Aging & Thriving, Part 1: Health, Purpose & Independence

New episode is up!
 This week, I’m diving into Part 1 of Aging & Thriving — how to stay healthy, find new purpose, and keep your independence strong.
Retirement isn’t the end — it’s a new beginning.
Come age with me — the best is still ahead. 💫
🎧 Listen now on Being Mary.

Transcript

Hi, it’s Mary — and welcome back to Being Mary.
Let’s talk about aging — or as I like to call it, thriving with a few more laugh lines.

Retirement is one of those funny words, isn’t it? For years, it sounded like this faraway thing where you suddenly had “free time.” But when you get there, you realize — oh, it’s not just about time. It’s about what you do with it.

And that’s what we’re diving into today: how to really thrive as you age. Not just get through it, but feel alive and connected to who you are becoming.

 Okay, let’s start with the big one — health and wellness

You know how people say, “If you’ve got your health, you’ve got everything”? Well, turns out… they were right. But here’s the thing — health doesn’t have to mean running marathons or eating kale for breakfast. It can simply mean moving your body in ways that 

Like a walk with a friend or Dance in the kitchen. Try pickleball — and laugh when you miss the ball (like I do).

And let’s not forget about mental health. Retirement can bring big changes — identity shifts, new routines, sometimes even loneliness. So, find things that fill your tank — laughter, good sleep, quiet time, therapy, prayer, whatever helps you reset.

Think of it as an investment in your future self — the one who wants to travel, play with grandkids, or just live independently long enough to, as I like to say, wipe my own butt.

Next step is to Redefine Your Purpose
Now this one hits deep for a lot of us.

When work ends, that sense of purpose can suddenly… vanish. No more meetings, no more deadlines, no more “what do you do?” answers at parties. We have to redefine it — and that’s both scary and freeing.

Your purpose doesn’t have to be big or impressive. It can be something that lights you up — volunteering, mentoring, gardening, writing, or starting something creative like I did with this podcast.

What matters is that it keeps you curious and connected. Because purpose isn’t just about doing. It’s about becoming.

Now Step 3 is a big one:  Independence
— and it’s about more than just living alone or driving yourself to the store.

It’s about staying strong, staying sharp, and staying in charge of your own story. That means caring for your health, understanding your finances, and making decisions on your terms.

Retirement is your chance to build a life that’s guided by what matters to you. You’ve spent decades taking care of others — now it’s time to make sure you’re also taking care of you.

 So those are the first three steps — health, purpose, and independence — the foundation for thriving as we age.  Maybe write them out and post them somewhere so that you can be reminded every day.  

Now next week, we’re diving into the fun side: connection, creating a home that supports you, and how to keep things fresh and exciting. Because aging doesn’t mean slowing down — it just means showing up differently.

So come age with me — and remember, the best chapters might just be the ones we’re writing right now.

Until next time, keep walking, take care of your body, your purpose, and that beautiful independent spirit of yours.