When the Future Feels Foggy: Start Dreaming Again
When the Path Ahead Feels Cloudy
When the future feels foggy, start dreaming instead of getting busy!
Have you ever looked ahead and felt like the way forward was covered in fog? Retirement can feel exactly like that. It’s exciting, but also unclear. After decades of working, raising families, and filling our days with endless to-dos, suddenly there’s space. At first, the freedom is intoxicating: I can do whatever I want! But soon, the honeymoon phase fades, and questions creep in:
What’s next? Is this all there is?
My Own Transition
When I first retired, I jumped straight into the western leg of my solo trip across Canada on my Can-Am Spyder. It was an incredible adventure that filled my days with discovery and wonder. For a while, anything felt possible. The accompanying picture is one that I took after my first night in a tent. I really couldn’t see what was ahead and that was perfectly ok!
And then I came home. The trip was over, and I was left with the unsettling question: Now what?
Having all that time felt unnatural. I was used to being busy, and idleness made me restless – like I was playing hooky from school. It took me a long time to adjust, to move from “fight or flight” mode into “rest and digest.”
Learning to Slow Down
Gradually, I leaned into the slower pace. I began to:
- Wake up naturally without an urgent deadline.
- Dust off my paintbrushes and rediscover creativity.
- Write, journal, and move my body regularly.
- Reconnect with friends and make time for meaningful conversations.
It was in this period that I chose to begin coach training and not because I had a grand plan. Rather, it felt meaningful. That decision changed everything, opening doors to new skills, self-discovery, and new lifelong friendships.
Why “Busy” Isn’t Always Better When the Future Feels Foggy
The truth is, not everyone makes this transition. It’s easy to stay busy with cleaning, errands, or Netflix marathons. And if that genuinely fulfills you, that’s wonderful. Retirement is yours to shape.
But busyness for the sake of busyness doesn’t always satisfy. And, I have much more energy for the things that interest me when I enjoy some downtime – reading for pleasure in the middle of the day or soaking in the tub. “Rest and digest” were never in my vocabulary before and life is so much better with that time and space in my days.
For me, what lights me up is writing, connecting with people, problem-solving, and yes – even bleeding the clutch on my Spyder when I didn’t know I could. (Something that I did just yesterday when an unexpected problem sidelined my riding plans for the day.) The joy is in choosing what matters most in the moment.
How to Start Dreaming Again
Think about what lights you up.
Do you have lists of things that you always wanted to try? I spoke to someone just yesterday who wants to try Paddle Boarding. That’s a great activity!
Your meaningful retirement will look different from mine. Maybe it’s:
- Spending time with grandchildren
- Traveling (I see this one often!)
- Volunteering in your community
- Taking up gardening, swimming, or a new language
- Or simply making space to play again
The point is: you get to choose. Retirement doesn’t change who you are. The chapter gives you the freedom to prioritize what lights you up.
Ready to Cut Through the Fog?
If you’re feeling stuck in the fog of “what’s next?”, know this: retirement is an incredible opportunity to live life on your own terms. You don’t have to have it all figured out right now. In fact, I encourage you to play a little and start dreaming again.
And if you’d like support, I can help. My Remarkable Retirement group program kicks off October 15. It will be a small group to explore what retirement could be. You won’t have to share your revelations if you choose not to. This is a space to start dreaming again! Together, we’ll investigate what truly matters to you and design a future that feels meaningful, exciting, and entirely yours.