To inspire, inform, and embolden people thinking about retiring or already retired.
THOUGHT-PROVOKING COLUMNS THAT FOCUS ON EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING IN RETIREMENT:
- Tales of retirement – This is the heart of our blog! Tales of retirement written by friends, family, and colleagues who have already retired
- Following Frank into retirement – Frank’s thoughts each step of the way, from 5 months prior to retiring through to four years after retiring
- Thoughts from a retirement coach – What Mariella has learned from her clients and her life
- Retirement stats, studies, and stuff – Just what it says
- Helen, heading out – A series of articles about recreating identity after an all-consuming career
- Tales of an overachieving retiree – A series of articles about the challenges of bringing overachievement into retirement and finding pleasure in the process
- Craving a dog’s life – A series of articles about finding a pathway towards a simpler life, one that is less focused on structure and more on love, compassion, daily walks, and treats
- Phil dives into retirement – A series of articles about transitioning from a very structured professional life
- Reinventing Barb – A series of articles about reinventing life after job loss
- My journey – A series of articles about being given working notice shortly before retirement
To go directly to the blog, click here.
Or see below for links to particular articles:
Tales of Retirement
Written by friends, family, and colleagues who have already retired
# | Posted | Title | Author | What’s It About |
1. | 2014/07/18 | Of lists and blank pages | Rose Morley | Disorientation, flow, routine |
2. | 2014/08/14 | Where there are toasted tomato sandwiches, there is hope | Brad Morley | Fulfillment, life transitions, mixed emotions, satisfaction |
3. | 2014/09/14 | When work ended abruptly, I was catapulted into serious soul searching | Martin | Chronic illness in retirement, disorientation, fulfillment, health, job loss, mixed emotions, unexpected retirement |
4. | 2014/10/15 | Retirement. How did I ever find time to work! | Peter Follett | Engagement, life transitions, mixed emotions, satisfaction |
5. | 2014/11/14 | One widow’s retirement story | Judy Callahan | Death, chronic illness, resilience |
6. | 2014/12/15 | Retire like a drunken matador | Christine Warltier | Early retirement, frustrated with work, happiness, money |
7. | 2015/01/14 | Then a miracle occurred | Jim A. Dixon | Purpose and passion in retirement, relationships, money, resilience |
8. | 2015/02/15 | In search of the meaning of life (still) | Rose Morley | Creativity, fulfillment, life transitions, mixed emotions, routine |
9. | 2015/03/14 | The healing tea of retirement | Brad Morley | Burnout, happiness, life transitions, stress |
10. | 2015/04/14 | Freedom sixty-one | Pauline Hodge | Disorientation, happiness, life transitions, mixed emotions, money |
11. | 2015/05/14 | An examination of my fear of spiders | Fiona McConachie | Engagement, fulfillment, healthy aging, life transitions, resilience |
12. | 2015/06/14 | Retirement: out with a whimper, not a bang | Don Kellett | Fulfillment, life transitions, planning, unexpected retirement |
13. | 2015/07/15 | A snowbird experience | Amy Cousineau | Fulfillment, life transitions, relationships, satisfaction |
14. | 2015/09/01 | I’m fine. Really. | Anson Laytner | Disorientation, engagement, life transitions, money, routine |
15. | 2015/09/14 | What monkeys do and do not do | Brad Morley | Disorientation, healthy aging, retirement income, work-life balance |
16. | 2015/10/16 | Comfort zone be damned | Rose Morley | Creativity, engagement, fulfillment, mixed emotions |
17. | 2015/11/24 | Practising retirement, and my cover story | Mark | Creativity, fulfillment, mixed emotions |
18. | 2015/12/14 | Household hazards in retirement | Anson Laytner | Happiness, health, routine |
19. | 2016/01/14 | Choosing not to be sad | Judy Callahan | Happiness, mixed emotions, relationships in retirement |
20. | 2016/02/15 | Snowbirds – not this winter! | Amy Cousineau | Health, mixed emotions, resilience |
21. | 2016/03/14 | When bad things happen to good dreams or “now what?” | Rose Morley | Disorientation, flow, mixed emotions, resilience |
