In 1996, I met my friend Peggy. She was 55 years old and already retired—something that seemed both fascinating and a little mystifying to me at the time. Peggy and her husband, Carl, walked away from Corporate America. He was a former Human Resources executive. She retired as a Regulatory Compliance Officer for GTE, the company that would later become Verizon. They created a business of their own, Lasting Images Indy, a marketing and promotions company.

When I think of Peggy, it isn’t about her career—it is about her commitment to volunteering and recognizing volunteers.

For nearly two decades, Peggy served as the chairperson of the Minority Volunteer Recognition Breakfast, hosted by United Way of Central Indiana. The event became a tradition during Indiana Black Expo. The breakfast honored individuals who quietly and consistently uplifted others in their communities.

Peggy saved many of the programs from those breakfasts. Each one is a snapshot of generosity—names, stories, and causes that shaped Indianapolis. The volunteers honored annually over those years left an impact everywhere in the city.

Eventually, I joined her on the breakfast committee. I began to understand that volunteering isn’t just about giving your time—it is about creating connections, helping people regain their dignity, and showing others different possibilities.

Recent estimates show that more than 75.5 million Americans, age 16 and older, volunteer with organizations ranging from food banks and schools to shelters, museums, and hospitals. That number is impressive—but what it represents is even more powerful—millions of individuals choosing to show up for someone else.

April is National Volunteer Month—a time to recognize the quiet, consistent ways people show up for one another. For older adults in particular, volunteering has been linked to better physical and mental health, less loneliness, and a renewed sense of purpose. But beyond the research, I’ve come to believe something simpler: when we give our time, something shifts on both sides. The person receiving support benefits—but so does the person offering it.

Time flies. We’ve all felt that.

We get to decide what we do with the minutes, hours, and days we are given.

Peggy understands that. She gives her time in ways that still ripple outward. She knows she makes an impact—and I am lucky enough to watch it and share her story. In 2014, United Way recognized her with a plaque commemorating her dedication to honoring volunteerism.

Where could your time ripple outward? Who might be changed by it? Your comments are welcomed!

I still live in the house we moved into when he was two years old.

The backyard initially had a plastic kiddie splash pool. As he grew, the pool was replaced by a swing set. I would sit on the deck reading while he and his friends from across our backyards did tricks on the sliding board. Then, there were bicycle tricks with homemade ramps and later, Razor scooters with lighted wheels. It doesn’t seem that long ago.

The years blur like they do when you are parenting. There were occasional long days that never seemed to end. During the panic of September 11 when my calls to his middle school went unanswered because their phone lines were flooded. No one knew what was happening. I wasn’t supposed to be at home that day—I was supposed to be in Los Angeles.

But, I was exactly where I needed to be—with my fifth-grader.

For me, parenting was a constant calibration between holding on and stepping back. Teach, let him fly, let him fall. Recover. Teach, watch him fly, watch him soar. Applaud.

A lot of these lessons were learned in sports. He always loved combat sports. Wrestling, boxing (thankfully was brief), high school football for only a year. The rugby years were a test for me. “Teach, let him fly.” He loved rugby. There is a reason it is a club sport and not a school sport. I longed for football. “Hey, maybe try boxing again,” I remember saying.

Almost twenty years later, we can laugh about it.

We meet for lunch a couple of times a month. We talk about current topics, and every now and then, he’ll bring up something from the past, a small thing. I didn’t think mattered. When he was a boy, a tornado touched down a few miles away. It was heading in our direction. As we hurried to the first floor for safety, I darted into the garage for our bicycle helmets. Teach. I distracted him by talking about why we protect our brains.

He remembered. The funnel cloud went back into the air.

We never know what our children are going to remember.

They are always watching us.

Ten years ago, on that same deck where I read as the kids played, he got down on one knee and proposed to his girlfriend, now wife. Her family and best friends surprised her as we stood in the yard where the swing set used to be.

Please join me in wishing my son a happy 35th birthday!

Time flies.

I’m also a writer, a storyteller, and a blogger.

March 23rd marked a shift in my thinking.

I attended the Lifelong Arts Indiana: Creative Aging Summit at the University of Indianapolis. In five hours, something unexpected happened. I didn’t just leave feeling inspired—I left recognizing my identity as an Artist.

The Summit addressed what was described as the triple threat of aging: boredom, isolation, and helplessness—and, importantly, offered strategies to counter all three.

What struck me just as much as the content was who was leading the conversation.

This was not a room of younger people talking about older adults.

The first presentation was led by a woman in her eighth decade—and she was not alone. Panel after panel, breakout session after breakout session, the voices guiding the conversation were seniors themselves.

It was inspiring. It was enlightening. It was energizing.

One moment, in particular, has stayed with me.

I was riveted as Peggy Taylor, an octogenarian fiber artist from southern Indiana, shared a story about a retiree who was struggling to find purpose after his career ended.

She described how discovering weaving did more than give him something to do—it gave him a new sense of community.

Her story took me back to my own experience.

I remembered the first morning I woke up retired in 2023. It was disorienting and confusing, even as it felt exhilarating and well-earned.

In that moment, I realized how easily purpose can slip away. A few weeks later, my own sense of community began to take shape as I started training as an Amherst Writers & Artists affiliate.

And then there was a word I won’t soon forget: generativity.

Generativity is about creating, contributing, and leaving something meaningful behind. What I witnessed at this Summit was generativity in action—through the arts, through storytelling, and through a shared commitment to ensuring that aging is not defined by decline, but by continued purpose and impact.

Indiana may not be widely known as a hub for the arts like New York, Hollywood, New Orleans, or Santa Fe—but what I experienced that day told a different story.

Across this state, there is a growing movement—supported by artists, organizations, and public leaders—that recognizes creativity is not just enrichment. It is essential to how we age well.

This experience also affirmed something I have come to believe more deeply in recent years:

Being older is not about narrowing.

It is about expanding—into new identities, new communities, and new ways of expressing who we are.

If you are in a season of transition—retirement, a recent diagnosis, caregiving, or simply asking “what’s next?”—consider this your gentle encouragement:

You don’t have to be an “artist” to begin.

You only have to stay open.

“What I experienced at the Creative Aging Summit taught me that creativity and the arts doesn’t just enrich our lives—it supports our well-being in ways we are only beginning to fully understand.”

And then there are the bright yellow ones.

The ones that look ordinary… until they’re not.

On March 9, 2026, Indiana became the first state in the nation to ban cryptocurrency ATMs and kiosks.

