by Jenna Pope

Created on: July 15, 2009

I retired in 2001 at the age of 52. I had worked in the same field for 30 years, raised children, done volunteer work, and been in multitudes of clubs and organizations - all connected with my children or my job. But when I retired - boom - it all came to a halt. At that same time, my children left for college and got married. And there I was, with all the time in the world and nothing to do.

First, I did things that I'd been too busy to engage in before. I stayed up and watched late night television, woke up after 12:00 noon, and sometimes didn't change out of my pajamas until 3:00 in the afternoon. I sewed, gardened, kept a journal, did crafts, took naps, and even walked the dog. Needless to say, I felt - on the food chain of society - just a notch above a slug. I had gained weight and felt tired and lazy.

So I regrouped and began doing volunteer work with women in the drug court program. One day a woman who had just been paroled from state prison asked me if I would help her to stay off drugs. I wasn't sure of what I could do to assist her, and on the way home that night I decided to go back to school. I charged in through the front door and announced to my husband that I was going to become a drug counselor. I thought that he would put up some resistance and tell me all the reasons why I should not go back to school. But he didn't. In fact, the next morning, both of us went to the community college that offered the counseling program, I registered, and was able to add-on late to one class. That was the second day of classes, and I even attended my first class the same day. For the rest of the week, I showed up to the other classes that I needed and was able to add-on all of those too. Suddenly, at the age of 55, I had gone from a sloth to a full-time college student in one week!

For awhile, I felt a little out of place, sitting in classes with 20-year-olds. But I quickly learned that there were other "re-treads" just like me. Also, because I was older, I was able to bring insight to the classroom that the young people hadn't acquired yet. And they brought enthusiasm that was contagious. I learned how to take good notes and study and write term papers. During my last year in the program, I worked in two different alcohol and drug rehabilitation centers counseling women as an intern. That is when my newly acquired knowledge and my hands-on skill merged.

In June, I finished the program as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. I decided not to get a paying job because I didn't need the money. But I've resumed my work with drug court and am much more qualified to help the women there.

Retirement for women can be anything that they want it to be. They can go back to school, volunteer their time to a worthy cause, learn a different job skill, and chair committees. Older people have life experience that the rest of the population is in need of.

My retirement has been the most rewarding time of my life. I have more time to do things with my husband, see my children and grandchildren, write, and help other people. When I was in my forties, people used to mistake me for my children's grandmother. I was tired and stressed and juggling way too many hats. It showed up on my face and in the way I carried myself. Last week, I brought my four-year-old grand-daughter, Izzy, with me to church. An acquaintance greeted me as we were walking inside and asked if Izzy was my daughter! It's true. You are only as old as you feel.

Retirement for a woman can be a time of growth and learning and becoming a better person. She can cast off the limitations of her 20's, 30's, and 40's. Opportunities abound and her future is limitless.

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