Life After Retirement

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.”

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…