The move comes amid a dramatic rise in scams. According to the Federal Trade Commission, fraud involving cryptocurrency ATMs increased nearly tenfold between 2020 and 2023.

By 2025, losses tied to these machines exceeded $333 million nationwide, based on data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to an FBI report, cited in February’s AARP Bulletin—individuals 60 and older accounted for 86 percent of the losses in 2025.

In recent years the bright yellow kiosks had proliferated to nearly 900 units throughout the state of Indiana.

Too Close to Home

After attending an AARP volunteer meeting last October, I began paying more attention.

At the gas station near my home, I asked the staff about their yellow box sitting next to a bank ATM. They didn’t hesitate.

“You can tell something is off,” one cashier told me. “The person is on the phone the entire time… someone is walking them through how to operate the machine.”

Each time it happened, the staff quickly called the local police who convinced the potential victim it was a scam. All three times, the person at their Bitcoin ATM machine was a senior citizen!

While Indiana is the first to enact a full ban, it’s not alone in recognizing the threat. In 2025, 17 states passed laws aimed at protecting consumers from crypto-kiosk-related scams—signaling a growing national response to a rapidly evolving form of fraud. AARP got involved at a national level in early 2024.

Why Seniors?

These scams work because, like most fraud, they create urgency, fear, and confusion. They target older adults who are less familiar with cryptocurrency but deeply motivated to “fix” a problem quickly, whether it’s a supposed legal issue, part of a romance scam, to prevent a utility shutoff, or a relative in trouble.

Advocacy at Work!

As a volunteer with AARP Indiana for nearly a decade, I’ve seen how education and awareness makes a difference in the lives of senior citizens. AARP has a Fraud Watch Network, as a free resource for all. It is designed to help those of all ages to:

• Stay Informed

• Find Support

• Have a Voice.

With these machines banned in Indiana, we have something even more powerful: prevention built into the system. With active AARP volunteer groups in Evansville, Gary, and Fort Wayne in addition to Indianapolis, visit: www.aarp.org/states/indiana/ and learn what scam prevention activities are happening near you. One way is to shred documents that identify you personally and financially. There is another free document shredding event happening on April 11th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in Indianapolis. The event is at Lincoln Tech, 7225 Winton Drive, Building 128, Indianapolis 46268

At www.aarp.org/states/ you can learn about scam prevention activities in your state. Remember, the AARP Fraud Helpline is available at no charge to everyone.

3 Ways to Avoid Crypto Kiosk Scams

1. No legitimate organization will demand crypto payments

If someone asks you to pay using Bitcoin or a crypto ATM—stop. It’s a scam.

2. Slow down and break contact

Scammers rely on urgency. Hang up. Take a breath. Call a trusted friend or family member, the police non-emergency number, or the AARP Fraud Helpline at 1-877-908-3360

3. Never take instructions from someone on the phone.

If someone is guiding you step-by-step to use a kiosk, that’s a major red flag.

Tell A Friend!

The bright yellow machines may be gone from Indiana, but the scams are not.

Awareness is our strongest defense. Seek other sources including Age Options if you live in the Chicago area, public libraries and local senior centers.

Share this with someone you love—because the best way to stop a scam is to make sure it never starts.

“I don’t consider myself a historian,” he explained. “I am a voice for our Roberts Settlement story, our history. My sister, Lezli, is the Settlement’s family historian and genealogist. She does the investigative work that makes it easy for me to talk about our history.”

I first met Bryan a year ago when he was sharing the history of the Roberts Settlement. It is one of Indiana’s early Black pioneer settlements located in Hamilton County. We met again in January 2026, where a crowd overflowed the room during his community history presentation at the Hamilton East Public Library in Noblesville.

A graduate of Purdue University, Bryan left Indiana and built a long career in the entertainment industry as a finance professional while living in Los Angeles. Over the years, he returned many summers to attend the settlement’s annual celebration.

In 2007, Bryan relocated to Indiana and became a partner in the family wine and spirits shop, Mr. G’s Liquors, founded in 1977 and co-owned by his father, Wayne Glover and uncle, Myron Glover. Bryan remembers the pace vividly.

“I was going sixty miles per hour every day,” he said. “I was busy with all of the activities of entrepreneurship, while also trying to find other opportunities to engage with my community.”

In 2019, Myron and Bryan sold the store. Bryan arrived at a point many of us face in our late 50s and early 60s: an unexpected opportunity to reinvent ourselves.

For Bryan, the next step came into focus. As a descendant of the Roberts family—one of the predominant namesakes of this historic community—he felt called to become more involved in preserving and sharing its story.

That opportunity began taking shape earlier, when Brenda Myers, CEO of Hamilton County Tourism, contacted him about including the Roberts Settlement in Indiana’s 2016 Bicentennial celebration. Bryan was intrigued, Hamilton County’s bicentennial story needed to be fully inclusive!

Drawing on his experience in the entertainment industry, he worked with others— including historian, Dr. Stephen Vincent, author of Southern Seed, Northern Soil, and a local video production company, to produce a film about the Roberts Settlement for the bicentennial. When the film was complete, Bryan and Dr. Vincent went on a screening tour throughout the County.

While many long time Hamilton County residents were familiar with Roberts Settlement, the film introduced newer residents to the history of Indiana’s early Black pioneers. As time went on, the genealogy and research work Lezli worked on for years was integrated into the presentation. It gave visitors a more intimate look at the people and events that shaped the Settlement’s multigenerational story.

After hearing Bryan’s presentation about the historic site last year, I wanted to see it for myself. When my aunt came to visit from Chicago, we made the twenty-mile drive to Atlanta, Indiana. After living in Hamilton County for more than thirty years, I had no idea I was this close to such remarkable history.

Free People of Color migrated from North Carolina and Virginia to Central Indiana beginning in the 1830s, seeking to escape deteriorating racial conditions, violence, and threats to their freedom. In Hamilton County, free people of color purchased land, benefited from greater economic opportunity, and found support among their White abolitionist and anti-slavery neighbors.

The result was a thriving, self-sustaining community with its own school, church, and cemetery. Today, the story of the settlement is preserved at the site, and each year former residents and their descendants return for the annual Homecoming Celebration.

Bryan says simply, “We take advantage of opportunities to tell our story.”

Visitors are welcome to experience the Roberts Settlement and walk the Legacy Walk to learn more about the community’s history. Admission is free. Visitors can make freewill donations using the QR code located at the end of the Legacy Walk exhibit. The Roberts Chapel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. https://robertssettlement.org

“I’m a teacher.”

