Life After Retirement

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.” “I should be enjoying it, but something feels off.”

A woman once told me something I hear often, but rarely so honestly: “I want to enjoy my retirement… but every time I spend money, part of me wonders if I should be saving it for my children instead.” She wasn’t being pressured by her family…

I have a cart full of art supplies to the right of my desk. To my left, there’s a stool with more supplies precariously balanced on top of it. And, front and center on my beautiful mango wood desk: my monitor, keyboard, mouse, and laptop…

Your 70th birthday is a big one! I experienced it already, so I know. The inevitable question is, “What gift would you like?” It will come as no surprise that my first wish was to have my sons and grandchildren all together. Like so many women…

The other morning, I was sitting in a bath at 11 o’clock on a weekday, coffee already cold on the edge of the tub, and I had a very strange thought. I should be somewhere. For most of my life, I always was. Wake up early…

Over the past few years, I have heard a quiet observation repeated by many women over 60. Nothing dramatic has happened. Life is still good. Yet something subtle begins to shift. Activities and commitments that once felt natural start to invite…

Have you ever quietly wondered what your retirement plan would look like if it were just you? Not “the two of us.” Not “we’re set.” Just you. It’s not a question most couples linger on. And yet for many women, it eventually becomes reality. After my husband died, I discovered something no spreadsheet had prepared me for…

For nearly 20 years, I was the queen. Not literally – but close enough. I directed a small but mighty research center at a university, with an annual operating budget of a million dollars. I raised funds, set the vision, networked, hired, mentored…

Don’t break out your disco boots, I am talking about your 70s, not the 70s. Whether you believe that 70 is the new 50, or it’s just 70, it can be a celebration with a positive attitude and plans. It’s not about what happens to you…

My best friend was forced into an early retirement. While she was within a year of wanting to retire anyway, it came as a bit of a shock when her job position was eliminated, and she was faced with trying to occupy the hours in the day…