I spent about 44 years in the full-time practice of law, working both in private practice and as in-house corporate counsel ultimately achieving a senior vice president title.   When I finally left my corporate counsel position, I was shocked at how I felt completely lost.  I had gone from senior vice president to grandma overnight.  I had lost my fancy title, my 50-to-60-hour work weeks, my daily contact with my legal colleagues.  I didn’t have that “very important” job anymore.  

I cannot understand why I was so lost.  I should have been happy. My work had been stressful – spending most of my working hours resolving complex banking problems and helping develop or refine banking products.  Here was my chance to decompress and enjoy the fruits of a long career.  After all, I had left my work voluntarily.    I was tired of corporate nonsense.  Most importantly, I didn’t want to die on the job.  I didn’t want my last day on Earth to be spent in the office.  

But there I was, stressed out and depressed.  My son texted me and asked the “How’s retirement?” question.  I responded: “I don’t know.  Day 3.  Is this vacation or a prison sentence?”  That gives you some idea how well I took to retirement.  Note: I shudder at the “retirement” word because I visualize an old horse going to pasture.  I like to say, “I left my full-time work and took all my benefits.”    But really, the “retirement” word is more efficient.  

After four years, I’ve adjusted and have gone through the many stages of retirement albeit not in the right order.  I really appreciate my work with Next Step Fitness and my many other church and service club activities and playing with my local granddaughters.  So, life is good. 

Recently, I became acquainted with Ginny Gurley and Lori Smith who have started VividNext, Navigating Life’s Transitions. 
Www.poweryourpartnerships.com

I was invited to take the initial VividNext multi-part workshop about the work/retirement transition.  The workshop was amazing.  Had I taken the workshop before I left the bank, I don’t think my shock would have been as great.  I highly recommend VividNext to anyone who is close to retirement or in retirement who feels a need for more support.  The Omaha World Herald wrote an article about VividNext and our workshop and I was featured.  See below for the full article.