Welcome to the X.

Since I left my career behind, I’ve devoted a fair amount of energy to self-examination. I’ve noticed that I’ve been carrying some baggage I’d like to shed.  For example, while I clearly remember how critical my parents were, I think I’ve far surpassed them in…

I’m sure you’ve seen them. You know, the cluster of old men sitting around at a coffee shop or bar, bitching about their lives, the world, and pretty much EVERYTHING else. The chorus of dissatisfaction, complaints, and misery that everyone in the circle can chime…

I don’t know about you, but growing up, the loud and clear message was to work hard to be THE BEST. My father probably missed the day in Parenting Class where they talked about “giving it your best effort”… haha!  But he definitely was in…

As you know, if you’ve been reading my blog for a while, I love nature and find a great deal of peace and contentment when I’m outside. The other day, I watched a hawk soaring, held aloft by unseen currents. It was a dance of…

I don’t know about you, but I took life for granted in my earlier days.  I felt I had a long runway and plenty of time to accomplish, succeed, and enjoy myself. I didn’t see an end. I do now. I think part of the…

In speaking with various men, I often ask how they pilot their days in retirement. Most tell me they plan their days in advance and that routine is important to staying focused on what they want to accomplish. I get it. I admit, I’m a…

During our working years, success was often something we could measure via clear metrics: income earned, business growth, promotions, recognition, or other benchmarks our professions deemed worthwhile. Measuring success in Chapter X, however, is more challenging. One might still try to apply familiar expectations: financial…

One of my biggest challenges is turning off my “doing” mode. Growing up with a workaholic father who constantly urged me to “do something productive,” I became really good at getting things done. But now, even though productivity still matters, I often find myself wrestling…