Our limited liability company, 2Young2Retire®, was established 14 years ago when we took over the organization created by Howard Stone, co-author of Too Young to Retire. We’ve been championing the idea of retiring retirement ever since with the phrase Retiring the R Word. We may never eliminate the word, but we can certainly reshape the traditional retirement experience.

The meaning of retirement, as a word and a life stage, has evolved over time. Traditionally, it marked the conclusion of one’s primary career or long-term employment, usually marked by eligibility for government pensions or other retirement benefits. It’s the administrative milestone of leaving paid employment and stepping away from the workforce after decades of contribution.

This shift opens space for a reorientation of daily life, where structured hours give way to self-directed time—travel, volunteering, creativity, caregiving, rest, or simply living at a gentler pace. Retirement can also be a psychological and spiritual turning point, a moment to renegotiate identity, purpose, and meaning beyond professional roles. It invites the questions: Who am I being called to be? What am I being called to do?

We can’t eliminate the word retirement, but we can change our perspective. We see retirement as the conscious turning of energy from productivity to presence—a shift into a life shaped by intention rather than obligation. It’s a season to live more awake to our values, relationships, and life’s wisdom. In conscious aging, retirement becomes less an ending and more a transition into a new lifestyle.

Many people tell me they feel more alive once they retire—spacious, awake, more aware of the themselves, others, and the world around them. That’s not retirement. That’s renewal and revitalization.

Retiring retirement means releasing the idea that worth is tied to productivity or titles. It means letting go of the myth that our most meaningful contributions happen only in midlife. Conscious living reminds us that every season has its own calling. Some seasons build. Some tend. Some transform.

This shift isn’t about rejecting rest. It’s about reclaiming agency—choosing how we want to show up when external demands quieten down. Asking: What lights me up now? What conversations matter? What gifts can I offer, not because I have to, but because I want to?

My father retired after nearly 40 years with the electricity company. He was 58 years old and believed he’d live to three score years and ten, yet he lived 30 more years. He often said, “If I knew I’d live this long, I may have done things differently.” He did make significant contributions in the local community, serving on the school board and various committees and, despite being profoundly deaf, took up ballroom dancing with my mother, providing social connections that enriched and likely extended their lives.

Jan Hively, co-founder of the Pass It On Network with Moira Allen, had the mantra: “Work, paid or unpaid, until the last breath.” When we retire retirement, we shift our vision of life after paid work toward giving back and making a contribution. We stop seeing aging as narrowing and start seeing it as opening. We honor wisdom earned through experience, clarity shaped by perspective, and courage grown through seasons of living. We become elders in the best sense—guides, storytellers, and wisdom holders.

Conscious aging invites us to step into this chapter with intention and curiosity. To craft a life, not about stepping back, but stepping forward in a different way. Not retiring from life, but re-entering it with more presence, spaciousness, and wonder. Retire retirement. Claim renewal. Awaken to a new world with attention, intention, and positive action.

Contact Paul Ward here.

Image generated by Copilot.

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Hosted by the Marmalade Trust, Loneliness Awareness Week has become the world’s largest campaign to inspire conversations about loneliness and promote connection activities happening across the world. During Loneliness Awareness Week this year, 15-21 June 2026, I am joining thousands of people raising awareness and holding connection activities.

I have been hosting conversation circles in person and online via video conference for more than ten years. As a master facilitator and Art of Convening graduate, I strive to create safe and intimate conversation circles of people who want to consciously explore their inner and outer journeys through dialogue. To learn more, contact me via my conversation circle web page.

Loneliness isn’t simply being alone. It’s the gap between the connection we long for and the connection we experience. That gap can show up after loss, during change, or in the quiet moments when we realize we’ve been tending to everyone else’s needs but not our own. The gap can also be present in a busy home, a full calendar, or a season of transition.

