Pivot and Thrive

Cheryl Collins is an enthusiastic, licensed realtor and is about to become a broker. In our conversation she told me that her pivot from a retail saleswoman to a realtor in retirement will serve her well for the rest of her life. "It's a lifestyle," she explained. Cheryl loves her life and loves helping all of her clients beyond the call of duty. Her joy and dedication mean she can grow her business in multiple directions, keeping herself challenged and financially protected for the the long haul.

https://www.cherylcollinshomes.com/sell/

Carolyn Reinmiller of Carolyn B. Reinmiller Public Relations still has her finger on the pulse of how to promote businesses after 39 years in the industry.But that's not the only place where her hands are hard at work.

Carolyn Reinmiller is one of the busiest people I know. The interesting factor I noticed during our chat is that she always fills the time voids in her life by taking on more projects, and the fill often involves helping others. She manages to take on extra work while running her company and caregiving for her husband. And we aren't even including the six Christmas trees in her home that she decorates herself every year. Ambitious is Carolyn's middle name.

[email protected]

760-470-8456

Nazareth Orphanage

Retirement Coach, Kim Shea, talks to people who have happily reinvented themselves after a life event such as a layoff, health change, retirement, or an empty nest. Get inspired, and learn their secrets and tips for pivoting and thriving in the second half of life. You have more options than you might realize!

Larry Indiviglia was looking online for a woman to date. When he met Gayle, he was instantly drawn to her and to her honesty that she had been battling Stage IV breast cancer. Their relationship was profound, life-changing, and brief. Although Gayle felt optimistic that she would beat the disease, she lived for only 126 days with Larry by her side. Larry shares his personal story with us as well as his thoughts on risk in relationships. He also has advice on how to write your own story.

126 Days, 11 Minutes: Our Love Story

Sharp Hospice Foundation

Anita Bennett is the candy maker for Sunset Bay Candy. After being let go from her administrative assistant job, she decided to pursue her lifelong hobby of making candy and sharing it with others. The bonus is that she's truly fulfilled in her work.

"Our goal always is to help our community." – Anita Bennett

When Anita Bennett anticipated a layoff from her job as an administrative assistant, she began to explore her options to continue work. She reflected on the hobby she'd had of making toffee throughout her life. She always gave it away and people loved it, so she considered turning that into a business. Drawing on all of her organizational skills, she was able to create Sunset Bay Candy from the ground up.

Beyond creating new confections and helping people and businesses to customize wonderful gifts, Sunset Bay Candy has been highly active in thanking frontline workers in San Diego County during the pandemic.

Making life sweeter for everyone is Anita's goal and she is knocking it out of the park.

Retirement Coach, Kim Shea, talks to people who have happily reinvented themselves after a life event such as a layoff, health change, retirement, or an empty nest. Get inspired, and learn their secrets and tips for pivoting and thriving in the second half of life. You have more options than you might realize!

When Rayna Neises' father developed dementia, she began commuting 200 miles to help her sister care for their dad for four and a half years until he passed away. She shares their story and the takeaways.

Rayna Neises is a caregiving coach and author of a new book, "No Regrets: Hope For Your Caregiving Season." Through her podcast, "A Season of Caring," and her coaching, Rayna helps people understand how to handle caregiving in the best way possible. She also helps them to maintain perspective on the relatively short time that caregiving will last in most people's lives. For those facing this job in retirement, it is especially crucial to seek advice on this role, and to realize that you are not alone.

Rayna's website and book link

"We are undergoing a Vitality Revolution, so it's no longer the case that old people are just doddering, pathetic creatures that need all sorts of sustaining stuff." –Jack Cumming

Jack Cumming is an independent consulting actuary, and senior housing industry expert. After moving with his wife to a continuing care senior living community, he set about trying to help the industry improve the way they provide a valuable service.

After moving to a luxury continuing care community, Jack became curious about some of the rules and regulations. Since he discovered shortcomings that conflicted with his actuarial background, he has become driven to help seniors have a better consumer experience with senior housing that is fair and honest. As you listen to his podcast, you will understand what courage Jack has to continue to help future generations of older Americans. He is a man of purpose. He also has sound advice for those experiencing a layoff or are facing retirement with trepidation.

