I Don’t Know What Comes Next, but I’m Not Done Yet

I had the best intentions. In 2022, I was writing articles for Sixty and Me and enjoying interactions with new people I’d met through this platform. I was just finding my stride when my husband had a medical emergency. He needed brain surgery as soon as possible. We’d been married more than 40 years at the time, and I went into automatic mode. Although things eventually worked out okay, it was two years before he could fully walk and feed himself again. And I didn’t write. Of course. Life happened.

We All Do Hard Things

We’ve all made it past 60, so I know I’m not the only one whose plans have been interrupted by life. As women, we do hard things. We push through because we have to. Spouses, children, parents – there’s often someone who needs us, sometimes all at once. And there’s also the emotional toll of being expected to plan dinner every single night for decade upon decade.

Even when something enormous happens, the everyday things keep happening, too. Dinner still needs to be figured out. There’s still a business to run and a family to think about. My daughter also got married during this period, and there was a wedding to plan and a brave face to put on. During those two years, my attention went where it needed to go. Writing fell away.

I’m Not Complaining

I’m far from complaining. My husband is okay. He’ll never fully return to how he was before, but he’s okay for now. I have my health. We can travel a bit. I still have my publishing business, and I get to work on my own schedule, which has been a huge blessing. I’m grateful I had that flexibility when we needed it.

But a few years went by, and here I am, almost 68, looking at my life again. Apparently, I still have a lot I want to say. Now that my daughter is married and my husband is doing better, I have room to write. In fact, after hardly writing at all for years, I’ve finished three books this year! Three! Which is crazy in itself, because I wouldn’t really consider myself a writer. But I like to express, share, teach, and explore. My life has taken some weird twists and turns, and I want to write about them in the context of being over 60.

I Don’t Consider Myself a Wise Woman

I’ve been called an elder, a mentor, and a wise sage. I hate all of those. I like exploring what is possible now, today, and what the future might look like as we age. I don’t have a clear answer about what comes next, but I have plenty to write about. One of the books I’ve finished this year is called Not Done Yet. That pretty much describes where I am.

Now that my husband can travel again, we’re going places, although differently than before. We used to be adventurous, hopping on local buses in exotic countries. These days, we play it pretty safe, with cruises and nicer hotels. That’s a change. We have to consider what works for both of us now, and some of the ways we used to travel aren’t a good fit anymore. But I want to live life. I still want to go places, see things, and have experiences with him. I’m glad we can.

What Do I Want Now?

I’m trying to figure out what the next five years look like. Do I want to travel full time for a year? No. I’d miss my family. Do I want to stay home all the time? No, I don’t want that either. I love going into my office, getting out in the world. Having a purpose besides family. Do I want to continue working? Yes. For how long? I don’t know.

Reevaluating life through the lens of being over 60 brings up questions I haven’t answered yet. I enjoy my publishing business. I like helping people bring their books into the world. I also want time for my own writing, travel, and family. Maybe I’ll take up piano. Maybe art again. Or maybe I’ll learn Spanish, go back to Tai Chi, or do something crazy and go back to school. I don’t know exactly how all of that will fit together over the next few years. After spending so much time responding to what needed to happen, I’m finally thinking about what I want to happen, too.

I’ve been coaching for over 25 years, and I’ve never had a problem helping others find their voice. Now it’s my turn. I’m finally writing. I’m finding my voice. What does that mean? I’m not sure, but I’ll be writing about it here. I’m not sure what comes next. But I know I’m not done yet. You probably aren’t either.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What have you put on the backburner for the past few years? Have you become stronger in the mean time? What experiences are you looking forward to?