Loneliness Awareness Week reminds us that connection is built one moment at a time. When we name our loneliness, we loosen its grip. When we reach toward others, we create the possibility of being met. And when we show up for ourselves with tenderness, we discover that even in solitude, we are not truly alone. Our social health improves, benefiting our physical and mental health, and our longevity. Reach out to someone today.

These conversations matter. In our conversation circles, we have conversations about a range of issues, some fun and lighthearted, others deep and thought-provoking. Expertly convened and gently facilitated, members of the circle select topics and serve as conversation starters. Join us and see for yourself how a conversation circle can help end loneliness. Connect with me today: Dr. Paul Ward, The Consciousness Whisperer

First posted at https://drpaulward.com/

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The men’s wilderness journey with Craig was a six-day canoeing expedition in the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area within the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota, close to the Canadian border. My 15-day inventure in Africa with Richard combined the adventure of a walking safari with an inner journey of discovery. My expedition stories can be found in my books on conscious leadership and conscious living.

At the Midlife Mastery Summit, Richard Leider was explaining his philosophy about purpose with a big P and purpose with a little p. Purpose with a big P is about having a big cause or a calling, while purpose with a little p refers to the everyday, asking why you are here and how you can make a difference in somebody’s life today.

Integrating Richard’s wisdom about purpose and Chip Conley’s Modern Elder Academy teaching about midlife transitions, I help my coaching clients explore their purpose portfolio. In my coaching, I use the metaphor of a tree with roots, trunk, branches, blossoms, and fruit to uncover their little p purpose relating to families, friends, communities, professions and other important aspects of their lives. The Big P purpose is often revealed during the little p discovery process.

As Richard says, “Purpose isn’t just a lofty ideal – it’s the practical engine that gets you out of bed every morning. Living with purpose simply means matching your daily actions to your deepest values.” His recent book written with David Shapiro has the title, Who Do You Want to Be When You Grow Old? and offers The Path of Purposeful Aging. Richard’s little p purpose as stated in the book is to grow and to give, to make a difference in one person’s life every day. My own focus on conscious aging embraces the spiritual practices of purposeful aging, and helps to answer that question, who do you want to be when you grow old?

I took the photograph of Mount Kilimanjaro accompanying this post during my inventure in Tanzania in 2009. For a while I held an intention to climb Kilimanjaro, but Covid delayed my initial plan and ultimately the climb became less important to me. Exploring the inner world has become more of a priority. 

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Connecting was my word for the past year and I am grateful for the connections that emerged, strengthened, and flourished throughout the year. My intention, to meet people in person wherever possible, has resulted in wonderful relationships that have often built on long term virtual connections. To my connections who supported my connecting intention, thank you! I am grateful for past, present, and future connections. My intention is to continue the focus on connecting, in person and online, during the coming year.  

Exploring the world through science, art, and human perception is like viewing reality through a prism, each facet revealing something different. So says, my trusty Copilot. Patterns in our fields of interest can be revealed through social sciences research. Art in its many forms invites us to translate those patterns and our own experiences into color, sound, and story. Weaving the science and art together provides the opportunity to view the world through the unique lens of our senses, emotions, and imagination. This year, exploring the world independently and in collaboration with others may reveal new directions for research, writing, and the convening of conversation circles in person and online.

If any of my reflections or my word-for-the-year have sparked ideas for connection and collaboration, please connect and let’s start a conversation.  

And in the words of one of my favorite teachers, Michael Neill, have fun, learn heaps, and happy exploring!

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I recently visited the Modern Elder Academy, the world’s first midlife wisdom school, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Chip Conley is the inspirational founder of the Modern Elder Academy and wrote the foreword for our book, Midlife New Life, that he is holding in this picture taken at the Rising Circle Ranch during the workshop.

The five-day workshop at the Modern Elder Academy was about mastering the art of mutual mentorship. It was led by Chip Conley, along with Marc Freedman, founder of CoGenerate. Their teaching, stories, examples, exercises, and profound wisdom about life transitions and about working, living, and educating across generations was all-absorbing and I am still overflowing with new knowledge and ideas for the future.

