Author: HairWeavings Editorial Team

Many of us do not even consider stopping work as an option in retirement. We may plan to work in a different way, different hours, or even utilizing totally different skills. I find exciting the notion that many of us decide to use this opportunity to work at something we are passionate about.

Without the pressure to invest money for retirement, most of us work to supplement retirement income, or for some lucky people, it is working for a non-monetary reward or the feel-good factor. For me, it is to have discretionary income that I can use to travel.

Redefine “Work”

First though, we may need to change our understanding of the word “work.” If you look at its broader definition, it refers to tasks that need to be undertaken; tasks that require physical or mental energy in order to achieve a purpose.

Looking at work in this context, not many will dispute the fact that almost all of us will continue working until we are no longer physically and mentally able.

Beyond redefining how you work, you may need to reinvent yourself if you want to enter the workforce for remuneration. Living in the 21^st century, this seems to apply now more than ever.

Take for example someone who has been in high-level management for many years, typically their skills lie in general management. They probably wouldn’t be considered for another job in management once they turn 60 or 65.

However, what they can do is unpack their skills and then repackage them into something that the marketplace does require. In other words, make a long list of all the things that you are good at, that make up your total skill set. Then look to see what goes together naturally.

Repackage Your Skills

A helpful way to describe it as the process of designing a plugin. Those familiar with website management or design will be familiar with what a plugin does. As Wikipedia puts it, a “plugin is a software component that adds a specific feature to an existing computer program.”

In the same way, you can take someone’s skills, particularly the ones they are good at and love doing, and create a plugin for middle management going up the corporate ladder or for small business enterprises.

It may be applied in the form of mentorship or consulting, or simply creating a new job, but the essence is that the assistance is applied in one specific area.

For example, the marketing director, when she retires, realises she really understands and loves using Facebook for marketing. She is also passionate about how this can help small business.

She then “repackages” her marketing skills and applies them to help others with their Facebook publicity. She would be reinventing or repackaging herself as a Facebook Marketing consultant.

Subsequently, she could either teach businesses how to optimize their marketing through Facebook or she could offer to research and schedule posts for them.

With the latter, she would need to immerse herself in the industry in order to become familiar with what is needed, and then schedule the posts for the client, perhaps accumulating them a month in advance, so they can be approved by the business owner.

Reconnect with Your Passions and Potential

To quote Margaret in a previous blog, reinvention isn’t about becoming a different person; it is about reconnecting with your passions, dreams, and potential.

There are many ways you can reinvent yourself creatively in the workspace. It starts with changing the way you perceive work, followed by a creative exercise in which you need to think outside the box.

I give an example of someone who is an office administrator. She has excellent organization skills and is good at logistics. In retirement, she might reinvent herself as an event planner, managing weddings, birthday celebrations, or even retirement parties.

Wouldn’t this be a more creative, fun way of using her skills? Perhaps one event per month would be enough to supplement her retirement income.

Reinvention is a process of working out what you are good at, which of these you really enjoy doing, then creatively packaging these skills into something that is needed in the world around you, and for which you can ask a fee.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What is it that you have always wanted to do, but have not had the freedom to explore because you have had to pay off the mortgage, get the kids educated, or put money away for retirement? What do you see yourself working after 60? What specific skills do you enjoy most? Does repackaging sound like an idea you might be interested in? Please share with our community!

Would you like to feel stronger and steadier on the stairs? Are you fine on the stairs at home but sometimes find them hard when you’re out and about? Would you like to feel more confident coming down steps and stairs – anytime, anywhere?

If that sounds like you, keep reading.

As a specialist exercise instructor for more than 15 years, I’ve worked with hundreds of people who struggle with stairs, steps and kerbs. I’ve worked with them to help them feel stronger, steadier and more confident. And I’d love to help you too!

I’ve learnt that stairs really do matter. And struggling up and down them isn’t enough. When you feel confident about going up and down steps and stairs, you can make the most of every day.

We Can’t Always Avoid the Stairs

Stairs are everywhere, and you can’t always plan for them or avoid them. Most people tell me they’re OK with the stairs at home and only have trouble when they’re out and about.

Often there are lifts (or elevators, depending on where you are!), but not everywhere. And we can’t always find out in advance.

We also don’t know what kind of stairs we will come across. They could be steeper than at home, have a narrower tread or even no handrail.

People have told me that if their companions are fine on the stairs, they don’t want to be the one who has to make a detour to take the lift or ask for someone to assist them.

Just Getting Down Isn’t Good Enough

I’ve worked with quite a few people who tell me they struggle on the stairs but get down eventually (and haven’t fallen yet).

Yes, they get up and down but experience quite a lot of stress and anxiety and are not as safe as they could be.

