When someone’s not happy with who they are, they tend to make big changes in life. Changes in their career, relationships, habits, etc. The result is a complete reinvention, i.e., becoming a totally different person. However, reinvention doesn’t have an expiry date. A person can reinvent themselves at any stage in life.
We surveyed people who dramatically reinvented themselves later in life and found that transformation comes in many shapes and sizes: Some changes are radical and splashy, whereas others are small and internal. So here are 12 ways people gained new purpose and identity in midlife and beyond, to remind you that it’s never too late to start over.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock.
Returning to school for a completely different career
A couple of seniors laughed when they told us they never thought they’d be back in school. And yet, there they were, returning to college in their 50s and 60s. They were in class with people their children’s age or younger. But they said getting those degrees or certificates made them feel purposeful and alive.
Relocating to a new place by themselves
A few seniors told us they had lived in the same place their entire lives and craved something new. One man in his late 60s sold most of his possessions and moved to a remote fishing village in another state. He just wanted to prove to himself that he could be completely independent at this stage of life.
Turning hobbies into profits
Some said they spent years quietly perfecting hobbies like baking, woodworking, or quilting, never thinking anyone would pay for their work. Seniors told us they began selling at craft shows or on Etsy with gentle encouragement from their children or grandchildren. They said that a small shift allowed them to look at their supposed pastimes in a new light, one with purpose and pride.
Switching political or religious ideologies
Some seniors found their lifelong beliefs and values didn’t serve them anymore. Often, it was a specific event that jarred them from their comfort zone. One woman shared how she was born and raised as a staunch conservative, started volunteering at a homeless shelter, and slowly changed her ideology. All of them said the change made them feel more authentic than they had in years.
Taking their love lives in unexpected directions
Seniors shared they often had to completely reimagine their love lives at this stage. Some discovered love again after the loss of their partner of many decades. Others found their first taste of independence and living alone as an adult was in their senior years.
Embracing technology to make it all work
While many older people assume they’ll never keep up with technology, a few found themselves living digital lives. One grandmother became a popular Instagram live teacher who shared home economics and cooking tips. Several others we spoke with had hobbies that launched entirely new career paths. Technology was both an escape and a necessity, they said.
Adopting a new personal style
Some seniors revealed they lived their lives dressing in a way that was accepted by society or, at the very least, wouldn’t draw attention. Later in life, they started experimenting with color, style, and makeup. They cut their hair, got their first tattoo, or put on the first piece of statement jewelry they could think of. To them, the transformation meant sharing the real them with the world. They no longer cared what others thought.
Becoming late-life activists
A few seniors we spoke with didn’t plan on slowing down during their retirement years. Instead, they felt they had the time and energy to get involved in issues they had always cared about. They became lobbyists or advocates for the environment, healthcare, human rights, education, or animal welfare.
Turning their health challenges into inspiration
A number of the seniors we spoke with had health issues that shifted their world completely. One woman suffered a stroke that disabled the left side of her body. She went through months of rehabilitation and found she enjoyed teaching others adaptive yoga. Another man survived a life-threatening heart surgery and became a motivational speaker to those going through the same recovery.
Facing the past and healing themselves
For some, reinvention was in facing their demons. Several seniors wrote memoirs, shared family histories, or recorded their stories in interviews to be shared. They also started support groups for others who had made similar mistakes in the past. By sharing their stories, these seniors were able to not only reinvent themselves but redeem themselves as well.
Finally doing the things they always wanted to
Seniors said the biggest shift they found in their later years was that they were finally able to do the things they had always wanted to do as children. Several had wanted to be actors, painters, writers, or musicians. One retired accountant and auditor was now a community theater actor. Another had published a novel after quietly writing one for years.
Simplifying life to reduce complexity
While many equate reinvention with adding more, some seniors spoke of scaling back. They downsized their living spaces, sold their possessions, or lived with as few obligations as possible. Seniors said paring their lives down gave them a feeling of freedom and weightlessness that they had not felt for years.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us on MSN.