Laura, Age 70
My birthday is January 15, tomorrow. I will turn 70. I retired in 2012 when caring for my mother consumed me. She passed in 2013 and I have just come to terms with her passing. I still work part time and will do so for another year. I retired from a higher education position where we have the option after retirement to work for another 5 years, half time. This eases the shock of complete retirement and gives me time to plan for the next phase. I have racked my brain asking myself what is the next phase? My profession consumed me entirely and it has been difficult to remove myself from it but, the 5 year transition has helped.
So, I amped up traveling which has been great, but I can’t be gone all the time. I do have a husband who is not retired and a son and daughter-in-law that I cherish. I am looking into volunteering, as my peers have done, and hopefully I will have grandchildren some day so I can take care of them. One thing I have noticed is that being 70 makes me feel that there is no time to waste. I am still confused about my age but I will get better and that will be sooner than later.
I’m 71 will be 72 in May. I take care of my ex-husband cause my children expect me to. He depends on me. I’ve been chatting with a man who is 51 he says age is a number. But when I look in the mirror I know better. I’ve never had a love like this but I don’t know what to do with the ex he is 80 this year. Sick but not that sick. I’m wanting to go on with my life have a love I’ve never had before but I feel guilty about the ex. I’m not a monster he still loves me but I want to live. He wants to go to bed at 4:30 so all has to be quiet. He has his own room and I have mine. He is my children’s step dad their real dad is dead. Any advice for me I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me.
Hang in there. Look at this time as another beginning, a new journey, and one with more time for fun and all the things you wanted to do but didn’t have time for. Most of all, know that you have accumulated many skills, insights, and sources of wisdom that you did not have in previous periods of your life, which you can use to lead by example to assist the journeys of your son, his wife, and any children that come from that union. To say nothing about how you can share with others who have the similar life gifts of those in this era of their lives.