When I was much younger, like in my twenties, I thought sixty years of age was old. I hoped I would be able to stay healthy and live at least until mid-sixties. By the time I was forty-five, sixty didn’t seem all that old after all. My perception shifted. Then entering my sixties, I looked forward to retiring at age sixty-five, but slowly realized I would need to keep working until at least seventy. That felt daunting.

Then my life changed dramatically, and as a result I did officially “retire” at sixty-two, but I continued work as a consultant. Now, I’m seventy and I continue to work because I’m “refired.” I heard that play on words this week on a Danielle Lin podcast interview with Ken Blanchard. Is that not the best change of perception? I could become tired and retire and fulfill my previous paradigm, but there’s so much life to live and so much to do. Instead, I’m feeling the fire—as if I’m just starting out, learning and discovering what really excites me, things like this writing this blog, reaching goals, and dreaming bigger.

Yep. I’m officially age 70, and I’m refired. That’s the next step after retired.