Are you an empty nester who feels lost, lonely and generally depressed about life now that your home is not blessed with the presence of your children or grandchildren or someone you have been a caregiver for for a long time? Do you feel you don’t have a focus now and/or your days are boring, empty and feels like a huge void? Do you think you have Empty Nest Syndrome or are experiencing Empty Nester Depression?
Well, I am here to tell you it’s not the end of the world. My husband and I have had children around since the day we met. (32 years ago) That means when we got married, we had his and mine and a couple years later, ours. Our baby girl graduated from college last spring (May 2011) and got married 2 months later in July. She had been back and forth during her college years since she was only 45 minutes from home, so we got a taste of what it would be like when she was gone permanently. It was still difficult when she was on her honeymoon and it hit us that she wasn’t gonna be coming back to stay on weekends. 🙁
But you know what? We have the ability to make our world be what we want it to be. First we must start with our thoughts which turn into feelings, then actions, then habits. I didn’t think of this as a time to be sad cos there was no one here to take care of or to visit or do things with (aside from my husband, or course). I thought of it as an opportunity to do what I wanted to do with the extra time I had on my hands. I started to concentrate more on my hobbies and interests and pursued them. I worked on activities, tasks and projects that had been put to the wayside – mainly due to the fact that I had been the ‘official’ Wedding Planner for the year prior to my daughter’s wedding. I am an independent Beachbody Coach and had a business to grow, so I had absolutely NO time to spend feeling lost and lonely….at least not for long!
If you want more out of life, if you want to help yourself and help others attain a sense of purpose, give your life a sense of meaning, then I would recommend that you join me on this new chapter of your life. You won’t regret it, I promise. Contact me with any questions you might have on how to get started.
The first step toward getting somewhere is to decide you aren’t going to stay where you are.
Follow me on Google+.
Great perspective on being an empty nester! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Linda for the compliment and for stopping by 🙂
Mice site. Great info!
I can totally relate, but it’s a exciting challenge spreading our wings and trying something new for the first time. Good luck and have fun turning the pages in your new chapter!
Thankx Susie. I believe life is too short to be sad. It’s always good to find a new season of life 🙂 Take care in yours!
I love your outlook – I’m not an empty nester yet, but I definitely reached a point a couple years ago that I felt like my life was on the downward side of living. No longer – life is what we make it, and I choose to make mine meaningful!
I’m glad you you chose to make your life meaningful, Deborah! Positive is better than negative any day 🙂
Very optimistic!! Great!!!
Love the inspiration!
I always ask my retired patients what they are retiring to. Everybody wants and needs to feel productive. Way to take control!