“I’m a truck driver.”

“I’m a Human Resources Director.”

Our job titles became shorthand for who we were.

But when retirement comes and the title disappears, the question can feel surprisingly disorienting: Who am I now?

Medical and wellness professionals are increasingly clear about this: retirement satisfaction is not just about financial stability. It is deeply tied to purpose. Research consistently shows that retirees who feel useful, engaged, and connected report higher levels of happiness, better cognitive health, and even longer life expectancy. Purpose, it turns out, is not a retirement luxury. It is protective.

According to retirement life coach Cyn Meyer, founder of Second Wind Movement (not affiliated with or endorsed by Older, Bolder & Better!), retirees who had clearly identified a sense of purpose experienced measurable health benefits.

Retirees were 24% less likely to become physically inactive, 33% less likely to develop sleep problems, and 22% less likely to experience an unhealthy Body Mass Index (BMI) if they had identified a purpose in their retirement.

Having a sense of purpose doesn’t just make retirement more meaningful — it makes it healthier.

My retirement didn’t unfold exactly as planned. I intended to retire in December 2023. Instead, I left my final position that September. The timeline shifted, but my preparation did not.

Long before spreadsheets, pension calculations, and retirement workshops, I had something better: examples.

I watched older relatives create retirements that looked joyful. My mother worked part-time in her profession until she was 80 — and still found time to cruise and travel. An uncle found purpose volunteering at a middle school. My grandmother mentored girls at her church well into her 70s. An 86-year-old aunt still travels with friends, edits this blog, and invests in her wellness through Tai Chi and strength-training classes.

None of them retired from life. They retired into it.

So when my own work chapter closed, I knew financial planning was only one piece of the retirement puzzle. Within weeks, I began training to offer writing workshops through Amherst Writers & Artists. I chose Substack over YouTube. I increased my volunteering with Soroptimist Indy Metro. An organization focused on improving the lives of women and girls through education and economic empowerment. Now, I work two days a week at Conner Prairie, a living history museum, that satisfies my love of lifelong learning and keeps me connected to people.

Not because I need to stay busy — but because I want to stay purposeful.

What I learned from watching my elders is this: purpose evolves. What animates us at 62 may look different at 72, 82, or 92. And sometimes, purpose arrives in forms we did not anticipate.

For many retirees, caregiving becomes part of the equation — caring for a parent, a spouse, or even an adult child. According to a 2025 report from AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving, 63 million Americans are family caregivers.

Caregiving can be exhausting. It can also be deeply purposeful. It may not look like the retirement one imagined, but it is still a form of contribution, love, and meaning.

Retirement is not a single decision made on a final workday. It is a season of life — one that will likely stretch longer than ever since 85+ years-old is one of the fastest growing demographics in America.

You do not have to have it all mapped out. You do not have to launch something big. You do not have to replicate your former title in a new form.

You only need to remain curious about what gives your days meaning now.

When the name badge comes off, you are not diminished. You are reintroduced.

Retirement is not the end of usefulness. It is an opportunity to turn experience into impact.

To me, that is something to look forward to.

The world is louder in 2026. Conversations feel sharper. Many of us carry a quiet heaviness—about our country, our communities, and the people we love. Even those of us who choose not to engage in debates can feel the tension humming beneath ordinary days.

It doesn’t take much to feel it. A few minutes of television news. A scroll through social media. What used to be an ordinary conversation, suddenly isn’t so ordinary. The images and words can linger long after the screen goes dark. I find myself watching less television than I once did—not out of denial, but by design.

I’m not participating in forced cheerfulness. I am not pretending everything is fine. And, I am certainly not in denial of storms brewing around me. Everyday I make a decision about the joyful spirit I am going bring to that day.

Two years ago, I shared a simple three-step roadmap that guides my days: begin with gratitude, choose my responses carefully, and find reasons to smile. That framework still anchors me.

But in 2026, I would add one more element.

4. Guard Your Inner Climate.

When the outer climate feels like a tornado or blizzard, managing my inner climate is even more important. Not forced cheerfulness. Not pretending everything is fine. But a steady decision about how I am going to approach each day.

I cannot control the temperature of national conversations. But I can decide what I repeatedly expose myself to on television, social media, and the Substacks I follow.

Guarding my inner climate doesn’t mean ignoring the news or withdrawing from the world. It means engaging with intention, so I am listening for and learning the truth. And, I have the time and research background to fact-check and substantiate the avalanche of news swirling around me.

Staying informed without succumbing to constant outrage, is important, knowing it would damage my health. Caring deeply and doing as much as I can personally is one way to weather the torrential storm of news. Understanding the limits of my focus and impact is also important.

I have learned, that maintaining my inner peace is not passivity. It is discipline.

I don’t know what the next months or years will bring. None of us do.

But I do know this: the quality of my days will not be determined solely by the world around me.

And yet, I still believe happiness is not something that simply happens to us. It is something we cultivate like a garden. My happiness is still no accident. Even now.

Link to April 2024 post:

Their mother, Ruth, died in 1933 after complications from a home childbirth with her youngest child. Eunice, the oldest, was twelve years old.

Their widowed father worked long hours at Whiting Corporation, a factory that still manufactures maintenance equipment for railroad cars. He died in 1947. In the years between those losses, the children largely raised one another.

That is a piece of my family history—one I can share with my son and my grandson. And two living bridges to that past remain: Great‑Aunts Charlene, grandma Eunice’s youngest sister and Mary Holly, wife of Joseph Jr., both will celebrate their 98th birthday this year.

What family history do you know about your family?

For my family, history isn’t just a set of facts; it’s a collection of stories. Some are poignant. Others are hilariously funny. Together, they tell us who these five siblings were, how they survived, and how love and responsibility moved between them when adults were scarce.

Knowing your family history matters for many reasons, especially as we age.

1. Stories give us roots.

Family stories help us understand where we come from and what shaped the people who shaped us. They anchor us in something larger than ourselves.

2. Our memories are personal—and only belong to us.

Each of us experiences family members in our own way. The relationship we had may not match the one someone else remembers. Family stories ask us to speak from our own perspective and make room for others to hold theirs.

3. Stories carry values, not just dates.

Official records tell us when things happened. Stories tell us how people coped—what they believed, feared, hoped for, and laughed about.

4. Stories create connection across generations.

When we share family stories with children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, we’re offering them belonging. They learn that hardship can be survived—and that joy can be found even in difficult seasons.

