Finding Light in a Heavy Month

As someone navigating life after early retirement, I’ve discovered that transitions rarely happen in neat, straight lines. Even 18 months after stepping away from the career that defined so much of my adult life, there are moments when the past and present collide. Sometimes these collisions are positive and other times not so.

This month has been a challenging one. Finally closing out the businesses that were such a big part of my life for so many years has been far more emotional than I expected. There’s relief, of course, but also a surprising sense of loss. Those businesses weren’t just work—they carried memories, relationships, and a sense of purpose. Letting go stirs up all kinds of feelings, and at times I’ve felt my resilience stretched thin. It’s shown up in procrastination, too much screen time, too little focus. More than once, I’ve had to pause, take stock, and focus back on healthier rhythms.

Yet even in a heavy month, there have been moments of light:

• I’ve lost 2kg—a small but meaningful step forward in my health journey.
• I set finally up a Komoot account, shared five rides, and got outdoors more often. Those hours in the countryside have been a lifeline; fresh air, big skies, and a welcome sense of freedom.
• The veggie plot is productive (we’ve enjoyed our first strawberries!) even if the weeds are staging a full-scale invasion. It’s wild and unruly, but life is pushing through.

And then there was a moment that stopped me in my tracks. Just yesterday, a graduate we hired eight years ago messaged me out of the blue:

“Hey Andy, I’ve been reflecting recently and I wanted to say thank you for taking a chance on me & giving me my first ‘proper’ job. Beginning to realise what a gamble that was. Hope everything is well with you and retirement is proving fulfilling.”

It really hit me. In those years of running the business, we held fast to our values: yes, making a profit mattered but we knew what we did with those profits was even more important, And for us developing a programme that helped young graduates build great careers was a big thing. So to hear, all these years later, that it made a difference was uplifting and re-affirmed that work matters and it can be a force for good.

Getting off the soap box and getting the brain back in the present – July’s focus is very much on building the health momentum and also reconnecting with the garden / veggie plot.

Oh.. and a closing thought for those who are still in employment – What will you do in the second half of 2025 that someone could thank you for in 8 years time?

Feel free to comment below!