Reinventing Self on the Journey to Retirement
by Rev. Dr. Ka’thy Gore Chappell, Pinnacle Associate
I am on a journey. Part of the journey is complete as I have reached “A” destination; yet, the journey continues… It unwinds to expose surprise turns and unpredictable routes.
My journey? Today, I am describing the journey of retirement, not a one time event, but a celebratory happening for a season of life, honoring a state of mind with an opportunity to reinvent self.
On April 1, 2025, I retired from a professional career in ministry. I picked that date because my retirement group communicated with me that I was at an age where I needed to start withdrawing my retirement funds. Since I had already worked beyond retirement age and was receiving Social Security Benefits and on Medicare, I announced my intent to retire almost two years prior to the scheduled date of April 1, 2025.
The reason for such a lengthy notice was to communicate my retirement plans with the Leadership Team; thereby providing the Team with time to design a plan to discover an Interim Director and then, seek a new Executive Director. Personally, I thought a lengthy notice would not only inform the Board but also motivate me. I admit that the actual act of retirement was scary because retirement means change, change that can result in not knowing what to do or where to go.
The reality is retirement needs courage and hard work because it just might require selling a home, purging belongings, relocating the place where one lives and determining next steps for living. Questions arise, often fraught with fear:
What if my house does not sell?
How might I really let go of personal belongings?
Do I have enough money to retire?
What will I do with my newly discovered time?
How might I determine my next steps in life?
While difficult at times, my retirement journey, now at the one year mark, has been successful. During this year, I sold a house; downsized from a 3,000 square foot home to a 988 square foot apartment; relocated from North Carolina to Texas to be near family; searched for a new medical team, applied for vehicle and voter registration, insurance plans and a driver’s license; joined a church, church choir and book club. Whew!
In the midst of “doing” all these things, my hair began to fall out! My hair! My hair was thinning and falling out by handfuls! The stress of all the changes—professional, relocation, physical & emotional—was too much! What was happening to me? Fear entered my life through all sorts of “What if?” questions. In the words of my GPS, how was I to proceed to the route or recalibrate?
First things first, my hair! After consultations with my NEW hairdresser, my hair is almost back to it’s normal thickness and length. Secondly, and after continuing monthly sessions with my Spiritual Director, I remembered to rely on physical and spiritual disciplines.
I make my bed daily;
I get out of my apartment everyday;
I close the Exercise Ring on my watch 5 days per week;
I read voraciously;
I worship God—privately and corporately;
I pray constantly;
I practice Centering on God disciplines.
Small steps. For me, these are small survival steps that lead to clarity, new relationships, newfound confidence and peace. These are steps that direct my journey of retirement where I am learning to check my calendar before making commitments, rediscovering the art of napping, prioritizing my spiritual life, practicing my work as a leadership coach, connecting with a women’s mentor group monthly, loving my grandbaby and traveling with family and friends. These are small steps that keep me alive and confirm that retirement is an opportunity to reinvent myself to travel life’s journey. What’s your itinerary?
Ka’thy Gore Chappell has experience in various fields, including congregational ministry, academic institutions, denominational non-profits and coaching. A certified coach, Ka’thy seeks to empower individuals to confront barriers and imagine new possibilities. A graduate of Auburn University (B.S.), Southern Seminary (M.R.E.) and Central Seminary (D.Min.), Ka’thy exhibits a passion as a Christian educator. Specifically, her D.Min. work, “Creative Leadership with an Entrepreneurial Spirit,” challenged Ka’thy to own her storytelling style as well as expand her mindset that focuses on the creative use of participation, inclusion and imagination.
