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Explore Your Future

What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?
Notes on Life Planning

An interview with four members of the Coming of Age “What’s Next?” Team*

You’ve reached age 50… or more.  You’ve gained experience — and experiences.   You’ve accomplished things, personally and professionally.  So, now what?  With many more years likely ahead, the question to ask yourself is:  What will I do for the rest of my life?
 
What opportunities do you pursue?  Many people need help to figure out which ones to choose.  That’s where “life planning” can play an essential role.
 

What’s Next?

We set out to help you answer that very question.  We asked the Coming of Age “What’s Next?” Team of Philadelphia-area life planners and coaches to offer people age 50+ advice.
 
The response we got is as varied as the experience of the experts themselves.  Each offered different suggestions for filling the years ahead— and making those years fulfilling.
 
The suggestions ranged from deep reflection on where you’ve been and what you’ve done to imagining vividly and in detail where you’d like to go and what you’d like to do.  Our advisers also identified key ways to implement plans and increase your chances for a satisfying and rewarding future. 
 

A Time to Reflect, Explore... and Be Adaptable

As you explore "the second half" of your life, the first thing to do before you start is… stop, according to team member John Creveling. 
 
“First, come up for air,” he advises.  “Breathe deeply, acknowledge your accomplishments and start thinking more about yourself than about others.” 
 
Or, as Diane Freedman, one of our “Explore Your Future” Guides  says, “It’s all about ‘want to’s’— not ‘have to’s.’  It’s a time for you and your values.”
 
Realizing that the future is a time to explore and move forward in different arenas is key, says “Explore Your Future" Guide Chris Robertson.  “This is a time for envisioning and re-envisioning.  Look at where you’ve been and where you want to go.”  
 
Figuring that out is the real challenge.  It requires the ability to accept change since this stage of your life will be full of changes and transitions. 
 
“Open yourself up to a lot of evolution,” says Dale Allen, Coming of Age "Financial Planning" Guide .  “Everything will change and continue to change in terms of relationships, finances, health and interests…and you can only plan so much for these changes.  So adaptability is key.” 
 
All four of these advisors agree that self-assessment is key.  Dale points out that when people retire they think they know why they are retiring and what they want to do for the rest of their lives.  “And then they do something else.” 
 

Look Inside Yourself, Go Outside the Box and Make Your Soul Sing!

Examining and understanding your values is also essential.  Realize, Diane says, that values change over time, so prepare for new, favorite experiences.  By knowing what makes you unique, by knowing what has meaning for you, you can head in the right direction for your future. 
 
"Do some out-of-the-box thinking.  Be wide open to opportunities,” adds John. 
 
While our pasts tend to be defined by titles and jobs, both personal and professional, the future is a time to break that mold, explains Chris.  “There’s a tendency to define ourselves and our worth by roles,” she says.
 
“But now is a time to figure out what makes your soul sing.  Create a spiritual agenda for yourself,” Chris says.  Be honest about yourself, be prepared to transition into this time, be ready for challenges and then “follow your bliss.”  she advises, “This is your last hurrah… so go for it!”
 
Diane offers a structured “way in” to the process:
  • Identify your values, skills and interest and from there goals will emerge – these are the pieces of the puzzle.
  • When the puzzle pieces come together, you can brainstorm possibilities and then assess the possibilities versus realities – determine if they are feasible in terms of finances, transportation access, schedule and life circumstances.
  • Be ready to shift the criteria that you use for life decisions – and know that this could change again in a number of years.
  • Seek outside help, such as a career counselor, peers, someone as a sounding board, in order to look realistically at the possibilities and determine where you fit for the future.
 
Dale suggests a slightly different approach when transitioning to this stage of your life:
  • Look at your financial situation – have a professional determine where you are and how to achieve your goals from a financial perspective.
  • Be frank about – and interested in – your current state of health.  Be proactive about taking care of your health and any heath problems.
  • Focus on getting an appropriate level of exercise – if you can keep moving, you can keep living.
  •  Seek out social interaction that injects a sense of community and fun into your life.
  •  Make a point of telling the people in your life that you love them – express what you feel and don’t keep emotions bottled up.
 

The Importance of Learning,  Giving Back and… Laughing

You also can take this opportunity to learn new skills.  “Decide what you’ll take with you from your past and then see what you’ll discover,” says Diane.  “You might tap into behaviors and values you’ve left behind or you may find new ones.” 
 
Giving back to future generations also is something many people want to do at this point. Whether you're 50, 60, 70, it’s all about what Chris calls “Using your knowledge and experience to give to others.  The rewards are tremendous and the impact can be profound.”  (For an expansion of this idea as explored in our Volunteer in Your Community section, see "Are We What Survives Us?")
 
What’s essential is that you remain mentally active and alert.  Studies have shown that continued learning keeps the brain stimulated and healthier.
 
And one final piece of advice from John: Remember to laugh often.  Chris agrees.  “Humor puts you in touch with the process.  It helps you manage change and continue to grow.”
 
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*”What’s Next?” is a life planning/peer coaching Coming of Age initiative being developed by a team of volunteer Philadelphia-area life planners and life coaches.