No "Out There"

There are many different ways we can make a contribution in our encore careers. Often, we think of volunteering when we think of giving back. And, while there’s nothing wrong with volunteering — worthy non-profit organizations everywhere survive and thrive because of their volunteers — I was reminded this week by one of my coaching clients of one powerful and very different way of making a difference on the planet.

Rose and I have been working together for four months, and this week she had a major breakthrough around her encore career. When we began our coaching relationship, she didn’t know what she wanted to do, but Rose was certain that whatever it was, it had to include some kind of contribution.

In our very first session, Rose announced that she thought she would like to join the Peace Corps and put her talents to work in a third world country when she retires. So, it won’t surprise you to find out that Rose’s entire 34-year career has been spent in various helping professions. For the past 12 years, she’s been the Executive Director of a non-profit that provides independent living situations for mentally- and emotionally-challenged adults. She loves her work and the people she helps, and at the same time, she comes home drained and exhausted at the end of each day.

Rose plans to retire in four years, and is fortunate that she will not have to earn an income to meet her financial requirements. She does want to continue to be productive and is on the path to discover a meaningful, fulfilling way to continue to contribute in this next stage of life.

Over the last four months, Rose has identified her values, as well as many of her needs, wants, and desires. Yesterday, her long-buried dream of becoming an artist was uncovered. As a child and into her teens she loved to paint, but put that aside to go to college and get a “real” job.

How did this long-lost dream lead to her new breakthrough? Rose realized that the specific way she has served others during her career has caused her to feel burnt out and yearning for a big change. She was stunned by the realization that she could express herself artistically and make a completely different kind of “difference” by creating works of beauty. This notion of “giving back” by creating beauty for the enjoyment of others did not fit into her traditional definition of this term.

Moreover, she doesn’t have to wait until she retires to start to pursue her art. She plans to set up an easel in the corner of her den, purchase some materials, and find a painting class where she can relearn some of the basics.

Best of all, she’s excited about — and looking forward to — her future. Is there some form of creative expression that you’ve been longing to try? What’s one small step you can take today to begin?

–
About the Author:
Lin Schreiber, host of the popular The WOW Zone! radio show http://www.TheWowZoneRadioShow.com and author of the ABC’s of Revolutionizing Retirement, loves helping self-reliant Boomer women reinvent themselves in Encore Careers in the stage of life formerly known as retirement. Want more tips like these that work for creating your encore life? Claim your free Encore Career Starter Kit at http://www.EncoreCareerStarterKit.com
Article Source