Having graduated from the mutual mentoring program as an aspiring Modern Elder, I am excited to see what is emerging. Chip Conley believes that “modern elders are interns as much as mentors” and has coined the term Menterns. Coming together to learn from each other, regardless of age, enables intergenerational collaboration that may require a significant mindset shift. I invite you to learn with me about the possibilities of being a Mentern.

Article originally posted on the drpaulward.com website, November 21, 2025

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Inspired and hosted by The Marmalade Trust, this Loneliness Awareness Week is a vital campaign dedicated to raising awareness about loneliness and its impact on our mental and physical well-being. You may have participated in Random Acts of Connection during the 2024 campaign, which reached 638,000 people across the UK and globally on social media.

In today’s fast-paced, digitally connected world, it’s easy to assume that loneliness is rare. Yet, millions of people—regardless of age, background, or lifestyle—experience it. Whether it’s a fleeting feeling or a long-term struggle, loneliness can affect anyone. Loneliness Awareness Week encourages open conversations about loneliness, helping to break the stigma and normalize the experience as a natural part of being human. This week of awareness serves as a reminder that feeling lonely doesn’t mean something is wrong with you; it simply means you need more meaningful social connection.

In a previous blog post, I wrote about the Loneliness Pandemic. Loneliness Awareness Week can help bring our attention to this epidemic and notice what is going on. Our Conscious Living approach embraces the three themes of noticing what is going on, setting intention, and acting responsibly, or more simply Attention, Intention, and Action (A-I-A). Raising our awareness of loneliness is an important step towards setting an intention and taking action.

During our conversation circles, we explore questions such as, What are you noticing? Where is your attention? What is your intention for helping humanity? What actions will you take to contribute to making the world a better place to live and work? Each of our conversation circles serves as a special community, fostering wonderful interactions and building connections that often develop into lasting friendships. These places are for deep conversations – places for listening, learning, sharing, and reducing loneliness.

Loneliness Awareness Week emphasizes the power of small actions—like checking in on a friend, starting a conversation with a neighbor, or joining a local group. These simple gestures can make a profound difference in someone’s life, including your own. Our conversation circles on Zoom make a difference in people’s lives every week. If you are looking for connection and community, and you are curious about these circles, visit our Conscious Conversation Circles web page or send an email to me at paulw@drpaulward.com.

This article was first published on: https://drpaulward.com/time-to-connect-and-reflect/

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Loneliness is a feeling of sadness or distress about being alone, often involving a lack of meaningful connection or companionship. Isolation, on the other hand, is more of an objective state where an individual has minimal contact with others due to various reasons such as living alone, physical disabilities, or social circumstances. Isolation or solitude may lead to a feeling of loneliness, but not always. Not everyone is seeking meaningful or close relationships or a sense of belonging, but many people feel lonely.

Numerous local and global initiatives are focused on addressing this loneliness epidemic. The Global Initiative on Loneliness and Connection (GILC) brings together national organizations committed to ending the pressing global issues of loneliness and social isolation, supporting the dissemination of system-wide, national approaches to build social connection.

In her book, The Art and Science of Connection, and her TED talk, Why Social Health is Key to Happiness and Longevity, Kasley Killam explains the importance of social health and introduces her 5-3-1 guideline: Five different people per week. Three close relationships overall. One hour of quality interaction each day. Simple but valuable guidance!

In a previous blog post, The Third Place, I wrote about our conversation circles: Each circle serves as a special community, fostering wonderful interactions and building connections that often develop into lasting friendships with people we may never meet in person. These virtual third places are for deep conversations – places for listening, learning, sharing, and improving our social wellness. If you are looking for connection and community, and you are curious about these circles, visit the Conscious Conversation Circles web page or email me at paulw@drpaulward.com. Do yourself a favor and improve your social health today. Join a conversation circle.

