Are you facing retirement? Does it feel a bit daunting even though it is something you’ve looked forward to? Or maybe you haven’t, but for some reason or another you have to retire.
Not sure how it is going to feel? Or even what you are going to do now?
After all – for years now one of the first questions you’ve been asked when you have met someone new is “what do you do?”. It has been a big part of your identity and now it is going – so who are you? All those years of experience will come to an end and in this way retirement can feel rather isolating and even lonely. There is also the aspect of retiring as a couple – what will that look like? How do you want to be together in retirement?
There are four stages of retirement – vacation, feeling loss and lost, trial and error to find something meaningful and then reinventing life – creating a fulfilling, happy and joyful retirement.
The Retire Happily Retreat is designed to skip phase two and three and go straight to phase four. By taking some time to step back and review your life, work out what bits you want to take forward with you, what you want to leave behind and what you want to add, you can create what I called recently with a client; “a bloody wonderful life!“
Planning your retirement is important for a few reasons. By having an idea of what it can be like before you get there, you can take the worry out of the experience and enjoy moving to onto the next bit of life.
You can also see what limitations you may be putting upon the idea of retirement. The ‘what I can and can’t do’ beliefs, and in most cases, move past those limitations and start including things in life that truly make you happy.
And you can remove the ‘shoulds’, most of which have been picked up along the way and never questioned. I am a great believer that life, let alone retirement, must never be based on a ‘should’.
And last but by no means least – you can rediscover who you are. Let go of the person defined by your work and reconnect with yourself, your values and your interests that may have gone by the wayside in your busy life. Not only that you may be inspired to deepen your relationship and friendships, perhaps invest the time you never had before.
Come as a Couple
This retreat is also available for couples. Working out together what your retirement can look like, ensuring that both of you get to include your interests and that there is space for both individual pursuits as well as things you enjoy together can be the key to a happy retirement together. Taking the time to work out what your joint retirement can look like can ensure that you start off on the same page going in the same direction. The couples retreat can also be extended by one day if we decide we need to extra time.
To make sure you get exactly what you need there is no set programme for this retreat. You and your life are unique, and so we will take the time to focus on your specific questions, unpack your life and who you are and who you wish to be in the future, and my extensive experience and toolbox will help you get your answers and see clearly what you want your future to hold.
So stop for a moment and check out how this all feels. If it feels good, (even if a little scary, that’s fine) then that shows you that this is your next step to ensure that your retirement is all it can be.
Let’s chat and then we can find the perfect date for you to bring along an open mind and a willing heart and watch your new life begin to unfold.
My favourite quote is this:
Life is NOT a journey to the grave with the goal of arriving safely in a prettily preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways in a shower of gravel and party shards, thoroughly used, utterly exhausted, and loudly proclaiming: “Fuck ME, that was BRILLIANT!”
So let’s do it and ensure you slide in sideways in shower of gravel and party shards!
How does it work?
We have a discovery call to discuss where you are in life and how you are feeling about your retirement. We will touch on how you are feeling about your retirement and what concerns you have. And we will explore how the retreat will answer those concerns and set you up to retire happily. You also get the opportunity to ask me any questions you might have about how the retreat works. Just fill in the box below and we can arrange a time to talk.
Once we both agree the retreat will launch this new phase of your life happily, we’ll book in dates (both weekends and weekdays are fine) and I will send you an agreement and joining information for your retreat.
The retreat fee includes transfers to and from Malaga airport, accommodation and all meals. Dietary requirements can be catered for. It is highly recommended that we also arrange follow up support sessions to ensure that your retreat is not just a nice two days out of your busy life but continues to work its magic after you return home.
Testimonials
- I was able to deal with the endings of a corporate life and consider new beginnings including retirement. It was a great process where I learned techniques that I still use now 4 months after the retreat. It has helped me to transition from corporate life into retirement in a positive and pro active way. S. O’H. Global HR Director
- I decided to fly 7,000 miles to a retreat with Jessica based on nothing more than a review of her website and half hour phone conversation - this from a serious, responsible woman who doesn’t do anything without intensive due diligence and a huge, heaping helping of common sense.... I left feeling empowered, hopeful, happy and recharged. I have a simple game-plan and a new set of tools to keep me on the path. A.B. General Council
- "I left with more energy and optimism than I would have thought possible; and with practical advice and a plan." E.W. Lawyer, UK
- Jessica is a wonderful coach, measured, experienced and an overall great person to talk to – judgement free. I only wish I had met Jessica twenty five years ago.... LM, Marketing Director.