5. Stories honor ordinary lives.

Most of our ancestors were not famous. But their lives mattered. Telling their stories is our way of saying: You were here. You counted.

Ways to Capture Your Family History

Leverage social media.

Eleven years ago, my Uncle Will started a private Facebook page dedicated to the five children of Ruth and Joseph. When they were alive, our family was centered around Chicago and its suburbs. Today, we are spread coast-to-coast—and even overseas. This page helps us stay connected across the miles. My uncle’s hope is that the younger generation will one day take over and add their voices.

Explore products designed for family history.

There is a growing industry dedicated to creating life-story books. (This is not an endorsement of any particular company.) Major players include StoryWorth, Memorygram, and Remento. I know people who have used each and were pleased with the results. Other options—such as Shutterfly, Tell Me, LifeBio, Artifact, and Storii—offer image-based or oral-history formats. Ancestry.com continues to lead this space, with more than three million users.

Create scrapbooks and photo albums.

This is an easy, family-friendly way to preserve memories. In our family, we have albums from many summer trips to Disney World. You might create one around a family reunion, a milestone birthday, or a holiday gathering.

An Invitation

You don’t need a genealogy chart or a perfect memory to begin. (At 97, my Great-Aunts hold stories no archive ever could.)

Start with one question:

Do you remember when…?

Ask it of a parent, an aunt, a grandparent, or even yourself. Write the answer down. Record it. Pass it along.

Because one day, someone will be grateful that you did.

Last week, in Part One of this series, I wrote about why aging is everyone’s business—how longer lives are reshaping workplaces, communities, and nearly every profession. The next question is a practical one: how are we preparing for that reality?

An answer is emerging inside higher education, where a global network of Age-Friendly Universities, discussed last week, are rethinking who learning is for and where it happens.

One place where preparation has been underway for years is the University of Indianapolis (UIndy.) The university is a useful case study for what it looks like when higher education responds thoughtfully—not reactively—to demographic change.

Rather than treating aging as a narrow specialty, UIndy approaches it as a reality that cuts across disciplines. “What makes our program distinctive,” said Dr. Marwa Noureldin, Associate Professor and Director of the Aging Studies and Healthcare Administration programs, “is that we give students a holistic, well-rounded view of aging and gerontology—because aging touches different fields in different ways.”

That philosophy shows up first in who is in the classroom. Students in UIndy’s Aging Studies courses range from their 20s to their 70s, creating learning environments shaped by both academic inquiry and lived experience. Some students are just beginning their professional journeys. Others are returning to school with decades of work experience and a desire to deepen their knowledge of aging-related issues.

Equally important is how students enter the program. UIndy offers multiple pathways: an undergraduate minor and an undergraduate certificate in Aging Studies. There is also a Master of Science in Aging Studies and other programs for those seeking advanced preparation. The course offerings are available on campus or online, allowing for broader access and flexibility for today’s students.

Because the program is housed within UIndy’s College of Health Sciences, collaboration is built into its design. Students pursuing degrees in public health, healthcare administration, and other health-related fields can incorporate Aging Studies through dual-program options and integrated coursework. The result is preparation that mirrors the real world, where aging intersects with policy, management, ethics, caregiving, and community planning—not just clinical care. Dr. Noureldin explained, “pursuing a certificate or advanced degree in Aging Studies enhances their credentials.”

She emphasized the cross-disciplinary approach is intentional. Longer lives, she noted, are reshaping expectations across professions. Employers are navigating multigenerational workforces. Communities are reconsidering housing, transportation, and access. Professionals in law, finance, education, and human resources are encountering aging-related issues whether they expected to or not.

Education, in this context, becomes less about specialization and more about literacy—what might be called “gerontology awareness.” It’s the ability to recognize how longer lives affect decision-making, service delivery, and human connection. Programs like UIndy’s doesn’t suggest that everyone needs to become a gerontologist; they acknowledge that nearly everyone will be affected by aging in their work, families, or communities.

This broader commitment extends beyond the classroom. Through its Center for Aging & Community, UIndy connects academic expertise with public-facing programs and community partnerships. Speaker series, public events, and collaborations with local organizations reflect a university positioning itself as a resource across the lifespan—not only for traditional students, but for the wider community. I initially became of aware of the Aging Studies program after attending a program in the Speaker Series program hosted by the Center for Aging & Community last Fall.

The “future” many people still think is coming…it is already here. Institutions like UIndy are responding by preparing professionals who understand aging not as a problem to be solved, but as a shared human experience that must be thoughtfully navigated.

For readers of Older, Bolder & Better!, this approach is similar to how many of us are living our lives— intentional and grounded— knowing how we prepare today, shapes how we live tomorrow.

Recently, I had the opportunity to explore this shift with Dr. Marwa Noureldin, Associate Professor and Director of Aging Studies and Healthcare Administration Programs at the University of Indianapolis (UIndy). Aging, she reminded me, isn’t a trend or a temporary challenge—it’s a long-term shift in how our society is structured.

“Longer lives are changing the expectations placed on workplaces, communities, and professionals across nearly every field,” Dr. Noureldin explained.

When we pause to consider it, aging extends beyond medicine and caregiving. Public policy, law, human resources, housing, education, real estate, and financial planning are all being reshaped by longer lives and changing expectations about work, retirement, and community. Professionals in fields far from healthcare are increasingly realizing that the aging of society is influencing how work gets done—and who it is designed to serve.

One place this shift is already visible is housing. As more Americans live longer and want to remain independent, demand is growing for homes and communities designed to support aging in place. These are not traditional assisted living facilities. Today’s older adults are choosing environments that reflect how they want to live — active, social, and engaged. The private sector has responded with 55+ communities that emphasize recreation, fitness, and amenities rather than medical care. By the mid-2030s, one in three U.S. households will be headed by someone 65 or older, making housing one of the clearest examples of how aging is reshaping everyday life.

As these shifts unfold, the question isn’t whether aging will affect our institutions, but whether society is preparing for it intentionally. Dr. Noureldin emphasized that as people live longer, they will also work longer. She explained having a better understanding of aging will impact the workplace as multi-generations continue to work together. That kind of awareness — across career fields and generations — is becoming essential as longer lives reshape how work, services, and communities are designed.

Much of the public conversation focuses on people turning 65, but another reality is quietly emerging. The fastest-growing segment of the population is adults age 85 and older — people living longer, often with complex needs, and increasingly visible in the community. Understanding how society is preparing for that reality is no longer theoretical.