The most significant risk with stairs is that we trip or fall, perhaps breaking a bone or suffering a traumatic head injury.

I don’t want to dwell on that, and the fact is that most people won’t end up falling down the stairs. Many, however, will worry about doing so.

We need to recognise the impact of this worry and anxiety. And we need to notice its effect on our sense of self and what we do every day.

Feel Confident with Stairs to Make the Most of Every Day

If we struggle with steps and stairs, there might be places we can’t go, people we find it harder to see or trips we don’t make.

I worked with a wonderful lady who was anxious about an upcoming family holiday to Eastern Europe. She was worried that she wouldn’t be able to take the stairs at all the cultural sites. She thought she might miss out on events or be the one holding the rest of the family up.

And I’ve spoken with people who haven’t booked trips or who avoid days out with family because they’re worried about the stairs they might encounter. They reduce their options and miss out on experiences they would otherwise enjoy.

However, when we feel confident about taking the stairs – anytime, anywhere – we keep our options open.

We can book travel, get on the train, visit cultural sites and anything else we want. We can see all the people we want to see and enjoy all the events and activities we want to do.

We Can Improve Our ‘Stair Fitness’ and Our ‘Stair Confidence’

So stairs and steps do matter. We can’t avoid them all. And it’s not enough to get up or down them somehow; we need to be able to do so confidently and safely. We want to know that we’ll be fine wherever we go and whatever stairs we find when we get there.

The good news is there are lots of things we can do to help us with this. We need strong muscles, stable joints and good balance to stay steady on the stairs.

And we can improve all of these with the right exercise programme.

Strong & Steady on the Stairs: Step Ups

Do this with me now – you don’t need any particular clothes or equipment (just a step or flight of stairs).

You’ll find the full Strong & Steady on the Stairs routines in the Vida Wellness Studio, where you can also claim a 14-day free trial. And you can peruse our database of balance and posture exercises, feel stronger videos and so much more. You can see if it works for you and ask us any questions you have too!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

How confident are you on steps and stairs? Why is it important to you to maintain your ‘stair fitness’? How would it change your life if you felt more confident about steps and stairs?

In this month of “love” I think it’s appropriate to share a blog from Pastor Jack, from Avondale Baptist Church in Arizona. He wrote a blog for his congregation a few years ago about how to love your wife even after you’re gone and I requested his permission to share it.

This is not just a message to men. The same message applies to all women as we think about our surviving spouse or family in the future. Remember, this is not a sad topic, it is a realistic and inevitable one. To give your family one final, important gift, read on…

Guest Post by Pastor Jack

I met Dawn when I was 14. By age 16, I was, to use a word from the old movie Bambi, hopelessly twitterpated. We dated for 4 years, and we have now been married for over 40 years.

I love her, and I would do anything for her.

And I want to do some things for her now that will show my love for her after I’m dead.

I don’t know the future, of course, but there is a good chance that I will die before she does. About 80% of married men will die before their wives. Sadly, I’ve ministered to and helped many widows who were completely unprepared for life after their husband died, especially if he took care of the family finances.

Some of the men, frankly, had done a horrible job of preparing for their wives after their death. They had structured their finances in such a way that much of the family income died when they died. Or they had spent so much of their retirement while they were alive that there was little left when they were gone. Or they had left their finances in such poor shape that even an accountant would have had a hard time putting together a plan.

Other men had done a good job with their finances, but a poor job of communicating details to their wives, so many widows had no clue about their basic financial issues. How much was still owed (if anything) on the house? Was there any life insurance, and, if so, how much? Where did he keep the copies of paperwork such as wills, life insurance paperwork, and paid–and unpaid–bills? How much money was in checking, savings, investments, and retirement accounts? How were those accounts accessed? How were the pensions set-up to deal with death?

One man I knew was relatively organized, and he kept all of his financial dealings on his computer . . . but no one knew his password.

I don’t want Dawn to have to deal with the tough issues I’ve seen other widows deal with. I’ve planned my finances so that there should be adequate money after I’m gone. I’ve taught my children that the most important thing to do after I’m gone is to take care of their mom. And I have put together a notebook with all pertinent information that she will need to know.

She knows where it is, and copies of it are given each year to my two oldest daughters. (My kids laughingly call it the “Dad’s Dead Notebook.”) In the notebook, she will find these things, which I update at least once per year:

A “Net Worth” Statement

This shows the value of all of our assets (accounts, our home, our cars, our retirement accounts, etc.) and our liabilities (loans, credit cards, etc.) at a glance (it’s not that complicated since we have no debts other than our mortgage) and she knows our overall financial situation.