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Beyond technology, the power of connection is in connecting first with ourselves, and then with others and the world around us. Taking time for self-reflection, mindfulness, and self-care is important. Understanding our own needs, desires, and emotions allows us to connect more authentically with others. Take a purposeful pause and practice mindfulness, meditation, contemplation, prayer, or a quiet reflection. You may also take time to foster a relationship with a higher power or the God of your own understanding.

At its core, connecting with others is a fundamental human need. It’s about sharing experiences, thoughts, emotions, and wisdom. Whether it’s a deep conversation with a friend, a shared laugh with a colleague, or a comforting hug from a loved one, these moments of connection enrich our lives and provide a sense of belonging. Maybe we can be of service to others, helping, giving, or mentoring. Conversation Circles provide a wonderful platform for connecting with others and deepening our collective and individual friendships. These connections can have a positive impact on our mental and social health.

Connecting with our environment is about fostering a deep appreciation and respect for our natural surroundings. Spending time outdoors, whether it’s a walk in the park or a hike in the mountains, can rejuvenate our minds and bodies and can have way of grounding us, reminding us of the larger world beyond our daily routines. Connecting with nature allows us to observe and experience the beauty and complexity of our planet’s ecosystems, and to develop a sense of responsibility to protect and preserve them. Simple actions like reducing waste, conserving water, and supporting sustainable practices can make a significant impact. This connection with our environment also promotes mental well-being, reducing stress and enhancing mindfulness. Ultimately, connecting with the environment enriches our lives and contributes to a healthier planet.

Connection in these different ways is essential for a fulfilling life. By nurturing our relationships with ourselves and others, embracing the digital world mindfully, and consciously connecting with our different environments, we can create a more connected and meaningful existence. So, take a moment today to reach out, reflect, and connect. Experience the power of connection. Your life will be richer for it.

Article also posted at DrPaulWard: https://drpaulward.com/connecting/

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I host Conscious Conversation Circles including a monthly Conscious Leadership Mastermind, a bi-monthly Midlife New Life Wisdom Exchange, and open drop-in groups for people seeking deeper exploration of member-selected topics. We contribute a significant percentage of our conversation circle membership fees to humanitarian causes selected by participants. During the past year, members selected Habitat for Humanity and Feeding America for our contributions to helping humanity.

Our Conscious Living approach embraces the three themes of noticing what is going on, setting intention, and acting responsibly, or more simply Attention, Intention, and Action (A-I-A). For a recent conversation circle, we explored the question, “What humanitarian causes inspire you to action?” So many good causes need our attention and we can all contribute. What are you noticing and where is your attention? What is your intention for helping humanity? What actions will you take to contribute to making the world a better place to live and work?

Article also posted on: https://drpaulward.com/helping-humanity/

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I am grateful to the members of my Renaissance Conversation Circle for the inspiration for this blog post. We are small group, now into our fourth year, meeting twice a month on Zoom. Some members attend nearly every session, others join when they can; new members are welcomed and, if they find a home in our circle, become regular participants. We select a topic and someone to be the conversation starter. Sessions are hosted and self-managed with some basic agreements rather than actively facilitated. We create space for deep conversations, exploring topics of common interest, sharing wisdom and experience, and supporting each other on journeys of collaboration and transformation.

I also host themed conversation circles and mastermind groups. Six-month programs of twelve 75-minute sessions allow a deep dive into the chapters of our Midlife, New Life book. An ongoing Conscious Leadership Mastermind group has an international flavor, and we explore the different principles and practices of conscious leadership in organizations and the wider world. The focus of these discussion groups is on inquiry and shared experiences rather than advising or advocating for personal strongly held positions and are shaped by relationships that are neither invasive nor evasive. Each circle serves as a special community, fostering wonderful interactions and building connections that often develop into lasting friendships with people we may never meet in person.

These virtual third places are for deep conversations – places for listening, learning, sharing, and improving our social wellness. If you are looking for connection and community, and these circles have piqued your interest, send me an email at info@2young2retire.com. Do yourself a favor and find a new third place today.

Article also posted at: https://drpaulward.com/blog/

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