In next week’s post, I’ll take a closer look at how UIndy is not only preparing the current and future workforce to know more about aging, the University itself went through a transformation. The University of Indianapolis was accepted into the Age-Friendly University (AFU) Global Network in 2024. They are proud to be just the second university in Indiana to join this prestigious network of over 110 universities worldwide (and growing) that promotes age-inclusivity and intergenerational understanding.

The holidays have passed and the decorations have come down. Many of us are settling back into our daily rhythms—full calendars, familiar routines, and the pace of everyday life. Still, there’s something about this moment that feels like an invitation to me—not in a resolution or goal-setting way, but in a more personal one. A chance to begin 2026 with intention.

As Older, Bolder & Better! begins its third year, I’m more convinced than ever that thoughtful conversations about aging belong in everyday life—not just in doctor’s offices or policy debates. I created this blog as a place to explore what it means to live fully and intentionally, no matter what decade we’re in.

Rather than claiming to have all the answers, my focus is always on asking better questions. How do we feel good in our bodies? How do we stay connected and feel useful? How do we continue to show up for our lives with purpose? Older, Bolder & Better! exists to slow the conversation down just enough to help us make sense of what’s happening—together.

In the year ahead, this space will continue to explore aging through a wider, more human lens. We’ll talk about:

Feeling good—how does rest, movement, advocating for ourselves with our healthcare team, and how small daily choices support our energy and well-being.

Doing good—how does purpose, work, staying as involved as possible in organizations that lift us up, and recognizing how our contributions to community evolve as our lives change.

Looking good—not as a standard to chase, but as an expression of confidence, presence, and feeling good about ourselves at every age.

Along the way, I’ll be sharing conversations and stories from around the country, including a January series that looks at how one university is preparing professionals to thoughtfully engage with an aging population that is already here.

My hope in 2026 is these posts offer ideas you can use, useful information and something to think about—more than anything, I want Older, Bolder & Better! to remind you that none of us are navigating this season alone.

Over the past year, as I’ve continued writing Older, Bolder & Better!, I’ve found myself paying closer attention—to people who are navigating retirement in their own way and to how purpose often reveals itself gradually rather than all at once. Some people lean into community work. Others rediscover creative practices. Some have the opportunity to focus on themselves, their health, and fitness, while others strike out on a totally new adventure.

What I’m learning is that life after work doesn’t follow a single pattern. It’s shaped by experience, health, finances, whether you are solo or have a partner, and the willingness to listen—to yourself and to others. That’s been especially clear in the conversations I’ve had, the stories you’ve shared with me, and the notes you’ve sent saying, “I thought I was the only one feeling this way.”

This season has reinforced something important: retirement isn’t an ending so much as a shift in attention. The question becomes less about “What should I do now?” and more about “What feels meaningful enough to keep showing up for?”

And that brings me here.

This year also brought the unexpected honor of being selected as the Basile Emerging Stories Fellow sponsored by Storytelling Arts of Indiana. This marked the 25th Anniversary of the award. Seeing, “Aging. Reimagined!” resonate with the live audience—and later hearing from the livestream audience—expanded my confidence in what’s possible.

I’m only two years into my own life after work, and I don’t pretend to have it all figured out. What I do know is that paying attention—to new opportunities, to what continues to feel meaningful and what doesn’t—has become part of my process. Writing Older, Bolder & Better! is one way I document what I’m learning in real time. Through your comments and messages, I’ve gained a growing respect for how differently this season continues to evolve for each of us.

If there’s a takeaway here, it isn’t a formula or a checklist. It’s an invitation—to pause, to pay attention, and to trust that purpose doesn’t disappear after our professional career ends.

Older, Bolder & Better! will take a brief two-week break before returning in mid-January to begin Year 3 of the blog—better than ever. Until then, I wish you a wonderful beginning to the New Year, and thank you for your support, your comments, and your shares. It means the world to me.

Philip Rivers never stopped being involved with football.

During Rivers’ five years away from the NFL, he was coaching high school football at St. Michael Catholic in Fairhope, Alabama—teaching fundamentals, mentoring teenagers, and shaping the character of young men. He was also living a full family life as a father of ten and a grandfather.

Football didn’t disappear. It simply changed forms.

From 2016–2019, before either were with the Colts, Shane Steichen served as Rivers’ quarterback coach with the San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers. After retiring from the Colts in 2021, Rivers stayed in conversation with Steichen—talking play concepts, strategy, and the evolving game.

When the call came, Rivers didn’t need to become someone new.

He simply needed to say yes to the open door.

The Power of Veteran Presence

Rivers signed a short-term practice squad deal at the NFL veteran minimum. His role wasn’t about money. (He has an approximate net worth of $100 million.) It was about being prepared on game day.

With his previous Colts experience, Rivers offers calm in the huddle and clarity in the film room. That kind of leadership can’t be rushed—or replaced.

As the Colts prepare for potential snaps against the Seahawks, Rivers brings with him decades of NFL pattern recognition, emotional intelligence that comes with age, and a 14-year relationship with Coach Steichen.

A Lesson for the Rest of Us

I don’t know if any Older, Bolder & Better! readers expect to get a call from the NFL.

But we will get calls—from former colleagues, managers from a decade ago, someone we met at a conference years ago, a former neighbor. The invitation is often unexpected—it asks us to step into an encore season of life. An invitation to teach. A Board of Directors position. A chance to mentor. A part-time role that reignites purpose. A creative pursuit shelved years ago. A volunteer opportunity that becomes something more.

Too often, we assume our best days are behind us because the shape of opportunity has changed. But wisdom knows this truth:

An open door doesn’t always announce itself with certainty.

Sometimes it looks like:

* A conversation that keeps resurfacing

* A nudge you can’t quite ignore

* A role that feels smaller—but truer

There is courage in not having to prove anything to onlookers, family or friends. There is courage in showing up for yourself.

For those of us who have taken what others consider “a step back” in our careers—moving from leadership positions to individual contributor roles—we know careers are not always linear.

My hope for Older Bolder & Better! readers is this:

If a door opens—walk through it.

Not to relive the past, but to bring forward everything you’ve learned.

Write your book.

Apply for the grant.

Register for the class.

Book the “bucket list” trip.

Start your own Substack (invite me—I will subscribe).

Have a joyful week ahead!

Saturday, I found myself rewatching a news clip of a 40-car crash on I-70 near Terre Haute, IN—no fatalities, just a whole lot of people moving too fast on a day when slowing down might have saved them the trouble. It made me pause longer than I expected. I even texted the image to a few friends.

