With 10,000 Americans retiring every day and this trend continuing until 2030--at which time nearly 20% of Americans will be retired, there is much work to be done to help retirees attend to their vitality and resilience. Even prior to COVID and now especially during it, we saw a surge in Americans falling into clinical depression, seeking professional coaching, and our communities experiencing great isolation and pain. There is much to be done! 

 

I have been a member of the UU congregations in Nashville and Asheville since 1993, enjoyed Leadership School at The Mountain, sent my 2 children to Mountain Camp, and participated in Gay Spirit Visions since its first meeting 30 years ago.  

 

Now 64, I have 30+ years' professional experience in organizational development, workplace learning, leadership development, change management, Lean/Six Sigma quality improvement and now technology project management. Most of my leadership has been with large healthcare systems and their IT operations where I've conducted many live workshops, seminars and strategic planning sessions, developed e-Learning solutions, facilitated live virtual sessions, and coached professionals in leadership and career development skills.

 

My own imminent retirement transition focuses on cultivating a stronger sense of inner meaningful purpose and becoming more intentional about engaging in habits and activities that live out that purpose in service to others. This journey is consistent, I believe, with my UU values and with the benefits we now have of empirical positive psychology research. 

 

What I have learned applies at many stages of our lives: Living our Life Purpose creates a fulfilling, meaningful, integrated life experience—regardless of our age. It delivers throughout our life!  Let’s join in supporting each other to achieve this most noble goal and benefit for our communities.