You’ve reached midlife, the kids are doing great… now what?
I believe that might be the million-dollar question. What do you want to do when you grow up? Now that our kids are grown and we have put all of our energy into making them the very best adults they can be, it is our turn.
Yes! It’s our turn to do what we want, when we want to do it. Don’t know what you want to do? That’s ok too. We can figure that out as well.
The beauty of this situation is that WE are in charge of our own schedule, our own free time and it is time for some adventure.
I don’t mean a “Let’s go bungee jumping!” or a “Let’s go get a tattoo!” adventure, I am suggesting we start to plan to enjoy the rest of our lives with our own priorities at the top of the list for a change.
I want to start a movement! I hope to encourage creative, out of the box thinking and allow today be the beginning of a new adventure. I have even named a hashtag after this idea: #findadventure
Is it time to get a new job? That may be a possibility, but I definitely know it is time to rock your world and have some “me” time. Time to create it, share it, live it, love it, do it! What is your passion? What delights you? Defines you? What do you LOVE? What makes you happy? Where do you want to go?
A good friend and empty nester recently confessed to me: “I don’t know what I like. I guess I just look forward to whatever is happening in my kids’ lives. I honestly don’t know what I am interested in.” She is an amazing mom and wife, has a terrific life full of family activities, but nothing specifically just for her. She wanted a little help and I offered her a few suggestions. Sometimes all we need is a little nudge and a vote of confidence from a friend and we can be off and running!
Here is your nudge!
- Make a list!
- Do you want to learn something new?
- Take a trip?
- Improve a skill?
- Get a new job?
- Reinvigorate your old job?
- Get healthy?
- Renew old friendships?
- Volunteer your time?
- Relax more?
- Cook more?
- Take a class?
I just offered you eleven possibilities. What can you add to the list?
Let us inspire each other and help others to come out of their shell, get over their fears and try something new! FIND ADVENTURE!
Let’s spread the adventure love and see who we can motivate and support in their new endeavors! Our kids are grown, it’s our turn! Time for fun!
We all want to hear about it.
Suzanne
Advocate for Adventures
Great idea, Suzanne! And if we had an address I’d be proud to display your sticker but we’re following our own dream and living our own adventure! Here’s the mantra: Shake up your life! You’re never to old to learn or try something new …
Anita: I love that line…”You are never too old to learn something new!” If you ever get an address or PO Box, let me know and I will send you a sticker!
Well, I think I have a tattoo in my future…. 🙂
Kim: Feel free to share your tattoo adventure with us!
What a fun idea! I am amazed more than I’d like to be that empty nesters find themselves wondering “what now”? We’re aware of several who are just lost, and some of these are in dangerous hover-parent territory rather than seek a new self-definition. I hope your movement inspires them!
Betsy – It is quite common. This is part of the reason I created the blog. I hope you share it with your friends!
I’m just finishing up a two year project that has taken me on 100 adventures across Canada with a big to be published in November as the outcome. Over the next 6 months – apart from marketing my book – will be thinking of what the next big adventure looks like.
Great idea.
Leigh I can’t wait to see your book. We will need to do an interview and share your book on Adventures of Empty Nesters!
Hey! I’ll take you up on the offer! We’re meeting my sister (our guardian angel) and her husband in Peru in Nov. and she can bring it down. The sticker would look great on my computer! I’ll send the info via your contact box.
That’s great Anita! I will put it in the mail tomorrow!
What a fun idea. Love your stickers. My husband and I have been finding adventure for the last eight years. And do you know the GypsyNesters? Ya’ll have a lot in common.
Thank you Donna! Yes I do know them! They are awesome!
A fun idea. Like your friend, sometimes after years of looking after others, many of us forget about our dreams and may think we’re too old to dream them or go after something new. I’m glad you’re encouraging people to think outside the box. Let the adventures begin.
Donna: I know that people think they are too old, but they are not! I really hope to shake things up to help show how much more living we have yet to experience! Thank you for your comments!
It’s understandable that people who have focused on one thing (the kids) for 18+ years might be shell shocked when they find themselves alone. We’ve never had kids so we won’t experience that situation.
You are so right, “shell shocked” is a great way to describe it. Although you have not had kids I bet you can identify with mid-lifers who might want to change directions in their life. To “find Adventure” in learning something new or thinking out of the box is a big step for a lot of people. Thank you for reading and for your comments!
Yes, having an empty nest is a new beginning! You are a great cheerleader for doing it right!
Thank you Irene! I sure try to be!
Can totally relate, we’ve changed directions a few times in our life together and probably will once or twice more before we’re done.
It will be interesting to see how your readers respond to this. I, for one, have my bucket list priorities in order.
Even those of us who aren’t empty nesters (no husband/kinds), but getting older, fall into this group. Then again, as an expat I’ve been living a non-stop adventure for the past 14 years. Next year will see some big changes for me and this adventure. I am definitely thinking about what the next adventure is going to play out, and what it will be! I love your stickers.
[…] goal with the find adventure challenge was to inspire everyone to be creative and think outside the box, try new things and travel new […]
I would love to receive a free sticker and raise awareness of the importance of this cause. It’s a strategy I hope we all can accomplish and benefit from. The sticker will be placed proudly on something that everyone can see. Thanks so much!
I would really like to receive a sticker because I think it is important to show people what an amazing world we live in and there is so much opportuny out there, we just have to go and get it
Hi Molly! Thank you for your enthusiasm for Find Adventure. We will get out a sticker as soon as we can.
Could you send me a free sticker
Hi! I’m Sydney and I love your company! I would love to get some free stickers or promotional items to use on my Instagram, agenda, etc.
Sydney, thank you for your interested in Find Adventure – we are all sold out of the stickers. You can purchase our adorable luggage tags however.