Year ONE of Retirement

The gift of retirement isn’t just time—it’s the chance to re-introduce yourself to yourself, and maybe even to the world around you. That rediscovery? It’s freedom. It’s the start of something new.

Everyone asks me the same thing: “So… how’s retirement?”

But let’s be real—they’re not just curious. They’re hoping I’ll confirm all their retirement dreams:

• No stress

• No alarm clocks

• No worries

• No financial panic attacks

They want me to say: “Yes! I do whatever the hell I want."

Yes to friends, shopping, travel.

Yes to my time—not your time.

Sleeping in? Totally!

Lazy mornings with coffee and a whole day stretched out in front of you? Yep, that’s real.

All of the above is true…But—is it all just peace, happiness, and humming Kumbaya until you… well… die? Is this really The Last Chapter? YIKES!

Yes, friends and family—it's been ONE YEAR!

One whole year of retirement, and I’ve got insights to share. If you’re already retired, I bet some of this will sound familiar. And if you’ve uncovered your own truths along the way, drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear them.

But if you’re just stepping into retirement (and I have a long list of who you are), grab a cup of coffee and give me ten minutes. I’ve experienced some real-life lessons from year one—practical, honest, and maybe even a little surprising.

1. FRIENDS                                                                                                                      

   Make time for the people you truly want in your life. That means not just thinking about them—but actually putting them on your calendar. And then keeping that commitment: once a week, once a month, once a quarter, once a year. The rhythm doesn’t matter as much as the consistency.

   
   

   I even schedule phone time with far-away friends. (Yes, phone calls—real talking, not just texting!) I’ll suggest a few dates and times, and then we actually connect. You have proven that friendship doesn’t end because of distance.

   
   

   If we’re friends—whether from recent years or long-ago seasons—and we haven’t carved out time yet, DM me. Let’s make space on our calendar!

   
   

2. HEALTHY HABITS                                                                                                         

   Tough truth: If you don’t move, you will die. Gosh that sounds dire, but it’s true. So find something you love—or at least don’t hate—and do it every single day. I love yoga. That doesn’t mean I show up for those awesome 6am classes all the time (Love you Claire and Jess), but I do practice daily. Sometimes it’s a full session, sometimes just a few grounding breaths. The point is: I move.

   
   

   And movement is just the start. Think walking. Eating well. Keeping up with doctor’s appointments and screenings. Having sex. Sharpening your mind. You already know these things help you not just live longer, but live better.

Just shut up and move!

3. TAKE A RISK on Something NEW

   For me, it was signing up for an intensive Yoga Teacher Training program to become a certified instructor. I learned so much—about yoga, about breath, about mindfulness... about what I can and cannot control. But more than that, I learned about myself. I was the oldest in the class, definitely a MiMi to most of these awesome women, and it was tough. It stretched me—physically, mentally, and emotionally. But it was also wonderful. And worth every moment.

   
   

   Along the way, I gained thirteen extraordinary friends—a hive of queen bees who laugh together, support one another, and show up with fierce tenderness in ways that I love.

   
   

4. DISCOVER What You DON'T Want to Do

   I know it sounds strange, but figuring out what you don’t want to do in retirement can be just as important—if not more—than knowing exactly what you do want. Experience and age don’t always come with clarity. Sometimes the only way to uncover your direction is to try a few things... and cross them off the list.

   
   

   Here’s what I mean: After I retired, I taught a few college courses. It seemed like a natural next step—I’d taught college years ago while teaching high school English, and I’ve always loved teaching. I’m good at it. But this time around, it was so stressful. The time investment was too high for this season of my life. Grading papers, supporting students, fielding emails at midnight—it pulled me away from things I wasn’t even fully clear I wanted yet, but I knew I needed space to find them.

   
   

   Could I have set firmer boundaries? Sure. I could have held back on feedback, avoided late-night emails, denied assignment revisions...yes.

   
   

   But that’s not how I show up for students. And honestly, that’s not who I wanted to become just to make it work. So I stepped away from formal teaching—grateful for what it gave me, and clear it’s not what I want anymore.

   
   

   Right now, I’ve got a couple of websites I’m dabbling with. Still not sure if they’re a “yes” or a “no”—but I’m exploring. Eventually, I’ll decide. And when I do, trust me, you’ll hear about it.

   
   

5. CREATE: Try Something New (and Soothing)

   Now’s the time to find one or two things that are low-stress and low-commitment—something you can explore with curiosity, not pressure. The goal isn’t mastery; it’s discovery. Emotional, creative, exploratory. Try it for a year. If you fall in love, great. If not? Drop it like it’s hot.

   
   

   At 60+, I picked up painting with acrylics and watercolor. Am I good? Hell no! But when the classical music starts and the brush hits the canvas, something quiet unfolds. It’s just for me. A space with no expectations—only breath, color, and calm. It’s one of the few places in my life where I’ve finally let go of the need to impress. Not because I lack talent, though I do, but because I’ve learned to be okay with that. I’m just breathing into it.

