top of page
Search

Planning My Exit


As a special treat to myself on my seventieth birthday I went on a retreat in California. It was a time of personal introspection, growth, exercise and healthy eating. There were about 250 other attendees, but I went alone. It was a mixed group of folks from all over the US and several other countries. I probably was one of the older attendees, although I met a delightful woman who at 90 put everyone in the yoga class to shame! Needless to say, there were many great conversations with a diverse group of people of all ages. A typical introduction might include your reason for attending or how many other retreats had you been to. I began answering that question, almost jokingly, by saying that I was planning my exit.That brought some curious responses, such as, "Are you moving, or getting a divorce?” But I was talking about my Final Exit - wanting to plan it and do it well. When I signed up for the retreat I was more focused on the relaxing time away, but it became very apparent to me that I truly was there for a deeper purpose. At this time in my life I’m being very conscious of course corrections that I should make or just want to make. Recognizing my life expectancy is closing in, I want to make sure that these last years are the best of my life. Death is a sure thing (and I embrace that to the best of my ability) but living to your fullest is optional. I meet plenty of people who are settling for a mere waiting game, filling their lives with doctors’ appointments and Wheel of Fortune. Many people think that pre-planning their funeral is their last decision. Why not pre-plan your goals and activities for the last years of your life. Continuing to live fully isn’t an accident, it’s a choice! Having this exit conversation makes some people very uncomfortable, and I’m sorry about that. But being intentional about the end of life makes so much more sense than drifting to a cemetery plot. Let’s talk about planning our exits on Facebook at Just Now Old Enough.


56 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Excerpt from Daily Cures, Wisdom for Healthy Aging by Connie Mason Michaelis Live Long and Die Fast Ever heard of compressed morbidity? I love this concept and have adopted it as a personal life goal

bottom of page