Flying Free © lynette sheppard
Fifteen+ years ago, Theresa-Venus and I had one of those life altering conversations. We were going through perimenopause and wondered if something might seriously be wrong with us. No one told us that all these horrifying symptoms and maladies were going to come with the Big M. We thought that maybe we’d be a little warm once in a while and never have to worry about wearing white pants again.
That conversation spawned the Menopause Goddess Group, our book “Becoming a Menopause Goddess”, and this blog. On average, we have 35,000 visitors each month. That reinforces the fact that we are not alone. We’ll keep this site going – well, as long as we keep going.
Theresa and I had another of “those talks” a couple of weeks ago. A few Menopause Goddesses we know are retiring this year and looking forward to it. It got us to thinking, though. What does retirement mean to each of us? In what ways will we create a vibrant life after “work”? What does it look like to each of us to “retire”?
Before we share our thoughts and feelings, we’d like to hear from you – how do you envision retirement? Or if you are retired, what fulfills you? Is the reality of retirement different from your initial vision? What would you share with your sisters about retirement?
We look forward to hearing from you – write your answers and musings in the comments or email lynette@9points.com Don’t be shy – this site is about women sharing wisdom – we want to hear from you.
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time is both your friend and your enemy … you do not have to get everything done today because yes, there will be tomorrow,
you do have time if you choose to have coffee with friends which was not possible very often when you are working..
but you also have funerals on a much more frequent basis …
I find I make it a priority to go to the Y several times a week
both for fitness but because sometimes those are the only people I see all day or all week.
I have started cleaning out my house I have lived here a very long time.. so when something happens My son will not have to do much…
I now have time to learn things i have always been interested in
and not be bothered with stuff I just don’t care about… there are tings you do for others because you care about them , but I am much more selective about them .. Time is the most valuable commodity in the world .. and when you retire you realize it is more valuable than you ever realized . I make time to be with people that make me laugh that has not always been an option .. now it is
I look at retirement as a gift … and I am lucky to be here
Hi Ladies, I am soon going to leave my nearly 25 year career as a corporate consultant. I have loved it. It has been interesting and often challenging, but I’m just over it. I’ll be 58 later this year and have had an overwhelming need to reinvent myself.
I am “retiring” from a strict schedule, but am too sharp and energetic to not have a new, more interesting challenge.
I have been laying the groundwork for nearly the past 2 years to launch a new business, catering to women age 50+. I launch the business next week. Woohoo!
Lynette, I need you as an expert speaker for 2017!!! I am so excited! I guess my “retirement” comes in being my own boss and being of service in a very different way.
Congratulations! Can’t wait to collaborate. You go girl! Hugs, Lynette
As I approach retirement from about 3-1/2 years out — I think about it more and more often.
Right now, I feel like I am in kind of a transition or rehearsal phase. When I take a planned day off from work, I try to mimic what I would do if I didn’t have to report to the grindstone ever again. What would I do if I had my time as my own?
Most times, I try to spend some time in nature, taking a short hike on a trail I haven’t walked before and really open my eyes and drink in the textures, smells, and sights I will have the time to savor in the future.
I think a lot about the type of retired grandma I want to be. I want to be an active and a fun one to be around. One of my daughters is not too domesticated, so I’d like to expose her daughter to some of my favorite pasttimes (embroidery, sewing, gardening) that she otherwise doesn’t get to experience. (I’ve already begun that, but want to continue if it’s something she wants. I learned so much of this kind of thing from my grandmother).
Since the out-of-doors is important and nurturing for me, I would like to share that with my grandkids and continue to with my husband as long as possible. I see camping and many local hikes in the future. There’s a wonderful group of older women who maintain trails and camp together; I’ve been dreaming of joining them.
I branch out my thoughts to the dark times, winter and days when the driving rain keeps me indoors. I like to think I will busy myself finishing long-abandoned projects, starting new ones, taking classes on old and new hobbies. There are many groups who meet in our library system for conversations on local issues, arts, hobbies, travel, foreign language practice, and of course, books! I look forward to accessing those.
So, I guess what retirement means to me is that it is a trigger for the next exciting life series! I’ve done the rest—here comes the best! It’s a time of becoming enriched and enriching the lives of those you love. Of not letting life simply pass by, but enjoying and savoring every moment.
I have been told a while back that my symptoms are not perimenipause. All the books I’ve read and talking with family my practitioner I believe is incorrect. The information than some women get told could lead them to doubt themselves. What is the point for this? We are told by md’s to tell the truth, then the professionals actually deny what we are saying. We as females know more of what we are experiencing because we know the actual symptoms. It takes our symptoms to have mds research and supposedly help us in the best way. All the pamphlets I’ve seen tell of other websites to go to. In all actuality, there education is not there when we need it! Then if we disagree in any way, the patient is bad. Wow, there’s a problem. What symptoms I have are factual and I want to know how to have great healthy relationships as I age.
Alas, Lori, I know what you mean. And good for you for trusting your own body knowledge. I don’t think the health professionals are denying these symptoms on purpose – they really just don’t know any better (and unfortunately, they THINK they do know.) If possible, try to find an integrative health care practitioner near you – they are often better equipped to deal with the whole person, especially during perimenopause and menopause. Keep us posted!
Lori, are you in the US? If you are, I know of a few resources to find the kind of doctor Lynette is talking about in her comment to you. I’m happy to share the resources ( for US only).