If I am being honest with myself, I realized why this story tugged at me. The holiday season used to bring out the same rush in me. When I moved to Indiana, I was on the interstate driving to the Chicago suburbs for every Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our holidays were spent with family there. The decorating, shopping, cooking, hosting and clean-up was a whirlwind at my grandparent’s house for years. It was great!

A decade later, my home became the gathering place for my mom, my nieces, and my nephew. My son and I decorated our tree with tiny reminders of our Disney World summers. I hid presents every year, waiting for a quiet moment I could wrap them and slide them under the tree. We filled the house with our favorite holiday music, took photos, ate good food, and made memories I wouldn’t trade for anything.

After several decades of doing it all, the pace eventually felt like too much. While I don’t regret a single tradition, I felt the need to make changes. Not in a bah-humbug, Grinch sort of way, but in a a cozy, relaxed, no fuss way that feels right for where I am in life right now.

It doesn’t feel like a loss, it is a natural turning of the page. I am the most surprised by the unexpected calm of this new rhythm. I still enjoy the sparkle of the season, but now it comes without the pressure of trying to create the perfect experience for everyone. I can linger with a beverage, decorate a smaller tree, skip the wrapping marathon (gift cards, anyone?), and focus on the reason for the season.

It’s not a production and not a performance. Now my holidays are a time of connection, reflection, and the joy that comes from slowing down.

And I know I’m not the only one. Many of us reach a stage where our traditions evolve—not necessarily because we want them to, but because life shifts around us. Families grow or shrink. There’s comfort in recognizing that the holidays can still be meaningful even when they’re not as busy as they once were.

How about you?

I’d love to hear how your holidays have changed over time—what you’ve kept, what you’ve let go of, and what you’ve come to appreciate this season. Feel free to share in the comments. Your reflections may be just what another reader needs to hear.

That doesn’t mean that everything is “perfect.” Life is rarely perfect and when it gets close, we often move the goal posts. I remember being transferred to California a few years out of college thinking if I made “X” amount of dollars, life would be a ‘piece of cake.’ As I met those goals, my vision changed and there was always something just out of reach. I probably wasn’t as grateful for what I had as I am today.

Older, Bolder & Better! focuses on health several times each quarter. Whether it is explaining health span vs. lifespan or exploring the traits of healthy centenarians (the fastest growing demographic in America is >85 years old.) The adage, “your health is your wealth,” is in clear focus. My healthcare team shares my holistic approach to wellness—spiritual, social, emotional, mental, and physical health. I’ve lost 25 pounds since retiring. My diet still isn’t where I want it to be; it is a work in progress.

I am especially grateful for all the new opportunities to learn and new people I’ve met over the past two years. Becoming an Amherst Writers & Artists affiliate is the literary hug I needed when I retired. Yesterday, I participated in an AWA session led by Annecy Baez, LCSW, Ph.D. I’ve shared a poem I began writing in her workshop at the end of this post. Recently, I was named one of the co-editors of Amherst Writer & Artists new Substack, “Writing Alone and With Others.” In less than a month it has 3,300 subscribers. Here’s a link if you’re interested: amherstwriters.substack.com

Storytelling has opened an entirely new world to me. Being selected as the 2025 Frank Basile Emerging Stories Fellow was an honor. I performed my 5-story program in a one-woman show at the Indiana History Center to a live and livestream audience.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Substack and its vibrant virtual community. I met a few Substack writers “live” in the Indianapolis area that have led to other collaborations. My family members and dear friends, old and new, have taken these journeys with me. Rather than limiting thanks to Thanksgiving, I try to incorporate gratitude in every moment of my life. Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving.

This season, I’m grateful for the years that didn’t break me but built me. For the doors I pushed through. For the woman I keep becoming. This poem is a celebration of that ongoing journey — a reminder that age isn’t a closing, but an opening. The sky is still wide, still waiting, and I’m still charting it.

The Sky I’m Still Charting

When I opened myself without apology,

I soared like a bird that remembers

she once mapped the sky with her wings—

each feather threaded from every year

I had already grown myself into strength.

I soared older.

I soared bolder.

I soared better—

a testament to every closed door

I learned to walk through anyway.

Now the sky is no longer a metaphor;

it is a map.

And I’m not done charting it.

It seems my 15 minutes have arrived.

In August, I was announced as the 2025 Frank Basile Emerging Storytelling Fellow, and life has taken on a new rhythm ever since. On October 24th, I found myself on the cover of The Indianapolis Recorder; that same week I was in my hometown newspaper, the Fishers Current.

I had the honor of being on Vicke Peterson’s, radio show, “All Senior Citizens Connect.” Yesterday, my friend, Harold “HB” Bell interviewed me on his radio show, “The Senior Scoop.” Tomorrow morning, I’ll be sitting under bright studio lights at WISH-TV’s “Daybreak” for my first live TV interview about the storytelling show.

I’m both excited and a little surprised. This kind of attention isn’t something I imagined, especially at this stage of life. But more than anything, I’m grateful—to the storytelling community that welcomed me, to the mentors who believed in me, and to everyone who has reminded me that it’s never too late to begin something new.

As I move through this unexpected season of attention and opportunity, I’m reminded why I started Older, Bolder & Better! in the first place. Life after sixty isn’t about retreat—it’s about renewal. Every time we show up, share our stories, or take on something new, we push back against the idea that aging means disappearing. We become living proof that curiosity, courage, and creativity don’t have a shelf life. What if I never applied for the Emerging Stories Fellowship? I almost didn’t.

There’s an African proverb that says, “Whenever an elder dies, a library burns down.” I think about that often. We are filled with stories of wisdom, resilience, laughter, heartbreak, and hope. When we share our stories—whether on a stage, across a coffee table, or a video on the phone—we keep those libraries alive. We offer our experiences as gifts to the next generation, reminders that growing older doesn’t mean growing lesser.

So, as I step into this new chapter as an “emerging” storyteller at age sixty-eight, I hope others see themselves reflected in this journey. Let’s keep emerging, connecting, and creating—because the world still needs our voices, our vision, and our stories!

According to a September 2025 report from Caring.com, Indiana ranks second in the nation for fraud against seniors when adjusted for population. Indiana had 76.9 fraud complaints from people aged 60 or over per 100,000 people. To combat this issue, the Indianapolis FBI Citizens Academy Alumni Association launched a community outreach event to educate older people on preventing fraud. Arizona is #1 in scams and fraud targeting seniors and Nevada completes the top three.

Last week, I received a text allegedly from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Except it wasn’t.