22. | 2016/04/14 | Retirement: the 3 Rs – renew, refresh, rejuvenate | Donna Beatty | Disorientation, happiness, life transitions, routine |
23. | 2016/05/22 | Sometimes the harder you go at a thing, the more it recedes | Hazel Lyder | Creativity, disorientation, life transitions, mixed emotions |
24. | 2016/06/14 | Retirement: out with a whimper, not a bang | Jean Murphy | Burnout, early retirement, happiness, identity |
25. | 2016/07/15 | Oh, the places you’ll go! …with a nod to Dr. Seuss | Donna McCaw | Chronic illness, courage, life transitions |
26. | 2016/08/24 | Grief’s apprentice | Linda Schnabel | Death, happiness, resilience |
27. | 2016/09/10 | Practising retirement – coming at it sideways | Mark | Creativity, tapering/practising retirement, taking a sabbatical year |
28. | 2016/10/21 | By the time she retires, I’ll be ready for the long nap | Anson Laytner | Retiring well before younger partner, fighting to feel relevant |
29. | 2016/11/21 | An abundance of time | Ann Munsch | Understanding busy-ness; lessons learned; letting go |
30. | 2016/12/08 | La petite mort | Anson Laytner | Dealing with lost value when visiting workplace after retirement |
31. | 2017/01/15 | Back to babyhood | Ruth Morris | Physically ready for retirement; enjoying grandchild |
32. | 2017/02/14 | Retirement – I’m ready! | Maryse Lafreniere | Activities planned; identity as a helper will be maintained |
33. | 2017/03/14 | Ready, set, terminated | Shirley Forton | Unexpected job loss; devastation; resilience; downsizing; family |
34. | 2017/04/24 | Retirement four years in | Pauline Hodge | Breaking from regiment; freedom; fitness; dementia; adjustment |
35. | 2017/04/15 | My last day of work… ever | Josette Vigneux | Last day as a nurse of 30 years |
36. | 2017/06/26 | Thirty-nine years of retirement | Claude Lafreniere | 91-year-old’s experiences over 39 years of retirement |
37. | 2017/08/05 | Practising retirement: practice is now over | Mark | Facing ever-since-I-was-a-kid dreams; retirement trepidation; the need for aspirations and discipline |
38. | 2017/11/21 | Time flies when you’re having fun | Janis Tomkinson | Missing daily structure and colleagues, redesigning me |
39. | 2018/01/19 | You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows | Joan Hoban | RN retires after 45 years, making choices, dreaming, self-determination |
40. | 2018/02/26 | I hate rushing in the morning! | Maryse Lafreniere | Human connection, volunteering, playing, fear of disability |
41. | 2018/03/27 | Selling a house is a little like making love for the first time | Pat O’Connor | Downsizing to a smaller house, being vulnerable |
Thoughts from a Retirement Coach
What Mariella has learned from her clients and her life
# | Posted | Title | Author | What’s It About |
1. | 2014/02/07 | Creating purpose and passion in retirement: just mushy words? | Mariella | Engagement, fulfillment, happiness, satisfaction, strengths |
2. | 2014/08/29 | If only we had instructions for retirement | Mariella | Disorientation, engagement, fulfillment, happiness, mixed emotions, strengths |
3. | 2014/09/29 | Pre-retirement emotions: a boiling cauldron | Mariella | Disorientation, life transitions, mixed emotions, strengths |
4. | 2014/10/28 | Liver and onion Wednesdays | Mariella | Fulfillment, life transitions, routine, satisfaction |
5. | 2014/11/27 | Leisure in retirement – too much of a good thing? | Mariella | Disorientation, engagement, happiness, life transitions |
6. | 2014/12/29 | Beautiful endeavours | Mariella | Frustrated with work, fulfillment, happiness, satisfaction |
7. | 2015/01/28 | Adjusting to a new limitation – what works? | Mariella | Chronic illness, engagement, mixed emotions, physical fitness |
8. | 2015/02/28 | Flirting with your wild side | Mariella | Health, healthy aging, life transitions, resilience |
9. | 2015/04/28 | What makes (or breaks) relationships in retirement? | Mariella | Life transitions, mixed emotions, relationships in retirement |
10. | 2015/06/28 | Leaving behind a life legacy that goes beyond ego | Mariella | Fulfillment, life legacy |
11. | 2015/09/22 | Life is so startling | Mariella | Happiness, healthy aging, resilience |
