WHAT'S NEXT? DON'T RETIRE; RE-INSPIRE!

My name is Jane Kirsch and I believe this can be the best time of your life! But many people over fifty feel very unsure about how to navigate their retirement years.

Does this describe you?

Are you somewhere in the middle years of 50 - 70+?
Are you are bored with your life and/or work?
Have you experienced a life-changing event such as a divorce or the death of a significant other?
Have you concluded your career?
Do you find yourself in a suddenly empty nest?
Are you ready for a new challenge or adventure?

Some folks call these the Bonus Years, a Second Act or my favorite, Your Encore. Regardless of the name, this is a new phase of life and there aren't a lot of rules for how to live it.

I liked turning 50 (a while ago) because frankly I didn't want to go back to the indecision of my 20's, the chaos of my 30's, or the responsibilities of my 40's. I anticipated 15, 20 or even 30 years of life when I could look forward to:

*Replacing parenting responsibilities with grand-parenting fun
*The end of 60 hour work weeks and an early am alarm clock
*The opportunity to pursue new interests
*Having time to volunteer for meaningful causes

Our parents worked hard to get to "Retirement" and the leisure and freedom it offered. But for many it meant retiring from life. Once they sat down in the rocking chair or recliner, they lost interest in learning, their health suffered, and they let the rest of their lives ebb away.

As has been true all through our lives, there are no rules or many mentors for this new stage, and our generation is developing new attitudes and approaches to the process of active aging.

• might continue to work at a job until age 70+
• might take a year off and then cycle back to work in a more flexible way
• might start a small business
• might work on a community based non-profit project or volunteer

The possibilities are endless!

Research by AARP and MetLife indicates that over 62% of Boomers intend to continue working well past age 65; another survey by Merrill Lynch in 2004 reported that 42% hope to cycle in and out of work; 13% want to start a small business and 76% of those who intend to keep working want to start over in a completely new line of work.

Do you wonder what you will do in the next 20 years?

Creating a plan for a successful "retirement" life requires thought and decision-making about goals and objectives. Taking time to evaluate now where you are and where you want to be will allow you to make specific plans to keep moving in a positive direction.

In my mid 50's, I realized that I needed to redesign my life and work. My work had become boring and meaningless and I wanted a lifestyle that would allow me to spend time with my new grandsons, family and friends. I also wanted to pursue some artistic interests and hobbies that I had neglected for many years.

I still needed an income to pay the bills, but I wanted work that would be challenging and rewarding, that would allow me to grow as a person and that would give me more control over how I spend my time.

I learned how to define my values and set priorities for the different parts of my life such as work, family, spirituality, health, finance and leisure.

I began to make decisions based on those priorities and over the course of a few years, my new life began to take shape. I can teach you the same strategies and processes.

A second half of life that balances work, family, spirituality, wellness and financial rewards is achievable.

You Can Begin Your Journey Today

What's stopping you? The problem for most of us is that we fail to plan our lives. Instead of managing our lives, we let our lives manage us.

It's nice to wish you had a better job or dream of life in a different place, but unless you intentionally set goals, and take steps to make those things happen, the months and years will keep moving you along the same road.

Most people fail to make meaningful changes in their lives because they think they lack the time to work on their dream or because they believe they can't afford to make changes. Time and Money are the two most frequently mentioned obstacles.

The truth is that almost 100% of the time the real reason is that they lack the information they need to get started.

Do you have a dream but don't know where to start?
Do you need to improve your financial state but don't know how?
Do you yearn to just start over but fear the unknown?

You are not alone but you also don't have to feel that way. Members of the Boomer generation are finding great opportunities and ways to live creatively and intentionally in their bonus years. You can too!  

As a Creative Career Consultant with Changing Course and a Certified Facilitator of the Too Young to Retire Workshops, I know how to help you find the answers to all your questions and to chart your travel through the second half of your life.