A List of All Our Accounts of All Types

This list gives all pertinent information. For bank accounts, I give the type of account, name of the bank, account numbers, and how I access it–including passwords if I use it online. I include all utility accounts, with a list of how each utility is paid and when auto-payments come out of our accounts. I even include my social media accounts, so she can access and close them out.

A Summary of Wills, Insurance, and Retirements Accounts

My wife is, of course, the primary beneficiary of all that I own, so I want her to know who to call and what to do if I die. The list also gives the location of the original paperwork.

A Statement of My Funeral Wishes

She won’t have to wonder what I want, who to talk to, what songs to sing. She knows, for example, that I don’t want a viewing and that I do want to be cremated. It’s flexible enough that she can still make decisions, but it’s specific enough that she knows that I don’t want any extra money spent.

A Final Love Note

I love my wife. And I want her to know that.

Even after I’m gone.

–Pastor Jack

Get Your Financial House in Order

How you choose to get your financial house in order so it is all findable, organized, clear, and complete is up to you. Do you want to read about it to DIY your own process/format? Do you want step-by-step worksheets? Do you want a fill-in-the-blank workbook?

Do you want to pick and choose the content to work at your own pace and have fillable checklists to help? Do you want a bundle of checklists that you can have at the ready that are designed for your stage in life? Or are you looking for a complete library of 70+ Get Ready checklists?

When it comes to getting your financial house in order, it’s really all about what feels right for you. The main thing is making sure your financial house is organized, clear, and ready whenever you or your family may need it.

You may also want to read WHAT’S A GIRL TO DO? FINANCIAL PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS FOR SINGLE WOMEN.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Is this a gift you have already prepared for your family? Have you already inherited a gift or a mess from your own family? What advice can you share with our community? Let’s have a discussion!

Estrangement within families is a deeply painful and complex phenomenon, often leaving both parties grappling with feelings of hurt, confusion, and loss. For those who find themselves estranged from loved ones, the question of whether reconciliation is possible looms large. Is estrangement a permanent state, or can it be resolved? In this blog post, we delve into this question, drawing insights from research and exploring the possibilities for healing and reconciliation.

Understanding the Dynamics of Estrangement

Before delving into whether estrangement can end, it’s essential to understand the dynamics at play. Estrangement can arise from a myriad of reasons, including unresolved conflicts, misunderstandings, differing values or lifestyles, and emotional trauma. Each family’s situation is unique, and the reasons behind estrangement are profoundly personal and multifaceted.

Exploring the Potential for Reconciliation

While estrangement can feel like an insurmountable barrier, research suggests that reconciliation is often possible. However, the journey towards healing and reconciliation is only sometimes straightforward and may require time, effort, and a willingness to address underlying issues.

Factors That Influence Resolution

Several factors can influence the likelihood of estrangement being resolved. Effective communication, empathy, and a commitment to understanding each other’s perspectives are essential for reconciliation. Additionally, acknowledging past mistakes, taking responsibility for one’s actions, and offering genuine apologies can pave the way for healing.

The worst of estrangement is abuse and its damaging long-term effects. For those who endured abusive and toxic behaviors at the hands of a family member, the decision to cut off is one of self-preservation. In such cases, where abuse remains, it is not advisable to attempt reentering a harmful relationship.

The Role of Boundaries and Self-Care

In some cases, estrangement may be necessary for an individual’s well-being, serving as a form of self-preservation. Establishing healthy boundaries and prioritizing self-care are crucial aspects of navigating estrangement, whether reconciliation is on the horizon.

Seeking Support

For those navigating estrangement, seeking support from friends, family members, or mental health professionals can be invaluable. Support groups and therapy provide a safe space to process emotions, gain insights, and explore options for moving forward.

Conclusion: Hope for Healing

While estrangement can feel overwhelming and painful, it’s essential to remember that there is hope for healing and reconciliation. Families can work towards resolving conflicts and rebuilding fractured relationships by fostering open communication, empathy, and understanding. While reconciliation may not be possible in every case, the journey toward healing is deeply personal, and every step taken toward understanding and empathy brings us closer to resolution.

In conclusion, while whether estrangement ever ends may not have a definitive answer, the possibilities for healing and reconciliation are vast. By approaching estrangement with compassion, openness, and a willingness to listen, families can navigate the complexities of estrangement and find paths toward resolution.

Are you experiencing Estrangement? Download my FREE eBook on the topic, Feeling Heartbroken and Alone?

Also read NURTURING BONDS: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS OVER 60 ON FORGIVENESS, BOUNDARIES, AND ADULT CHILD ESTRANGEMENT.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What are your thoughts on the length of estrangement? What steps have you taken to improve your well-being or prepare for a possible relationship repair?