At different times in our lives, we experience transitions from one life stage to another. The transition into retirement and the realization that we are growing older are two of those major transition points.

So much of our identity comes from the work we have done, the positions we have held, and the families we have raised. Shifting what defines our identity when we leave our profession or become empty nesters can be challenging and unsettling.

This book includes a series of reflective exercises to help you gain a clearer understanding of what you want to do next. That process includes answering three essential questions:

How have you been gifted in life?

To what purpose do you want to put those gifts at this point in your life?

How can you be successful in achieving those purposes?

The author's approach to answering these questions is very much influenced by Ignatian spirituality. But you do not need to be a person of faith to participate in the reflective exercises recommended. You can adapt them to your own experience without reference to any specific faith or spirituality.

By thoughtfully reflecting on these questions and participating in these exercises, you can find the tools you need to develop a deeper understanding of the transition into retirement and greater clarity about what it is you want to do next with what the poet Mary Oliver calls "your one wild and precious life."