Great2Live

Tag: retirement

  • Why I’m Making a New Year’s Resolution (And Why This One Matters)

    Every December 31st, the conversation at our dinner table will at some point turn to resolutions. The eye-rolling is predictable. The reasons are fair:

    ❌ “They never last.” Most resolutions fade by February because they’re too ambitious or lack a clear plan.

    ❌ “Life gets in the way.” Unexpected challenges and competing priorities derail good intentions.

    ❌ “They feel like pressure, not progress.” When goals feel forced, they become a burden rather than an opportunity.

    I get it. I’ve been that person. But This Year Feels Different.

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  • Betting against Conventional Wisdom

    Three months ago, I wrote about wrestling with hypothetical worries while dismantling my old working life. I was anxious about whether we’d have enough resources for a safe and fulfilling retirement.

    Well, the office sold. Then we sold the family home too.

    It’s taken months of sorting, selling, waiting and finally signing. There were moments when it felt like the transition would never end. But at last we have made it: both sales are complete, and the long process of closing out the old life is finally behind us.

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  • Postcards from Paris: What a Few Days in France Taught Me About Food, Lifestyle, and Living Well

    I ’ve just returned from a few days in Paris and while it was undeniably chaotic, architecturally stunning, and buzzing with energy, it also gave me unexpected space to think.

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  • “Retirement Scares Me” – Why This Conversation Stopped Me in My Tracks

    The other day, I caught up with a former colleague. We were chatting about life after work when he said something that’s stuck with me ever since:

    “Retirement scares me. I’d have nothing to get up for in the morning.”

    It was brutally honest and it stopped me in my tracks.

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  • Not Sure What You Value Most? This Will Help.

    There are lots of books out there that talk about living with purpose, but sometimes it’s hard to name what your individual purpose actually is. Before setting goals or making big life changes, it helps to pause and ask: What really matters to me?

    It’s a surprisingly tough question — especially in a world that’s always rushing us toward the next thing. But if we want to live intentionally, especially in retirement or during a life reset, we need to slow down and get clear on what drives us at a deeper level.

    That’s where the Personal Values Discovery Worksheet comes in.

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  • Create A Sanctuary In Nature – The First V2MOM

    For a while now, I’ve been trying to define what matters most in this new chapter of life. After burnout, career shifts, and a slow walk back to health, I’ve realised my biggest goals no longer involve achievement in the traditional sense. These days, one of the boldest visions I can imagine is to be simpler and quieter: to create a sanctuary in nature.

    Not a retreat from life, but a return to it.

    I don’t just want a rural home I want a place that brings life. A home surrounded by nature, where the pace is gentler and the rhythms deeper. A place that’s calm, beautiful, and decluttered, where we can grow a few vegetables, listen to the soothing sounds of nature, and share a pot of coffee with a friends and neighbours. A place that helps us and others breathe again.

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  • Intro to BHAGs In Retirement

    What’s a BHAG — and Why Might You Need One?

    You might not have heard the term BHAG before, but it’s one that can totally reframe how you approach your future — especially in retirement. BHAG stands for Big Hairy Audacious Goal. It’s not your average to-do list item. It’s bold, inspiring, and just a little bit scary (in a good way).

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  • New Chapter Needs A New Plan: Part 2

    New Chapter Needs A New Plan: Part 2

    When I first heard the term “BHAG” (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) it was in a business context. I was in leadership at the time, and the idea was to set bold, long-term goals that inspired action and kept the company moving forward.

    But after retiring (abruptly, following burnout), I began to realise something surprising: the need for bold, purposeful direction doesn’t end when the paychecks stop.

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