Turning a new chapter as your children leave home can be a powerful moment to claim who you are more fully and explore new horizons for your life!

In your 50s and 60s, you’re entering the second half of your life. For many women, an empty nest is a major shift. Initially, when the children are gone, you may have a feeling of relief because the needs and demands of teenagers have vanished.

For other women, it is a painful time. When your primary job has been to parent, there is now grief.

No More Soccer and Volleyball Games

As this chapter of your life comes to a close, you are entering a new era, a new transition. Many of you started this transition prior to the children leaving home.

In my case, I realized that I would no longer be going to volleyball and soccer games two-three evenings a week. With my daughter going off to college, I decided to explore previous hobbies and start looking into new activities her senior year. In her freshman year in college, I also made a career shift.

I discovered that this is a critical time to take a look at what you want – a time to ‘reinvent and reemerge’ yourself.

There are so many possibilities to consider when your reach this point in your life. Time and space become your ally. Think about it! You’re no longer juggling everyone’s needs, schedules and homework, let alone your job.

Opportunity to Reimagine Your Life

Most of us are going to live for another 30-40 years. You have to ask yourself, “Has my life turned out to be what I wanted it to be in my 20s?” What an opportunity to reimagine your life! And it all starts with a new vision. Here’s how to create one.

Take an Inward Look

This is one of many moments where you take an inward look and meet yourself again. Have you lost your spark in life? Who are you now? Are you living the life you imagined for yourself? What has meaning for you?

Discover What You Love

Explore and be curious to discover what you love. It takes courage, but it is well worth it. Ask yourself, “What am I willing to bring into my life now?” It means trying new experiences. It means planting new seeds in your ‘garden of life.’

Find Your Own Interests

If you are married, you probably have different interests. What new interests are you now going to grow – together? Your interests may have been centered solely around the children, but now you must find your own interests as well as couple interests.

Think About What You Will Do in Retirement

Does your job bring you satisfaction? Maybe a new career is in order. Now is the time to take the risk and stop telling yourself that you will only work a few more years.

Maybe that’s true, but if it is, you need to have something that creates deeper meaning at retirement. Women who embody meaning and purpose have a longer and healthier life.

Reflect on Your Friendships

As you look within, consider your friendships. Are they strong and nourishing? Do you need to bring more people in your life and let go of the ones that no longer feel right? Connection is key to good mental health. We are wired in our DNA to connect and not live in isolation.

Relating to Your Children as Adults

Your relationship with your children takes on a new form as they become young adults. To relate to them as such will bring rich rewards.

This time of your life can be really enriching. The secret to thriving now is to look after, honor and value yourself. Your energy needs to be focused on your well-being and what nourishes you emotionally, spiritually and physically.

Once you accomplish that, your choices will benefit not only yourself but the others in your life whom you care about.

What is your vision for life after the empty nest? In what ways have you been challenged and successful at this time of your life? Tell us about new opportunities you have found for yourself. Let’s have a chat!

RHONY’s Pom Pom Slippers in The Berkshires

Real Housewives of New York Season 12 Episode 13 Fashion

Dorinda Medley once again proved on last night’s episode of RHONY in The Berkshires that she truly is the hostess with the most-ess, as by the looks of it she appeared to leave her guests a great little surprise in their bedrooms upon arrival…sharks and fish under the covers these super cute pom pom slippers. Which are unfortunately sold out, however no worries because we’ve included some Style Stealers below that are still totally the bomb pom dot com.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to See Their Sold Out Arlotta Slippers

Originally posted at: RHONY’s Pom Pom Slippers in The Berkshires

I don’t know about you, but one of the hardest things about aging is my lack of energy.

At the end of the day, I wonder where the time has gone. I’m too tired to keep going, but I’ve done so little. There’s much more I planned on, yet I really don’t have the energy to keep going.

Here are some thoughts on how to maintain a sense of positive energy after 60.

Strategies that Failed

I’ve tried numerous approaches to preserving my scarce and precious supply of energy. I have tried sleeping in the afternoon, going to bed early, drinking lots of coffee and caffeinated drinks. Alas, I’m still wilted long before I’m ready to call it a day.

Energy on a Budget

The other commodity that’s in short supply after retirement is money. I know how to preserve my cash flow. I have a bank account and I think carefully about how I spend available finances. There are necessary expenses and there are optional expenses. Some of those optional items give us a solid sense of well-being. Others don’t. Personally, deciding which is which shapes my spending habits. I need to get bang for my buck.

Deposits and Withdrawals

What if we thought of our energy in the same way we consider money in our retirement? We could ask ourselves which outputs of energy are necessary and which are frills. For example, maybe it’s mandatory that we keep our living space clean and that we shop for groceries to feed ourselves. Once that’s done, what’s left is discretionary energy. The art is to decide how best to spend it.

Friends Can Be a Source of Positive or Negative Energy

To assess the value of relationships, take a list of friends and acquaintances. Divide your list into those who represent deposits and those who represent withdrawals of energy. Write down the names of people with whom you spend time. Consider each one.

How do you feel after spending time with them? Are you left with a warm glow? Do you feel loved and respected? Or do you always come away tired and dissatisfied with your lot in life?

It’s important to spend your energy with those who contribute to your well-being fund. Now that we’re older, we can’t afford to run negative balances. There won’t be any newly generated wealth. The energy level we have now is what, with good conservation, we can expect in the future.

How to Spend Your Energy

Some activities make deposits to your energy account. Some make withdrawals. Draw up a second list. What activities are you involved in during a typical week?

Just as you did with friendships and acquaintances, evaluate each event. Are there other activities you’d like to enjoy? Whatever makes you happy is like money in the energy bank. You don’t want to drain the account. It’s important to avoid bad investments.

Exceptions to the Budget Choices

Sometimes we are faced with life’s inevitable demands. Maybe this comes in the form of aged parents whom we need to look after. I wouldn’t presume to tell an older person in this position how to budget. We all have to deal with our consciences, our love and our sense of duty to those whom we love.

The best budget is the one that allows as many deposits. These are heartwarming experiences, moments of joy, when a sense of being loved as possible. Avoiding excessive withdrawals is important. Sometimes this means finding others to share the expenses of energy involved in caring for our loved ones.

Pay off Your Debts

Most of us carry a few major issues and a bunch of little ones. Take care of any that can be eliminated with some thought and effort. Who do you need to reconcile with? Would an apology on your part ease the stress you’re feeling in a certain relationship? Get rid of these debts. They’re costing you a lot in tension and stress.

Do you share my experience of low energy? How do you conserve your energy? Do you have ways of increasing your energy? How would you advise others who long for more energy? Please join the conversation.

Elyse Slaine’s Black Holographic Studded Purse at Sonja’s Apartment

Real Housewives of New York Season 12 Episode 13 Fashion

Between her very cute white ball-knit sweater (which we’re still on the hunt for so stay tuned) and this super cool black holographic studded bag, Elyse Slaine totally slained slayed it with her style choices on last night’s episode of RHONY. And if she continues to keep this up, there’s no questioning the fact that she’ll always be considered a very good of friend of Ramona us.

Fashionably,

Faryn

Also Seen on Kary Brittingham in White:

Valentino Purse Sold Out at Farfetch

Click Here to Shop Other Colours

Originally posted at: Elyse Slaine’s Black Holographic Studded Purse