Issue 11: Still Retired? Or Just Getting Started?

The Real Retirement Movement: Still Thriving, Still True

Last week, we met the rebels rewriting the rules of retirement. This week? We celebrate the re-inventors—real people using wisdom, purpose, and grit to turn their golden years into platinum chapters.

Whether you’re just starting your retirement journey or deep into your next act, these stories prove one thing: You’re not done. You’re just different.

Retiree Walks Off Diabetes—One Step at a Time

Gregg Berry, a retired electrical engineer in California, reversed his Type 2 diabetes diagnosis after retirement—just by walking 10,000 steps a day and cutting processed sugar. “I went from 3 medications to zero,” he told Kaiser Permanente.

📚 Verified by Kaiser Health News: Kaiser Health News: Walk Your Way Out of Diabetes

The post-retirement slowdown often leads to weight gain and blood sugar spikes. But Gregg shows us how movement—not meds—can rewrite your health story.

Start with 15-minute daily walks. Add a smartwatch or pedometer. Track progress and challenge a friend to do the same. Movement is medicine.

Retired Librarian Becomes Etsy Bestseller

Barbara Morrow, 72, from Ohio turned her lifelong love of quilting into a six-figure Etsy business—selling handmade vintage Americana designs. “I just wanted to pay for fabric. Now I need an accountant,” she jokes.

🛒 Verified by The Wall Street Journal: WSJ: Retirees Find Second Careers on Etsy

Barbara didn’t chase trends—she doubled down on her passion. Her shop now ships worldwide and her grandkids help with packaging.

Have a craft, skill, or side gig? Open a free Etsy or eBay store. Start small. You don’t need a business plan—you need inventory and initiative.

The “Gray Divorce” That Turned Into a Better Marriage

After 38 years of marriage, Ron and Sherry Luttrell divorced at 64—and remarried two years later. Why? Retirement stress pulled them apart. Counseling brought them back. Now they advocate for other couples navigating retirement.

💍 Featured in AARP: AARP: How Retirement Counseling Saved Our Marriage

Retirement changes everything—even your marriage. But growth is still possible—even after divorce.

Don’t wait for a crisis. Talk openly with your spouse about space, purpose, and expectations. Consider counseling before the conflict.

From Birdwatcher to National Geographic Contributor

Diane Berner, 68, bought a DSLR camera to “document backyard birds.” Three years later, she’s been published in National Geographic’s online birding guide.

📸 Verified by Nat Geo Contributors Gallery: National Geographic Your Shot – Diane Berner

She combined curiosity with consistency. Her photos improved. Her confidence soared. And she kept submitting.

Pick a hobby with depth and community. Whether it’s photography, gardening, painting, or pottery—commit to craft, not perfection.

104-Year-Old Breaks World Skydiving Record

Dorothy Hoffner of Chicago made headlines in 2023 when she became the oldest person in the world to skydive—at age 104. “Age is just a number,” she said moments before the jump.

🪂 Verified by NPR and Guinness World Records: NPR Coverage of Dorothy Hoffner's Skydive

It’s never too late to push your edge. Dorothy didn’t just break records—she shattered limiting beliefs about age.

What “scary” thing have you been putting off? Try the thing. Speak up. Leap. As Dorothy proved, the real risk is not living fully.

Don’t Let the Calendar Set Your Limits

Retirement isn’t a chapter—it’s a volume. These are real people doing real things with the time they’ve earned.

So ask yourself this: “What would I do if I knew I had nothing to prove, but everything to give?”

 Don’t waste your wisdom. It’s your sharpest tool.

“You’re not over the hill—you’re standing on top of it.”

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