Links mentioned:

ActionAging.com

SeniorLivingForesight.com

Feedspot Top 25 Empty Nest Podcasts

Thank you to Bokuwa and Wizzie2K for the use of the song "Will U Stay With Me"

Dr. Wayne Anderson retired from Family Practice three years ago but he hit the ground running even though he had no time to prepare for this stage while he was working. Dr. Anderson made a plan to keep himself structured and organized for optimum health on all levels, while aiming for personal fulfillment and a continuing life of service. From a daily morning mindfulness routine to exercise to continuing education to teaching mindfulness to others– and this doesn't begin to cover everything he's doing– you'll undoubtedly be inspired.

Dr. Anderson shares tips on how to keep your mind, body, and soul in the best shape possible. After decades of watching patients age and doing his own research, he understands how much health can increase the value of retirement. Using the skills he has honed during his career, and crafting new skills as he goes forward, he is making a difference, and he is a happy man.

Quote: "Part of the thing about being a Doc, is... you're working in undergraduate to the next thing, which is your med school. And then you're working in med school to the next thing, which is residency and then fellowship and then practice, and it's always the next thing. And I think that then in retirement, all of a sudden, you get to the Thing that kind of– there's not a next big thing, or if you really look at the next things– you really have to start to realize you really want to focus on the present and what's going on now and the current things."

TRX

EDX Classes

Pilates

Peloton

Jon Kabat-Zinn

Vipassana

Coursera classes

Mindfulness Meditation.

R.A.I.N.

Family Health Centers of San Diego

Oregon Cahoots Program

Special thanks to Bokuwa and Wizzie2K for their use of "Will U Stay With Me?" at the open and close of the episode.

Chris Shea is an accomplished author and artist, and retirement is not on her radar. She built and still owns a greeting card company, Lifesighs Cards, and has many books to her name including Dogs Don't Die Dogs Stay. Chris also writes Lifesighs Daily Thoughts, a subscription email service for her followers, based on the idea of God leaving sticky notes for people to discover, for daily inspiration. Through her years of work, Chris has built a large community with people all over the United States, who see her as a trusted friend and the voice of love and truth. And she sees no reason to ever stop working at this in her lifetime.

"Making your own way, finding what sings to you, and going after that, is a really important aspect in life because it makes you– even if you don't make a ton of money– if it brings you joy, then you're one of the richest people you know."

Contact Chris Shea at Lifesighs Cards

Special Thank You to Bokuwa and Wizzie2K for the use of their song Will U Stay With Me

Alan Mindell notes that the characters in his books lead more interesting lives than his own, but he has a lot of projects and activity in his reinvented life. He is a published author of two books, with a third book on the way in November 2020. Alan has been a runner for years and now he has multiple gold medals from the Senior Olympics to show for it. He also gives group tours in San Diego, speaks about life at 70, and teaches creative writing.

Quote: Never give up, keep trying. Good things can and will happen if you persevere.

Resources

Books by Alan Mindell: Book list

San Diego Senior Olympics: Senior Games

You can contact Alan Mindell on his website: Contact

Sunberry Press

Special thanks to Bokuwa and Wizzie2K for their use of "Will U Stay With Me?" at the open and close of the episode.

John Sanders, an engineer who worked for the CIA, turned investor, is now investing in young companies, young children, and small charities with a passion. Retirement has been a huge win for him because he has maintained his pre-retirement career interests, but tailors them around golf, time with his wife of 53 years, and a zest for learning and getting involved with his community. John is very supportive of children in tech, and is thrilled to see girls making a dent in that arena. This hobby investor has a clear love of life that comes out in all he does.

Quotes from John Sanders:

"I've never considered retirement as anything other than doing stuff a different way."

"Find a hobby, especially if it deals with making money, because then you can go to the bank with your scorecard."

For more information on John, head over to his website where you can find his book, Parables for Entrepreneurs, or his podcast by the same name.

Special thanks to Bokuwa and Wizzie2K for their use of "Will U Stay With Me?" at the open and close of the episode.