The Next Chapter: Living Life on Your Terms After 60

The titles we’ve carried in life come with a weight we don’t always notice until they start to slip
off. Teacher, nurse, executive, mother, partner, volunteer—our days were once filled with the
rhythm of doing, giving, showing up. And now, here we are. Retired. The job title is gone, the
kids are grown, and for the first time in decades, the mirror reflects back not what we do but who
we are.
It can feel unsettling. Beneath all those labels, who am I really?
For many of us, this stage comes with new health concerns that whisper reminders of our
mortality. But let’s be honest: we’re not done. There are still places we want to see, projects we
want to start, laughter we want to spill into rooms. Retirement isn’t the end of the story—it’s a
chapter that deserves to be ours.

And here’s the gift: we get to choose.

We get to choose how to spend our mornings—whether it’s sleeping in without apology, walking
in the cool air before sunrise, or finally opening that notebook to write the story that’s been
circling our minds for years.

We get to choose adventure—traveling across oceans or discovering the charm of a small town
just an hour away. We can sign up for classes, learn to paint, join a hiking group, pick up the
guitar, or take ballroom dancing lessons even if our two left feet protest.
We get to choose connection—coffee dates with friends who make us laugh until our ribs ache,
book clubs where the conversation drifts far from the book, or volunteering in ways that feel
energizing rather than obligatory.

We get to choose rest—taking the afternoon to nap, to stretch, to breathe without rushing. Saying
no when no is what we mean. Allowing ourselves space without guilt.
And yes, we get to choose boundaries. We love our grandchildren, but we don’t need to step
back into full-time parenting. We’ve done that job well. This time is for enjoying them in bursts
of joy—bedtime stories, pancake mornings, cheering at soccer games—not carrying the load we
already carried once before.

We also get to choose how to use the resources we’ve worked so hard for. It’s okay if some of it
goes to cruises, retreats, home renovations, or a long-dreamed-of trip. We don’t have to leave it
all locked away in a trust. Choosing ourselves doesn’t make us selfish; it makes us wise enough
to live the life we’ve earned.

This stage isn’t about abandoning family—it’s about honoring the life we still have to live. It’s
about reminding ourselves that beyond every label—“mom,” “wife,” “nurse,” “grandma”—we
are still us.
Next week, we’ll explore another part of this season: what it means when the roles shift again,
and we find ourselves caring for our own parents—or even grandparents—while still carving
space for ourselves.
But for now, let this be your reminder:
You are more than the labels you’ve worn. You have choices. You have time. And you still have
so much life to live.

Reflection Questions
Take a quiet moment with these, maybe even with a journal:

1. What labels have I carried that no longer define me?

2. Which choices in this season excite me the most?

3. What do I want to try, learn, or experience just for me?

4. Where do I need to set gentle boundaries—with family, commitments, or even myself?

5. How do I want to use the time and resources I’ve earned to live fully now?

 

 

Warmly,
Molly A. Summers, P.C.C.
Life Coach & Author

Thank you for spending this time with me inside The Attachment Style Journal.
I hope these words remind you that your attachment style is not your whole story — and you don’t have to navigate change alone.

If you’d like more gentle support, my virtual coaching and self-guided book are here for you anytime.

Schedule your free call or explore my books at coachingwithmollysummers.com.