Tuesday thoughts and Retirement

Isabelle
Oct 22
3 min read

Hi Friends,

I trust you enjoyed last week’s writing on make believe.This week, we are talking about something very real, and something that everyone will be faced with.

Why “Retirement” Might Be the Worst Word Ever Invented

Your “Second Calling” Could Be the Best Chapter Yet

I’ve been reflecting lately on how our culture treats aging — almost as if it’s something to be feared or endured, rather than embraced and lived fully. We spend so much of our lives planning for “retirement,” but rarely do we talk about what comes after that moment. I’ve seen people reach that milestone, only to realize that what they really miss isn’t the work — it’s the purpose. The feeling of being useful, connected, and still part of something that matters.

A few days ago, I came across a video that said something that really resonated with me.

“Retirement is poison. Prepare your second calling now.”

At first, it felt harsh — but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. We spend decades counting down to the day when we can finally rest, as if that’s the ultimate reward. But what if we’ve been looking at it all wrong? What if the goal isn’t to stop working altogether, but to shift our focus — from obligation to inspiration? From earning a paycheck to earning peace and purpose?

The Blue Zones series on Netflix explores exactly this idea. Researchers studied the world’s longest-living people — in Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Ikaria, Greece; and a few other rare places — to find out what keeps them thriving into their 90s and 100s. The secret wasn’t fancy supplements or extreme diets. It was purpose. In Okinawa, they even have a word for it: ikigai, which means “a reason to wake up in the morning.” These people don’t retire the way we do. They stay engaged — planting gardens, cooking for neighbors, caring for grandchildren, or using their skills to help others. Their lives have rhythm and meaning, and that’s what keeps them not just alive, but vibrant.

That message touched something in me. I started thinking about what a “second calling” might look like in my own life — something that brings joy to others while keeping my heart engaged. One idea that keeps blooming in my mind is collecting leftover flowers from weddings, funerals, and events, and repurposing them into small bouquets for people in nursing homes, hospitals, or women’s shelters. I can almost see it — the soft petals finding new life, the smiles they could bring to someone who feels forgotten. It’s simple, but beautiful. And maybe that’s the point. Purpose doesn’t always have to look grand; sometimes it’s found in the gentle act of bringing beauty back to life.

We’ve all heard the stories of people who found their calling after society said they were “done.” Grandma Moses began painting at 78, turning her late-life hobby into a career that inspired generations. Colonel Harland Sanders launched Kentucky Fried Chicken at 62, after a lifetime of struggles and reinvention. Their stories remind us that purpose doesn’t retire — it simply transforms. What we once did for survival can evolve into something that nourishes the soul instead.

So instead of planning for an ending, what if we started planning for a transition? Maybe this next chapter isn’t about slowing down, but about rediscovery. The truth is, your second act doesn’t have to be big, public, or profitable. It just needs to be alive — something that stirs curiosity, lights a spark, or gives someone else hope. Ask yourself:

What lights me up that I’ve never had time to explore?
How could I use my lifetime of experience to serve others in a new way?
What simple idea keeps whispering to me that I’ve been ignoring?

In the Blue Zones, people thrive because they keep moving, connecting, and giving. Their bodies may age, but their hearts stay young because they never stop finding reasons to wake up with purpose. Maybe that’s the real secret to longevity — not just living longer, but living well.

Retirement isn’t the end. It’s just the turning of a page. Your “second calling” might not look like work at all, but it will give you something far more lasting: purpose, connection, and joy that keeps you blooming — again and again — no matter your age.

Here is this weeks affirmation :

I move forward with curiosity, courage, and connection

Isabelle

PS: Message me for a free consult to start moving toward a more confident you..

You are loved. Deeply loved. Loved beyond measure.

Until next time,

Isabelle