to you? She should as we shared her silver story in our last issue. Yet, we discovered during our time together that she also has an entrepreneur journey that started from a decision to retire. Her journey inspires that there is more to retirement than just having lazy days around the pool! Enjoy.
Silver Ent repreneur I thought I was done. Not just retired, but ?stick a fork in me? done. After 33 years in more classrooms than I could count, I thought I?d go into retirement quietly, destined to tutor a few students, maybe walk some dogs at the shelter, and float around in my pool. The joke was on me! My retirement marked the beginning. Now, I know what you?re thinking. There?s the old expression about life after retirement. Travel and see the world. Enjoy making doctor?s appointments in the middle of the day. Nap if you?d like! But that is not what the universe had in store for me. In September of my 33rd year of teaching, I became eligible to retire. Most don?t at 55. But something felt like it was changing. I couldn?t put my finger on it. It wasn?t my love for teaching. That was stronger than ever. It was a year before the pandemic, and I was on the top of my game as an educator. But there was a tugging, a definite knowing that this was it. And I made an appointment with my superintendent the second week of school and announced that this would be my last year. She was stunned. Her initial response was to ask about my health. I remember explaining that my health was ok, but life had taught me that teaching didn?t define me, and that I was meant to live a big life. And although I loved teaching, I knew it wasn?t the TangledSilverMagazine.com
In the spring of 2020, I found myself nearing 200lbs. Napping daily because I was exhausted, mindlessly eating and drinking, and frightened of my declining health. I remember the day I almost quit on myself. I was trying to convince myself that I would have a daughter getting married soon, and I?d eventually be a grandma. Aren?t all grandmas fluffy and tired? And then I saw a friend who had lost a lot of weight. But it wasn?t just the weight loss that drew me in. It was her confidence, her joy. And without giving myself time to talk myself out of it, I messaged her. We had a conversation about change, not about weight. She spoke to me about habits, not diets. She offered me some hope. And I took it. That decision to change and get healthy has changed my entire life. Yes, I lost the 57 lbs that had been protecting me like a suit of armor. But I also began learning about HOW I had gotten there, and more importantly, how to NEVER go back there again. I began to build habits, one at a time, and began to gain control of my emotions, which in turn helped me make healthier decisions and as the weight came off, I discovered someone. Myself. And if creating healthy habits and managing my emotions could empower me like this, I just knew I had an obligation to share it with every human being who needed change. THAT felt like what I was put here to do. Two and a half years later, I have a health and wellness practice where I help people achieve a higher level of health and wellbeing. I also help people build businesses for themselves so that they may create health of all kinds in their own lives. Becoming silver didn?t slow me down. It wasn?t an indicator of the end. In fact, it was the catalyst for becoming exactly who I was meant to be: a hope dealer, a life changer. And I?ve only just begun. Reach out to Kate @thekateodriscoll to chat.
Photo Credit Keith Cornelius Photography, Stylist Trena Ackers
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Photo creds: Left Top Amy Carr Photgraphy Right : Ash Baker Photography other photos provided by Celebrate teh Gray Collective
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period at the end of my sentence; it was more like a semi-colon, the beginning, but more was to come.
