The first course, “The (Un)Retired Life,” was about dismantling the old “professional costume" we wore throughout our careers and creating a “portfolio of purpose,” which clarifies the “why” of our lives. “The (Un)Retired Life II: A Blueprint for Vitality and Connection” builds on that “why” and explores the “how.” We address the three pillars of a vital next chapter: Connection, Vitality, and Legacy. Over three days, we will conduct a “social audit” to diversify our relationships beyond the workplace, reframe physical and mental health not as a chore but as the essential “currency” for our purpose, and design a weekly rhythm that protects our time from the “vitality leaks.” We’ll finish this course not with a set of goals but with a “Living Blueprint”—a tactical, day-by-day guide for living with renewed presence, deeper connection, and a legacy that begins today.
Image by Pexels, music “The Mountain,” by Dmitrii Kolesnikov, both from Pixabay.
Based in Bellingham, Washington, Jeff is a former college professor who, after a forty-year career in literature, rhetoric and philosophy, found himself upon retirement facing the same "mirror gap" he now helps others navigate. Through his work on Insight Timer, Jeff shares the frameworks that have helped him find gravity in this new chapter. Drawing on the latest research in aging, from psychology to neuroscience and the great spiritual traditions, Jeff offers a grounded, philosophical approach to reframing retirement as an (un)retired life, one grounded in purpose and fueled with vitality....
Lektion 1
The Social Portfolio — Moving Beyond The "Water Cooler"
Day 1 focuses on transitioning our social life from the automatic, work-based "water cooler" interactions to an intentional Social Portfolio built on genuine connection. We’ll explore how to move beyond functional professional relationships to curate diverse circles of connection that fuels our purpose and prevents the isolation often felt in the first years of retirement.
Lektion 2
Vitality As Currency — Funding Your Purpose
Day 2 focuses on building our Physical Portfolio, shifting the perspective of seeing health as something to maintain to seeing it as the currency to fund a meaningful life. It challenges the "Maintenance Mindset" of simply avoiding illness, encouraging us instead to cultivate the strength and energy required to fulfill our personal mission and be ready for life's opportunities.
Lektion 3
The Architecture Of Legacy — Designing For Significance
Day 3 focuses on the Legacy Portfolio, shifting the concept of legacy from something left behind to a "living legacy" experienced in the present. This session fosters the transition from legacy as professional success to personal significance, emphasizing how to deploy our accumulated wisdom and resources to make a meaningful impact today.