surfaced again and again. Many expected life to become more stable with age. Instead, some describe feeling as though the world is speeding up around them in ways they did not fully anticipate…

Last Thursday night, I found myself at a hotel bar at 10pm. I was very proud of myself for staying up so late. I know, I know – retirement means I don’t have to get up early. But the truth is, I’m an early-to-bed kind of person. I was out with my cousin, who was visiting…

Walking through Vienna, Joel noticed an elderly woman sweeping the streets. His first instinct, shaped entirely by the culture that raised him, was pity. She was old. She was still working. Surely something had gone wrong.
His father corrected him gently. Nothing had gone wrong. She was valued here. She was useful…

Whether you’re approaching retirement, recently retired, or simply starting to ask “what comes next”… this phase of life can feel more complicated than expected. Many of the women I speak with tell me: “I thought I’d feel happier than this.”