Besides knowing my car was properly registered, there were red flags in the text message. The text was sent from 207-631-3436. The “207” area code is from Maine, not Indiana. Also, the payment portal is not the correct link for Indiana’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Typical of a scam, there was an urgent nature to the text, the payment was due the next day, October 15th. For an air of legitimacy, there is actually an Indiana Title 9 for motor vehicles. I blocked the number, however, scammers will try again using a different telephone number, they always do.

Scammers Target Everyone:

Twenty-somethings (ages 20 to 29-year-olds) were more likely to report losing money to fraud than any other age group, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel Network 2024 Data Book. Their median loss was $417, and total losses for this group were more than $400-million-dollars in 2024. Online shopping often started with an ad on social media – far more often than any other fraud type, and most said they simply did not get the items they ordered according to the FTC.

Thirty and Forty-year-olds were less likely to report losing money than the 20-29-year-old age group. What’s notable is that adults 30 to 39-year-olds had the highest number of identity theft reports of any age group, according to the FTC. Scammers were most likely to contact this age group through social media and fraudulent websites. The top fraud of both age groups involved online shopping. Scammers lure victims with tempting deals, collect payments for non-existent or counterfeit products, or steal personal and financial information.

Fifty-year-old victims are targeted with imposter scams (people calling impersonating employees of government agencies or tech support because their computer is allegedly at risk), investment scams, romance scams, and the growing grandparent scams. (They found your grandchild’s name, age, etc. on your social media post). The scammer claims they have him/her even though you’re sitting across the room from your grandchild.) All these tactics leverage emotional manipulation or fear of technology to trick the 50+ person into giving up money or personal information. Adults in their 50s are less likely to file fraud complaints with agencies or report the loss to their credit card company.

Scam victims in their 60s reported romance scams as one of the top five frauds impacting them. According to the FTC, 29% of 60- to 69-year-olds who filed fraud reports in 2024 reported losing money. Their median loss was $691 per victim, and a staggering total loss was $1.2 billion in 2024. The online romance scam starts with a fake “relationship” (often using stolen photos and a false identity) to gain the victim’s trust. It is often a fast-moving connection based on messages and calls, always avoiding meeting via video or in person; then a sudden emergency/crisis occurs. The scammer tells their victim how to pay and may ask for personal documents to use for identity theft.

The Sensational 70-year-olds are usually scammed by phone more than any other method, according to the FTC. They report losing money to tech support scams. These scams begin with a call from someone claiming to be a computer technician with a well-known company. They claim that there is a problem with your computer or tablet and ask for remote access to fix it. Once in your device, they steal financial and personal information.

The oldest adults, age 80+ were the least likely to file FTC fraud complaints and reported the highest loss per victim of any age group at $1,650 per complaint. While tech support scams were among the top five most common types of fraud experienced by adults 80 and older, so were sweepstakes and lottery scams. Sweepstakes scams were the costliest type of scam for this age group. A “representative” will claim you’ve won a prize and only need to pay a fee for taxes or processing to claim the winnings. The fraudster may tell their victims to keep the prize a secret from family members to surprise them. It is actually to prevent the senior from being warned of the scam by a family member. They are often too ashamed to admit what happened to them and may fear losing their independence.

Who Can Help?

Try not to fall victim in the first place, slow down the scammer’s sense of urgency. Hang up! Call your trusted representative, relative, or friend. If you win a prize or sweepstakes, you should not be expected to pay a ‘handling fee’ to receive it. No one legitimate calling you is expecting payment in gift cards or cryptocurrency.

AARP Fraud Watch Network is for anyone, no matter your age. You do not need to be an AARP member to use their services. The AARP Fraud Watch Network is a free initiative that provides tools, resources, and education to help consumers avoid scams and fraud. The AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline is available at 1-877-908-3360. This free, toll-free service helps scam victims and their loved ones by providing support and guidance on what to do next. The helpline is staffed by trained specialists and volunteers and operates Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET.

Your state’s Attorney General’s Office usually handles consumer protection. In Indiana, the AG handles fraud and scams through its Consumer Protection Division. The office investigates consumer complaints against businesses, takes legal action against those who violate consumer laws, and specifically targets cases like healthcare fraud, real estate fraud, and identity theft. In Indiana, file a consumer complaint with the Office of the Attorney General online at: https://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/consumer-protection-division/file-a-complaint/ by filling out a printable form or request a complaint form by calling 1.800.382.5516 or 317.232.6330.

Please share this post with your friends and loved ones. By sharing what we know, we can help protect each other. Whether you’re 25 or 85, we have to fight scams and fraud together.

Twenty-five years later, there is a growing community of support nationwide. In Central Indiana, a partner providing answers, support and services for the aging, is CICOA. Holly Hess is their Dementia Programs Coordinator.

Reducing the stigma of dementia is a goal of the programs Holly manages. “It is important for caregivers, family members, and the public to understand there is more to the person than their dementia diagnosis,” she explains.

Memory Cafes are social gatherings held across the state. The focus of a Memory Cafe varies depending on the sponsors and could vary from arts and crafts, playing games, walking groups, music, or flower arranging. It is a concept, not a licensed program. Holly says, “it gives the patient an opportunity to have fun, learn something new, and reduces social isolation.”

Dementia Friends Indiana, is an initiative delivering information sessions across the state. The sessions are led by trained volunteer “champions.” CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions is the state administrator. Holly explained the variety of volunteers, “For example, in Delaware and Union counties, we have champions delivering information sessions in schools and churches to children in grades K-12. Youth can also attend sessions to become a Dementia Friend, which is a person committed to making a positive difference in the lives of people with dementia.”

Since January 2023, Indianapolis became recognized as a Dementia Friendly Community. The mission statement of Dementia Friendly Indianapolis is to create a welcoming environment for those living with dementia and their care partners through C.A.R.E. (community events, awareness, resources, education.) It is governed by a cross sector action team. Visit www.dfindy.org for more information.

One of the accomplishments of the dementia initiatives Holly leads is the widespread reach of partners. “I am proud that people in Indianapolis see the value and promote the value of being a Dementia Friendly Community. We’ve grown from ten cross sector partners to more than one hundred.”

After Kay’s experience with her mother, she ensured her adult children are equipped to manage a potential dementia diagnosis by having open, honest conversations about her wishes. “We had the hard conversations. I also did the legal paperwork and reviewed it with my kids.” Hopefully, they won’t need it, but she doesn’t want them to experience additional stress.

