This Is Your Time: Exploring the Joys of the Free Period

Could this be the beginning of the most meaningful chapter yet?

As Bronnie Ware beautifully shares in her book "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying": “I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

As we journey through life, each season brings with it unique gifts, challenges, and wisdom. For many of us, the golden years represent a profound transition—a quieting of familiar roles as careers wind down and children venture into lives of their own. But this time also offers something incredibly precious: this is "the free period," the chance to reconnect with ourselves and rediscover our passions and purpose.

Do you remember what made your heart sing when you were a young girl? Perhaps it was dancing barefoot on cool grass, sketching endlessly in your notebook, or losing yourself in the magic of storytelling. As a young woman, maybe you dreamt of traveling to distant places, learning to play an instrument, or writing that book you've always carried inside your heart.

Life often nudges our dreams to the background, replaced by the needs of family, work, and daily routines. But now is your moment. Now is the perfect time to reignite your interests and reconnect with those beautiful dreams you've set aside.

Here are some gentle prompts to guide you:

• What were your favorite ways to spend time as a child? How can you bring elements of that joy into your life today?
• Think of something you always said you'd do "one day." Could that "one day" be today?
• Reflect on activities or hobbies you once loved but haven’t pursued in years. How might revisiting these activities spark new joy?
• Who inspires you today? Seek out stories of other women finding new purpose in their golden years. Let their journeys motivate your own.

Common bucket list items to inspire you:

• Travel to a dream destination
• Learn a new language or musical instrument
• Write a memoir or family history
• Start painting or creating art
• Volunteer for a cause close to your heart
• Take up gardening or reconnect with nature
• Join a dance or fitness class
• Try meditation or yoga.

Your golden years are not a conclusion—they're an invitation. This is your time to explore, grow, and embrace the dreams you've held close for decades. 

With the richness of your life's wisdom guiding you, what wonderful, fulfilling experiences await?

It's never too late. Your next beautiful chapter is just beginning. Welcome to your free period.