12. | 2015/12/01 | I’d rather die in the traces than retire | Mariella | Disorientation, fulfillment, life transitions |
13. | 2015/12/28 | Retirement – a time for small things | Mariella | Engagement, money, satisfaction |
14. | 2016/02/22 | How well are you doing in retirement? Part one – taking your pulse. | Mariella | Flow, fulfillment, mixed emotions, relationships in retirement, resilience, routine |
15. | 2016/03/19 | How well are you doing in retirement? Part two – strengthening your pulse. | Mariella | Flow, identity, life legacy, relationships in retirement, routine |
16. | 2016/04/21 | A rousing harangue for foundering retirees | Mariella | Disorientation, resilience, stress |
17. | 2016/05/31 | Retirement: where the future of the universe depends on you (ha!) | Mariella | Disorientation, engagement, identity |
18. | 2016/06/26 | What to put on a bucket list | Mariella | Death, fulfillment, life legacy, relationships in retirement |
19. | 2016/07/30 | When one person retires and their partner does not | Mariella | Disorientation, life transitions, relationships in retirement |
20. | 2016/08/27 | Navigating our newsletter articles (Part 1 – by column, topic, and author) | Mariella | Life transitions |
21. | 2016/09/30 | Navigating our newsletter articles (Part 2 – by topic) | Mariella | List of articles by topic |
22. | 2016/10/29 | A confession | Mariella | Adjusting to a partner’s upcoming retirement while still working |
23. | 2016/11/27 | Dealing with the wild cards | Mariella | Osteoporosis, dealing with a diagnosis and its limitations |
24. | 2017/02/27 | Retirement: What can we learn from the oldest person in the world? | Mariella | Lessons from a 122-year-old on owning identity, self-esteem, purpose, contributing to the world, being positive, resilience, balance of leisure and structure |
25. | 2017/03/31 | In praise of wattles and wrinkles | Mariella | Claiming our power, even as our physical form diminishes |
26. | 2017/04/24 | Legitimized: Finally I can say, “I’m retired.” | Mariella | Being outside the normal careers; relief of ‘retired’ label; redefining retirement and work |
27. | 2017/05/07 | Inertia in Retirement | Mariella | Inertia; self-determination; not striving; creativity; dreams |
28. | 2017/06/27 | Who do you SAY you are? | Mariella | Self-identity; being accurate; finding connection; being who we want to be; focusing on hopes instead of troubles |
29. | 2017/12/11 | The graveyard in my mind | Mariella | How one death causes us to relive the anguish of previous losses; bringing what we lost into future life; becoming soft |
30. | 2018/06/25 | Still don’t know what you want to be when you grow up? 16 questions to help figure it out. | Mariella | Retirement gives us a rare opportunity to really figure out what we want out of life. 16 questions to help clarify. |
Stats, Studies, and Stuff (Including Guest Authors)
Just what it says
# | Posted | Title | Author | What’s It About |
1. | 2014/07/18 | Did you know that a startling percentage of people retire unexpectedly or reluctantly? | Mariella | Early retirement, health, job loss, unexpected retirement |
2. | 2014/08/25 | Exercise – the silver bullet for successful aging? | Mariella | Health, healthy aging, physical fitness in retirement |
3. | 2014/09/22 | Are you getting enough of the five elements needed for a satisfying life? | Mariella | Engagement, flow, fulfillment, happiness, healthy aging, satisfaction |
4. | 2014/10/22 | Who do you think you are? | Mariella | Fulfillment, life transitions, satisfaction, strengths |
5. | 2014/11/22 | What lures us to creativity? | Mariella | Creativity, engagement, fulfillment, satisfaction |
6. | 2014/12/26 | Retirement and mortality | Mariella | Chronic illness, early retirement, health, healthy aging, unexpected retirement |
7. | 2015/01/21 | Retiree stereotypes – It seems we’re feeble, forgetful, stubborn, and helpless | Mariella | Healthy aging, life transitions, mixed emotions |
8. | 2015/02/23 | Flow – the overlooked ingredient in the recipe for happiness (Part 1) | Mariella | Engagement, flow, fulfillment, happiness |
9. | 2015/03/24 | Flow – the overlooked ingredient in the recipe for happiness (Part 2) | Mariella | Engagement, flow, fulfillment, routine |