Over 4% of adults age 65 and older had a dementia diagnosis in 2022 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The percentage of adults with a dementia diagnosis increased with age from 1.7% for those ages 65-74; 5.7% for those ages 75-84; and 13.1% for those 85 and older. (From the National Health Statistics Report, Number 203, June 13, 2024.)

Action Item: Discuss concerns about cognitive decline with your health care professional.

It happens to me occasionally. I’ll go upstairs for something, only to stand there wondering what it was. Sometimes I remember right away—no big deal. Other times, I have to go back downstairs before it clicks.

Instead of getting frustrated with myself, I see it differently: that’s two sets of stair climbing exercises!

We can challenge negative perceptions of aging in meaningful and empowering ways, but we have to start with ourselves. That’s where self-compassion comes in and according to the American Society on Aging, changing how we perceive getting older can add years to our lives.

We can start with a positive internal dialog to counter negative stereotypes.

“Aging is living. It is a gift not everyone experiences.”

“I have accumulated meaningful experiences and wisdom over my lifetime.”

“I don’t need to look young to be worthy, loved, or respected.”

“My brain is capable of learning and growing at any age. It’s never too late to learn.”

ABC’s “Good Morning America” starting this week focused on aging with one of the hosts wearing an aging suit from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) AgeLab. While the segment was intended to build empathy for the elderly and their “everyday life.” I talked with several octogenarians who were offended by the portrayal.

One of them fired off an email to ABC Daytime programming after watching the segment. “How to better understand aging by experiencing life as the elderly do,” a title on the GMA Wellness page, portrays most 70 or 80-year-olds living with impaired, restricted lifestyles and being unable to perform routine tasks.

GMA’s intention of extending empathy was well-meaning, their execution in delivering the segment could use improvement. The MIT News in January 2023 describes the suit as a simulation of “some of what it may feel like to live in one’s early 80s.” Their statement sounds less ageist.

Everyone ages differently. If you have met one eighty or ninety-year-old, you’ve met one. There are eleven octagenerians in my phone’s contact list. Six are relatives and the other five are friends, and their lifestyles run the gamut from living in their homes (8 of them) to living with a family member or in an assisted living facility. Most drive, three of them still drive on the interstate and haven’t had a driving violation in decades. I volunteered with a woman in AARP Indianapolis who drove South to visit family members—alone—well into her 80s.

If you haven’t read the September 9th post, “Getting Old Starts Young” please take a look.

https://open.substack.com/pub/1brendaljohnson/getting-old-starts-young?r=4sj6h&utm_medium=ios

The message is our lifestyle, health habits, and mindset in our 30s, 40s, and 50s will impact our lives in our 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond. It is more difficult to see the glass half full and be optimistic about aging in our 70s, if we have convinced ourselves the glass was half empty for the past 60 years. If your thoughts tilt negative, it is not all your fault.

Negative thinking is a byproduct of evolution. Our cavemen ancestors knew focusing on threats was critical for survival, so our brains evolved to prioritize and quickly learn from negative information over positive experiences. Neuropsychologist, Rick Hanson, describes brains as being “Velcro for negative experiences and Teflon for positive ones,” meaning negative experiences stick more easily in our memory than positive ones. While we may be wired for negativity, we can retrain our brains to foster more positive frames of mind. That is a future blog post!

Ageism Awareness Day is Thursday, October 9th. Spread the word. Aging is Living!

The implicit employee-employer deal my grandfathers worked under was centered on the exchange of their hard work and loyalty for lifetime job security, rising wages, and healthcare benefits for their families. There was a union involved to ensure the company lived up to their part of the deal.

Quaint, isn’t it?

Today work is transactional. A company merger, divestiture or bankruptcy can land an employee suddenly out of work. With two weeks’ notice, an employee may leave a job for a higher salary, the opportunity to work remotely, to follow a manager, learn new skills, better benefits or a myriad of reasons. A spouse may relocate with their job causing the trailing spouse to find new employment. These are situations where a career pivot may become valuable.

A career pivot is identifying existing skills that can be applied to a new role. It could be in the same company, industry, or vertical. It is an intentional action.

I made four major career pivots over 46 years. The second was in June 1996. My position as Director, National Accounts required travel to the corporate headquarters of major health systems across the country. The job was in direct conflict with my son transitioning from daycare to kindergarten.

The prior year, I began working with company senior leadership discussing a position with little to no travel. I was also talking with an external recruiter in case I needed to change employers. Fortunately, my company was able to create a role on the human resources leadership team that leveraged my negotiation and communication skills. For a decade, I immersed myself in HR, earning an SPHR designation. That pivot involved making a functional switch in the same organization.

A more common pivot is using functional experience—marketing, finance, sales, supply chain management or another discipline—to enter a new industry. A friend of mine began his law career employed by law firms. Eventually, he made a career pivot to work for a client of his firm to gain more business experience. That move offered a wider variety of experiences over a decade including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and intellectual property. With the business experience representing a global company, when he went back to a law firm, he quickly became a partner.

My final and most difficult career pivot required assistance from an Executive Coach through an outplacement company. After being laid off from selling hospital consulting services for IBM’s Watson Health experiment at age 61, I mistakenly expected to secure a final high-level medical sales role to ride into full retirement age in five years. Interviews were plentiful over seven months.

Three companies I wanted to work for moved me forward to come to their corporate headquarters for a final interview. In two situations, it was between me and another candidate. The other was a “rubber stamp” of approval before an offer according to my recruiter. When the companies purchased the plane tickets to fly me to HQ, (and I had to provide my date of birth for the ticket) their enthusiasm dampened. In Pittsburgh and Boston, I had interviews and didn’t get the job. The interview in Southern California didn’t happen. I flew there checked into the hotel and received a call from the company’s HR department explaining the position was filled internally. She cheerily recommended that “I should feel free to enjoy a nice dinner and add it to my candidate expense report” before returning home the next day. I felt the sting of ageism, up close and personal for the first time in my long career.

It was time to visit the outplacement services that I (arrogantly) didn’t think I needed. IBM Watson Health offered these services to the employees they laid off. My coach, Tricia, helped me re-identify areas of strengths, review job descriptions where I would be an ideal candidate, and we role-played interviews because this was a BIG pivot. I focused on sales enablement, a function I wasn’t very familiar with, instead of healthcare sales. Two months later, I received two competitive offers the same week in sales enablement—one from a tech company and one in the tourism and leisure industry. Both roles came with trade-offs from my experience in healthcare sales. I chose the tech company and made the pivot!