What To Do With An Empty Nest: Life After Your Kids Have Left The House
What To Do With An Empty Nest:
Life After Your Kids Have Left The House
I had a couple of conversations recently with women whose kids are close to or have flown the nest. It got me to thinking about how things have changed over the generations.
In my mother’s and grandmother’s generations, they just found ways to keep themselves busy at home and in the garden. If they decided to pursue something after the kids left home, it would maybe be a guild, church group, or occasionally volunteer at a hospital. It was very rare for them to go out into the work world and even more rare for them to pursue a passion or dream, unless maybe it was knitting, crocheting, or some other kinds of craft things. It just wasn’t a common thing for an empty nester woman to go find herself or to pursue some long-suppressed passion. If they did, the community usually ostracized them.
When women become empty nesters now, they get active and discover who they are. They get involved in great causes, pursue long dormant passions, choose to enter (or return to) the work force, or more commonly now than ever, start their own home-based business.
I have met countless women who are starting their businesses once the kids are in school. They hope to have a fully operating, income producing business before the kids leave home. It’s such a great way to feel relevant, independent, and to grow in confidence. They develop and keep an identity as well as create or join a great community of like-minded women.
How about you? What are your passions that you would like to pursue? What dreams and desires do you have that you want to explore as you have more time? I encourage you to start thinking about it before your nest is empty. Have some ideas, make some plans, know what direction you want to go.
I waited until I was in my 60’s, which has been fine. I don’t believe it’s ever too late, but it would have been great to have at least thought about what I might like to do with my life BEFORE I was left in an empty house with no idea of what I liked, what I wanted to do, or what I wanted my life to be like moving forward.
I have no complaints. The timing for me was perfect. I would not have wanted to go into business for myself before, nor did I have the energy. As my health improved, it led me directly into my passion for whole food nutrition and clean living. That in turn led me to start my own business. I am a firm believer that there are no coincidences, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make plans.
I encourage you to take a little time for yourself and just ask a few questions.
If I could do anything I want, what would it be?
If I could live anywhere, I want, where would it be?
If money was no object, what would I want to do with my life?
What plans can I start making now to realize some of those answers?
There are thousands of opportunities out there for women today. Explore some of them.