10. | 2015/05/28 | In support of doubt | Mariella | Disorientation, fulfillment, life transitions, mixed emotions |
11. | 2015/07/29 | Our relationship to money in retirement | Mariella | Early retirement, fulfillment, money |
12. | 2015/08/31 | Unlearning the puritan work ethic in retirement | Mariella | Healthy aging, life transitions, mixed emotions, work-life balance |
13. | 2015/10/01 | Contentment: what does it look like? | Bret Maukonen | Fulfillment, happiness |
14. | 2015/10/25 | Aging: I haven’t been reading the script | Mariella | Healthy aging, life transitions, physical fitness in retirement |
15. | 2015/11/08 | Happiness at the speed of light | Catherine M. Miller | Happiness, health, resilience |
16. | 2016/01/01 | Positive thinking is not all it’s cracked up to be when it comes to retirement planning | Mariella | Life transitions, mixed emotions |
17. | 2016/01/18 | How employers can help with employee retirement decisions | Mariella | Frustrated with work, succession planning |
18. | 2016/02/09 | Walk sober off; before a sprightlier age comes tittering on | Mariella | Fulfillment, healthy aging, life transitions, resilience |
19. | 2016/03/19 | Should I get a dog when I retire? | Mariella | Happiness, health, mixed emotions, physical fitness in retirement |
20. | 2016/04/28 | Downsizing your home – by crisis or by choice? | Ellen Crymble | Health, life transitions, planning |
21. | 2016/05/16 | Never too old to learn | Jill Watson | Continuing education, healthy aging, life transitions, Third Age learning |
22. | 2016/06/27 | Ponderings about retirement from a residential hospice chaplain | Kathy Underwood | Death, happiness, life legacy, relationships in retirement |
23. | 2016/08/06 | Who am I now? Identity revisited… renewed… reinvented | Lynne Maukonen | Identity, purpose and passion in retirement |
24. | 2016/09/10 | Whose life (and death) is it, anyway? | Kathy Underwood | Autonomy of someone is dying, listening to a dying person’s wishes |
25. | 2016/10/24 | Co-housing with friends into old age | Mariella | Building community through shared living spaces |
26. | 2016/11/23 | The motivations behind volunteering in retirement | Luc Cousineau | Contributing something back; reasons for volunteering |
27. | 2016/12/08 | The struggle to become (reasonably) selfish in retirement | Mariella | Protecting our personal creative space as retirees |
28. | 2017/02/25 | Your thoughts on retirement: four questions for you | Mariella | Best moment, retirement challenges, relationship changes, money perspective |
29. | 2017/03/27 | Survey responses to question 1 – most joy in retirement so far? | Mariella | Joy in retirement: freedom, control, learning, sleeping in, travel, relationships |
30. | 2017/04/19 | Survey responses to question 2 – what do you wish you had known? | Mariella | Challenges/hindsight: balancing routine and freedom; regrets; less income; being uncomfortable wayfinding; allowing non-productivity; adjusting to unreal expectations; reframing satisfaction |
31. | 2017/05/07 | Survey responses to question 3 – how did retirement affect your relationship with your partner? | Mariella | Relationship changes: loss of partner; needing separate space and activities; same people; less stress; health challenges |
32. | 2017/06/27 | Survey responses to question 4 – has your perspective on money changed since retiring? | Mariella | Money perspective: caring for parents in retirement; worries; frugal living; adjusting expectations; no change |
33. | 2018/06/20 | How well do people adjust to retirement? (Three adjustment patterns) | Mariella | How we adjust depends on life variables; can shorten disorientation phase by building on positive variables and neutralizing negative ones |
Following Frank
Frank’s thoughts each step of the way, from 5 months prior to retiring through to four years after retiring
# | Posted | Title | Author | What’s It About |
1. | 2014/07/07 | Frank in a nutshell | Frank | Frustrated with work, happiness, life transitions, planning, retirement income/money, satisfaction |
2. | 2014/08/12 | Hanging up the skates – flip flopping towards retirement | Frank | Frustrated with work, life transitions, mixed emotions, planning, retirement income/money |