   
   

   Oh, and then there’s Laverne—my sourdough starter. I pull and fold and bake with her every week. When I make sourdough, I slow down. I breathe. I create aroma, texture, joy. It’s ritual and grounding and it brings me so much pleasure.

   
   

   Remember the Freshman Five from college? It’s a real thing in retirement too. That’s why I wear yoga pants 24/7 but at our age…who cares?

   
   

6. REAWAKEN OLD LOVES

   Begin again with something you used to love but haven’t had the time or space for. This one’s my favorite.

   
   

   I’ve reawakened my fictional writing. And not just dabbling—I’m deep in it. I’ve started a new book, and (drum roll, please...) my intention is to self-publish by September 1, 2025. It’s a murder mystery, and I'm nearing the finish line and starting in with professional editors to polish the final copy. So buckle up Butter Cup —it’s coming to Amazon soon.

   
   

   Oh, and that’s not all. My illustrator is halfway through one of my children's books with absolutely adorable artwork, and that one’s also on track to launch this September as well. Shout out to Brook Smith!

   
   

   It’s been a sweet return to one of my oldest loves. Writing found me again—and I said, “YES!”

   
   

7. MENTAL HEALTH

   Life is hard. Everyone carries something—some carry far more. I’m not here to complain, confess, or compare. But those who know me well know: despite having a wonderful family (lucky girl), like most people, I’ve been through a lot.

   
   

   My life is full of contradictions. I grew up poor, but loved our farm life. The chores were endless, but the animals—especially my dogs and horses—made it all feel rich. My mother adored me, but there were real challenges: the death of my father when I was ten, my brother’s suicide two years later, abuse from both family and teachers, and my mother’s ongoing battle with depression. I was raised in a high-demand religion that gave me both beautiful traditions and deep emotional wounds. Then came the criminal events that targeted my family between 2016–2018 (and beyond)—painful, invasive, and prolonged.

   
   

   Ok, here’s Lyn being vulnerable…Last week, I started therapy for the first time in my life. My therapist was surprised—how had I gone this long without it? But she hasn’t yet seen what’s held me together: my husband, my kids, the love that made the weight survivable.

   
   

   I know how lucky I am. But I also believe it’s okay to acknowledge the hurt that has damaged me but also created the depth of my compassion and empathy for others. One session in, and I’m already curious to learn more—how to weave grief and gratitude into the same tapestry without letting one unravel the other.

   
   

8. FAMILY ISN’T THE MOST IMPORTANT THING—FOR ME: IT’S EVERYTHING.

   Years ago, I read a quote: “No one dies wishing they’d spent more time at work—but many wish they’d spent more time with family.” Retirement gives us the gift of time. And I want to use that gift to be present with the people I love most.

   
   

   Yes, families are complicated. But for me, staying deeply and authentically connected to mine is non-negotiable.

   
   

   With adult children, that means a few things:  If they don’t call me, I call them.  If I’m right, I often let them be right instead.  If I want them in my life, I stay interested in theirs.  When they call, I answer—and I try to listen more than I speak.

   
   

   And most importantly: if I want them to want me around, I try to be someone they want to be around. That doesn’t mean I stop being myself—but it does mean I don’t lead with complaints or blame. I lead with gratitude. Because I truly am grateful to have them in my life.

   
   

9. POLITICAL PANDERING

   This year has been a tough balance. I have friends on both sides of the aisle, so I won’t preach—just offer this: stay involved and be kind!

   
   

   Read widely—history, current events, politics—from all sides. Understand that your algorithms reinforce your existing views. Be brave enough to explore what “the other side” believes. It’s uncomfortable. But essential. Finding the truth, especially when it challenges your own beliefs, matters more than ever.

   
   

   Educate yourself. Pay attention to what’s working—and what needs to change.

   
   

   Yes, I believe there are evil people in the world. But I also believe that if enough good people stay visible and vocal, good will rise.

   
   

   In my lifetime, I’ve never felt this much division. But history reminds me: we’ve been this divided before. What’s different now is how clearly we see it—every opinion, every outrage, amplified by biased coverage (from all network outlets) and lightning-fast access.

   
   

   It makes me sad, because I love this country.

   
   

   And it makes me concerned—because deep division often precedes deeper conflict

10. MEMORIES FADE—SO RECORD THEM NOW BECAUSE YOU WILL FORGET

    This year, I bought an Epson FastFoto scanner and tackled a massive project: scanning over 20,000 photos from my childhood to present day. First, I spent nearly three weeks sorting by year—daily, diligently—so I could scan directly into dated folders. Every photo now lives in a Google Drive folder where I’ve shared ownership access with my kids.

    
    

    But photos are only part of the story. Record your voice. Tell stories from your childhood—funny, meaningful, messy—so your loved ones can hear you, even after you’re gone. We did this with all our grandparents, and our children love listening to those recordings.

    
    

    And write your memoir. Your kids might not read it right away. But your grandbabies—or their grandbabies—just might.

    
    

Don't make retirement your final chapter; make it a whole new book!