Thanks to modern medicine and a more fitness- and health-conscious society, we are living longer --- often to age 85 or more. Although many employees choose to retire at 62 or later for financial reasons, companies continue to downsize and they are often forced into retirement sooner than they would like.

We may also need a little more income to get us through this lengthy period. That is why, for many of us, retirement is the start of a NEW career or other venture.

If we continue to make money, we want to do it in a more meaningful way, on our own terms. We may invest time and energy in our talents and make them profitable. Some of us draw on our skills and expertise to begin a new business. Others may combine a part-time job with enjoyable volunteer work or other interests.

We will also be in good company, as our population as a whole enters this later stage of life. Every 7 seconds another baby boomer turns 50. If you have reached anywhere close to that age, you are suddenly thinking about YOUR retirement. Will you have enough resources to carry you through? What will you do with all your time?

It is normal to feel anxious about such a big change. I know I did! I retired from the corporate workforce at the relatively young age of 49, with 31 years of paid employment behind me. What would it be like, I often wondered, to be able to set my own priorities? To do what I wanted, when I wanted? Would I get bored?

What I can tell you is that I still feel I am living a big adventure, never knowing what lies around the next corner. For me retirement was the beginning of a new chapter in my life --- an opportunity to hang out my shingle as a life coach and to explore new directions in writing.

During the first exhilarating months on my own I gave my first public lecture (Find Your Mid-life Passion) and, following feedback from the participants, designed a small, interactive program called Dream Achievers. I successfully ran 4 groups and enjoyed it immensely. This led to a series of on-line coaching programs as well as other workshops --- quite apart from one-on-one life coaching.

After leaving the workforce I also began writing articles in personal growth, some of which appear on this website, and started a column called Take a Moment.

Of course what you do after retirement is entirely up to you! You may take up oil painting, go parachuting, learn a new language or begin a whole different career.