3. | 2014/09/07 | Money, money, money – being responsible | Frank | Fulfillment, happiness, planning, retirement income, satisfaction |
4. | 2014/10/07 | So much time and so little to do | Frank | Happiness, life transitions, mixed emotions, satisfaction |
5. | 2014/11/07 | Money, money, money reprise | Frank | Happiness, life transitions, mixed emotions, money, planning |
6. | 2014/12/07 | The luxury of being | Frank | Engagement, fulfillment, life transitions, mixed emotions |
7. | 2015/01/06 | A very long weekend | Frank | Disorientation, frustrated with work, mixed emotions, routine, satisfaction |
8. | 2015/02/06 | The storm before the calm | Frank | Disorientation, fulfillment, mixed emotions |
9. | 2015/03/07 | Time for a change | Frank | Life transitions, planning, routine |
10. | 2015/04/07 | Something’s cooking | Frank | Life transitions, money, routine, satisfaction |
11. | 2015/05/07 | Mind games | Frank | Flow, money, retirement income, routine |
12. | 2015/06/07 | The most precious gift | Frank | Fulfillment, legacy, life transitions |
13. | 2015/07/30 | Finding a balance | Frank | Fulfillment, physical fitness in retirement, work-life balance |
14. | 2015/10/06 | Opportunistic tumbleweed | Frank | Mixed emotions, routine, satisfaction |
15. | 2016/01/06 | Tempus fugit | Frank | Happiness, mixed emotions, routine |
16. | 2017/01/23 | Just call me ‘bob’ | Frank | Summing up 2 years of retirement; |
17. | 2018/09/17 | That’s a good pace, now keep it up for another 30 years… | Frank | Purpose; will I feel regretful that I haven’t used those 30 years well? |
Helen, Heading Out
A series of articles about recreating identity after an all-consuming career
# | Posted | Title | Author | Tags |
1. | 2015/02/06 | My almost (involuntary) early retirement | Helen | Burnout, early retirement, health, stress, unexpected retirement |
2. | 2015/03/07 | Staving off involuntary early retirement: the emotional side | Helen | Burnout, early retirement, health, work-life balance |
3. | 2015/04/21 | Staving off involuntary early retirement: the work side | Helen | Burnout, early retirement, frustrated at work, health, resilience, work-life balance |
4. | 2015/05/21 | The pushmi-pullu of my retirement decision | Helen | Fulfillment, identity, life transitions, money, unexpected retirement |
5. | 2015/06/22 | Clearing out my office – and my life | Helen | Disorientation, identity, job loss, life transitions |
6. | 2015/07/21 | Am I really retired? | Helen | Life transitions, routine, work-life balance |
7. | 2015/08/26 | Three-year retirement retrospective | Helen | Creativity, engagement, identity, life transitions |
8. | 2015/10/21 | What do I miss? | Helen | Identity, life transitions, mixed emotions |
9. | 2015/11/18 | New keys on my key ring | Helen | Creativity, mixed emotions, relationships in retirement |
10. | 2015/12/23 | The end of the bend | Helen | Healthy aging, identity, life transitions |
11. | 2016/01/18 | Navigating the end of the bend | Helen | Chronic illness in retirement, death, healthy aging, routine |
Tales of an Overachieving Retiree
A series of articles about the challenges of bringing overachievement into retirement and finding pleasure in the process
# | Posted | Title | Author | Tags |
1. | 2016/02/08 | Getting off track: getting to retirement after retirement | Peter | Life transitions, work-life balance |
2. | 2016/03/19 | Getting back to the dreams | Peter | Creativity, life transitions, work-life balance |
3. | 2016/04/14 | Getting to a full stop | Peter | Burnout, creativity, work-life balance |
4. | 2016/05/19 | Getting to the point, still | Peter | Creativity, routine, work-life balance |
5. | 2016/06/28 | Getting to a simpler place | Peter | Life transitions, stress, work-life balance |
Craving a Dog’s Life
A series of articles about finding a pathway towards a simpler life, one that is less focused on structure and more on love, compassion, daily walks, and treats
# | Posted | Title | Author | Tags |
1. | 2016/07/12 | Why is it so hard to turn down work after retiring? | Renate | Life transitions, mixed emotions, work-life balance |
2. | 2016/08/22 | When you’re not the boss anymore | Renate | Identity, life transitions, satisfaction |
