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Hello and Thank You for taking a moment to read my article… it means a lot given You have many choices to select from on articles You read! I truly appreciate You!
Appears those of us in the 55+ age group are entering into our “gerontolescence!” A new tern given to the period in life assigned to those of us 55+ which is compared with the transformation much like our adolescence?!
I came upon this term a couple of weeks ago as I was skimming through the magazines I peruse.
I’m not certain I see or feel the transformation in my body or life as I did during my adolescence…but hey, who am I to argue with the experts!
I agree this gerontolescence phase of life is definitely a transformation… as I have written in a previous article, it is about rethinking the meaning of and how we look at aging.
I guess as with our adolescence time of life, this phase of life comes with its own set of challenges and changes -and- will be different for each of us given the position we each started our retirement phase of life, (aka ‘Encore’ - my reference to this retirement phase of our life).
As I have written in previous articles, this time of life does require us to redefine our sense of purpose and identity outside of our careers.
What I have experienced and beginning to fully understand and embrace is that our Encore is less about stopping and more about shifting gears! It’s not the end of one’s productive life but rather a new beginning to embrace and enjoy!
My experience in this Encore phase has shown me the key is to figure out what makes You feel alive, valued and engaged at this time in our life, (since we no longer have our careers to stoke the ‘fire’ inside us). As we now wake up each day without a work schedule/routine, we may feel guilty about being idle. You might wonder if you’re being reckless for pursuing something that has no purpose. And while those are fair concerns, don’t fall victim to that internal feeling. There is a huge potential upside that we receive and that is You can live and enjoy your day on your schedule and plan which we did not necessarily have when we were working.
As will happen over time, our social network will diminish in size -and- that’s ok. Although we will certainly miss our colleagues, team mates and other industry contacts that meant the world to You during your career, only a few will remain with You during this phase of life. And, as always, those are the true, and special Friends meant to be with You during your lifetime! And I so appreciate those Individuals in my life, (and You know who You are!)
Please don’t allow this feeling of solitude to become synonymous with loneliness. I read it often serves as a powerful way for self-reflection and personal growth. I much prefer to think of these moments where I can connect (more) deeply with my thoughts and feeling; an opportunity to recharge, realign my values and seek that inner peace – all of which contribute to a sense of contentment and happiness that will only assist with my later years in life.
I am finding the Encore journey towards growing happier with age is not always linear. There will be days when You feel more content than others, and moments when old fears or insecurities resurface -and- that is alright! As we have experienced throughout our life, this is all part of life’s experience and does not mean You are off track. So don’t spend much time worrying about this… give it the time is deserves and move on as quickly as possible (*note to self: practice what You preach – lol)
The key to this approach in our Encore is to embrace patience and compassion towards yourself. Understand growth at this phase of life will require, (more than during your earlier life), stepping outside of your comfort zone and making peace with your past. It’s more about appreciating the simple joys in your life and giving (huge) Thanks and Appreciation to what You have in your life -and- those loved ones around You – more than ever!
So, whether You are in your 50’s, 60’s or beyond, embrace each day as a new opportunity to soak in the happiness and contentment of who You are; what You have become; what You have accomplished; -and- most importantly, love your Family and Friends who make up your life with You!
As it has been said;”… the key to having it all, is knowing You already do!”
Don’t allow this gerontolescence phase to disrupt your days as might have been the case during our adolescence phase; we are much wiser now! And …
“Never quit searching, never settle and never give up seeking your greater purpose!“
Terry's Thoughts 
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