Retiring Boldly

06/21/2026

If any of you are looking for a way to connect and you enjoy reading, join my FB book club - The Next Chapter Book Club. It is all women over 60 and we meet on the second Tuesday every month at 7 pm CST on Google Meet. We have 58 members from all over the nation and even a few from Canada, the UK, and Australia. Here is our 6 month book list.

June Read (in process): The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
July Read: The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
August Read: Defending Jacob - William Landay
September Read: Ordinary Grace by William Kent Kruger
October Read: The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
November Read: The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton

Comment below and I will send you a link to join.

06/11/2026

Has anyone else tried GLP-1 weight loss drugs? I did. Curious if it worked and how it affected you.

06/01/2026

So many struggle in retirement with loss of identity, loneliness, and boredom. What helped you push through those moments?

05/29/2026

Biking with friends on a beautiful day in the ATX.

05/18/2026

This hits differently when you are retired and in your 60's. Spend your time doing what matters and what gives you joy.

05/13/2026

I learned a lesson in resilience today from a little tree in my backyard. 🌱

These two trees were planted at the same time in the fall of 2019.

One grew into a beautiful shade tree — over 20 feet tall now with a thick, strong trunk. The other? It's so small I had to circle it so you could see it was there. But… life was much harder for that little tree.

In the winter of 2021, two years after I planted them, we had a 5 day ice storm — locally known as “Snowmageddon” — the little tree was severely damaged. The bark fell off, and it appeared to die completely. I cut it all the way down to the ground.

But months later, tiny shoots appeared at the roots.

I nurtured it back to life… until it was accidentally damaged again by a w**d eater and attacked by bugs. Once again, it “died.”

The next spring, new growth appeared a foot away from the original trunk. Again, I cared for it, pruned it, watered it, and watched it slowly grow.

Meanwhile, the other tree kept getting taller, fuller, and stronger.

Then came another setback.

The little tree had grown too close to the firepit walkway, so earlier this spring we carefully transplanted it to a better location. But the move shocked it badly. Every leaf turned brown. Every branch looked lifeless.

For the third time… it seemed dead.

I watered it faithfully for weeks, but eventually I gave up hope. I even started shopping for a replacement tree.

Then today, while working in the yard, I happened to glance over at it from across the lawn. I thought I saw green.

Sure enough… every branch was covered in fresh new growth.

Alive again.

Thriving again.

I laughed and called my husband outside because I could hardly believe it. I felt like Dr. Frankenstein in the backyard yelling, “It’s alive!” 😂

And standing there, I realized why this little tree moved me so deeply.

Because I’ve felt a lot like that tree lately.

Since retiring a year and a half ago, I’ve been trying to reinvent myself — building a new business, pouring in time, energy, hope, and money with far slower progress than I imagined. Lately, I’ve questioned whether I should keep going at all.

It’s easy to compare yourself to others who seem taller, stronger, more successful, and further ahead.

But this little tree reminded me of something important:

Resilience matters more than comparison.

This tree never worried about the bigger tree beside it. It simply kept growing back… over and over again… no matter what knocked it down.

Even when I gave up on it, it didn’t give up on itself.

And maybe that’s the lesson for all of us in this season of life.

Retirement, reinvention, loss, change, disappointment — these things can knock us down to the roots. But new growth is still possible.

Sometimes strength doesn’t look tall and impressive.

Sometimes strength looks like simply beginning again. 💚

05/04/2026

I have been off my fitness schedule for a while now. Restarted my journey today with a beautiful hike starting at Miller Springs Nature Center in Belton Texas. I took the Armadillo Trail today and got some great pics.

04/29/2026

Retirement brings freedom—but it also brings a shift in how we think about money.

If you’ve ever wondered:
• “Am I spending too much?”
• “Will my savings last?”
• “How do I create a budget that actually works now?”

You’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out alone either.

I’ve gathered some of the most practical, easy-to-use resources to help you build confidence around your retirement finances—from budgeting basics to smart spending habits and even creative ways to stretch your income.

This isn’t about restriction.
It’s about clarity, confidence, and choice.

Because when you feel secure financially, you can fully enjoy the life you’ve worked so hard to create.

✨ Read the full post here: https://retiringboldly.org/2026/01/08/retirement-budgeting-savings-resources-practical-tips-for-financial-confidence/

💬 I’d love to hear—what’s been the biggest financial adjustment for you in retirement?

Retirement is a joyful season—but it also brings financial transitions that deserve thoughtful attention. Whether you’re adjusting your budget for the first time, planning how to stretch your savin…

04/28/2026

There’s something about a handful of wild berries that can take you straight back in time.

I grew up in a small rural town southeast of Houston, on a patch of land big enough for horses, a pack of dogs, and the occasional cat that decided to stick around. Late spring meant one thing for us kids: dewberry season. We’d grab whatever container we could find and head out into the fields, pushing through thorns and tangled vines in search of those deep purple gems.

Some made it into the bucket… but let’s be honest, most got eaten right there on the spot. No washing, no gloves—just sun-warmed berries, stained fingers, and laughter. We’d come home scratched up, lips and hands dyed blue, and not a single one of us cared. Every now and then, we’d gather enough for someone’s mom to bake a dewberry pie, and that felt like winning the lottery.

And if we got thirsty? The water hose was good enough. No one dared go inside—there was always the risk of getting roped into a chore or some other task that meant your play time was over. Those were the days when summer felt endless and life felt simple.

Fast forward to today… I was out doing yard work and noticed wild dewberries creeping along my fence line—ripe and waiting. I dropped everything, grabbed a container, and for the next hour, I wasn’t in my yard anymore. I was a kid again. Reaching through the brambles, fingers turning purple, juice running down my hands, collecting scratches like badges of honor.

For a little while, I could almost hear the laughter of my friends and the excited shouts when someone found a big cluster.

Now in my 60s, moments like that don’t come around as often. Sometimes it’s a song or a smell that takes me back—but today, it was berry picking.

Tell me—what’s something simple that instantly takes you back to your childhood? 🍇

04/28/2026

Connection isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up. Let go of overthinking and simply be present with someone today.