3. | 2016/09/29 | To work or not to work? | Renate | Finding the right balance of contract work when retired |
Phil Dives into Retirement
A series of articles about transitioning from a very structured professional life
# | Posted | Title | Author | What’s It About |
1. | 2016/12/12 | Will my identity retire with me? | Phil McCavity | Questioning ability to turn off work identity when retired |
2. | 2017/01/07 | Easing my way out the door | Phil McCavity | Goodbyes to clients; readiness to retire |
3. | 2017/02/07 | And so it happened | Phil McCavity | Sale of business, meet-and-greet, clearing deck, planning |
4. | 2017/03/07 | Great expectations | Phil McCavity | Expectations of good health, happiness, choices |
5. | 2017/08/20 | Game on | Phil McCavity | Chores, golf, getting fit, rural living, life is good |
Reinventing Barb
A series of articles about reinventing life after job loss
# | Posted | Title | Author | What’s It About |
1. | 2017/04/09 | Terminated – my career handed to me in a box | Barb Carriere | Sudden job loss; loss of identity; grieving; giving back; downsizing; part-time work; letting others in; designing each day |
2. | 2017/05/07 | ‘Rightsizing’ to a new home | Barb Carriere | Downsizing; healing; finding a passion; |
3. | 2017/06/26 | Creating a happy life | Barb Carriere | Fulfilling postponed dreams; finding meaning and joy; being kind |
My Journey
A series of articles about being given working notice shortly before retirement
# | Posted | Title | Author | What’s It About |
1. | 2017/08/21 | The storm (part 1) | MC | Working notice layoff after working 28 years, anger, fear, work or retire? |
2. | 2017/11/14 | The wreckage (part 2) | MC | Working notice layoff, mourning, isolation, panic, layoff package, no medical coverage, acceptance |
3. | 2018/03/09 | The calm seas (part 3) | MC | Reconciling to job termination, volunteering, trust in self, creating a peaceful harbour |
Other
# | Posted | Title | Author | What’s It About |
1. | 2013/11/15 | Welcome to the Retiring With Purpose and Passion blog | Mariella | Disorientation, life transitions, planning |
2. | 2015/08/30 | Gems from year one | Mariella | Early retirement, happiness, identity, life transitions, mixed emotions |
3. | 2015/09/17 | 10 delights of retirement | Mariella | Happiness, routine, satisfaction |
4. | 2016/07/25 | Gems from year two | Mariella | Disorientation, engagement, happiness, money in retirement, routine |
5. | 2016/10/21 | Announcing the first annual Doggerel Cup Limerick Contest | Mariella | Frivolous limericks about retirement |
6. | 2016/11/25 | Last chance to enter the annual Doggerel Cup Limerick Contest | Mariella | Frivolous limericks about retirement |
7. | 2017/01/01 | Announcing the winner of the annual Doggerel Cup Limerick Contest | Mariella | Frivolous limericks about retirement |
8. | 2017/01/26 | Limerick contest winner receives trophy | Mariella | Frivolous limericks about retirement |
9. | 2017/06/28 | Newsletter Update | Mariella | Celebrating 3 years; quarterly issues; share your experiences |
10. | 2017/08/10 | The second annual Doggerel Cup Contest | Mariella | Frivolous limericks about retirement |
11. | 2017/08/13 | Gems from year three | Mariella | Favourite tidbits of wisdom, humour, and experience |
12. | 2017/12/11 | Last chance to enter the annual Doggerel Cup Contest | Mariella | Frivolous limericks about retirement |
13. | 2018/03/29 | Announcing the winner of the second annual Doggerel Cup Contest | Mariella | Frivolous limericks about retirement |
14. | 2018/06/27 | Quick comebacks to working stiffs when they say, “Retired, eh? What do you do all day?” | Mariella | Request for responses to the question “What do you do all day?” |
15. | 2018/06/27 | Newsletter update | Mariella | Next issue is last; celebrating 4 years; tell your story |
16. | 2018/09/25 | Suggested responses for when working stiffs say, “Retired, eh? So, what do you do all day?” | Mariella | Suggested responses to the question “What do you do all day?” |
17. | 2018/09/25 | Gems from year four | Mariella | Favourite tidbits of wisdom, humour, and experience |
18. | 2018/09/25 | This is the last newsletter! | Mariella | Last newsletter; book coming; thank you |