Reinventing Ourselves -by Mimi Wahlfeldt
“We were born for reinvention—to remake our lives, to bring back and revive our true purpose and potential. We are here to be changed and to make change, not to remain static.”
- Caren Merrick, serial entrepreneur
Every year, we watch the calendar flip to a new year, and we celebrate. Many of us reflect on the past year (or years) and how we arrived at this moment in time. The next thought is often, “What’s next?”
In post-retirement years, it’s easy for folks to stay settled in their ways. Why bother to do anything differently? What’s the point in trying new things? I’m comfy in my slippers, watching repeats of The Property Brothers on HGTV.
But what if . . .
Research shows that “people who spend more time learning tend to have neural networks better equipped to adapt to the changes brought on by brain [aging and] disorders.” (The power of neuroplasticity: how your brain adapts and grows as you age, mcpress.mayoclinic.org, 2024, Sara Youngblood Gregory.) So, if learning new things is a key factor in increasing the brain’s cognitive agility and how it copes with change, what would that look like for you?
Some older adults take up new hobbies (learning a new language, musical instrument, or artistic skill); others volunteer (at non-profits meaningful to them; with social justice, political, religious organizations; at grandchildren’s schools); still other seniors have taken larger steps in reinventing themselves through major life shake-ups (moving to a new community, dating after years of living solo, starting a freelance business). Many seniors write books—memoirs, poetry, novels, essays, even blogs for websites they want to support!
Travel is also a draw for many retired people who have more time on their hands and a few extra dollars in the bank. Visiting unfamiliar places creates new neuropathways in our brains. “The social interactions, mental stimulation, physical activity, and healthy cuisines can delay the aging process,” according to a study published on ScienceDaily.com, September 5, 2024. (Travel can slow the aging process, WashingtonPost.com, September 20, 2024.)
Perhaps you have a skill you never had the opportunity to use in your previous working life. Do you enjoy balancing budgets? Are you interested in social media? Have you always loved photography, but it didn’t make sense to pursue that professionally? Maybe now’s the time to delve into it.
Following a 24-year career in marketing and event planning, Mimi embraced an early retirement and reinvented herself as a fiction writer. Her debut novel, "Forks & Knives," was published in August 2024, with books #2 and #3 pending in 2025. Visit her website (www.AuthorMimi.com) for more information and to join her e-newsletter mailing list.
