3rd Act by Design

3rd Act by Design 60 year old and newly retired. Navigating life's 3rd act by design. Learning from the past and Living for the future.

08/24/2026

The 143 steps to the top of Devils Head Fire Lookout look like the hard part.

Turns out…they were the easy part. 😄

First, you have to hike about 1.5 miles uphill, gaining roughly 865 feet of elevation, just to reach those stairs.

But the view from the top?

Absolutely worth the climb.

08/23/2026

Look What’s Growing Beneath the Burned Trees!

Five years after the East Troublesome Fire, the damage is still easy to see.

But look a little closer. Beneath the burned trees, new life is quietly taking hold.

Sometimes you just have to notice what's growing. 🌱

08/20/2026

My world had gotten smaller — and I hadn't really noticed.

Since retiring, I've realized that social connection doesn't happen as automatically as it once did. It's easy for me to stay home, stick with what's comfortable, and slowly shrink my circle of people, places and experiences.

Then a camping trip planned almost a year ago pushed me outside that comfortable little radius — new people, an unfamiliar RV, mountain roads, hiking, horseback riding and a whole lot of simply sitting around and visiting.

It reminded me that I need both solitude **and** connection. And it taught me something else I'm trying to remember in this Third Act: sometimes we need to make plans for ourselves *before* we need them. Because when we're already stuck in a rut, finding the energy to climb out can be the hardest part.

Oh, and apparently I still like camping.

As long as there's an RV involved. 😄

08/18/2026

Life can feel a lot like hiking. We get so focused on the rocks, the obstacles, and where to put our next step that sometimes we forget to look up.

Every once in a while, take in the view. ❤️

08/09/2026

I kept finding articles about how adult children can talk to their aging parents about end-of-life wishes.

And I kept thinking…why are we making our kids start this conversation?

This is something I've thought about both as a nurse and as a daughter. So I made a video about it.

Don't make them guess.

08/06/2026

Alfred Hitchcock made us afraid of what might be behind the shower curtain.

Today, the real danger is much more common: slipping and falling.

A simple grab bar can help prevent a life-changing injury—for older adults and younger people.

Let's normalize grab bars in every shower.

If you're designing your best Third Act, start with staying healthy enough to enjoy it.

08/04/2026

Have you ever noticed how quickly we fill every quiet moment?

A podcast in the car.

Scrolling while we wait.

The TV on in the background.

Another audiobook.

None of those things are bad.

But they made me wonder...

When do we actually stop long enough to process everything we're taking in?

After spending a quiet week in western Colorado, I started thinking differently about solitude, silence, and the unexpected gift of having enough space to reflect.

Maybe the goal isn't to spend more time alone.

Maybe it's to become more comfortable with our own thoughts—so we can bring our best selves into the relationships that matter most.

If you've ever struggled with quiet...or simply wondered why it feels so uncomfortable...I hope this conversation gives you something to think about.

08/03/2026

I decided to try watercolor painting...and let's just say I have a lot to learn.

But maybe that's the point.

The Third Act isn't about already being good at something.

It's about staying curious enough to begin.

I'll share my progress over the next couple of months. Wish me luck!

07/28/2026

Sometimes life feels like we're paddling in the dark.

I've learned that a few small adjustments can completely change how we see the world—even when the world itself hasn't changed.

If you're trying to make the most of your Third Act (or any chapter of life), I hope this encourages you today.

07/23/2026

At 54, I left a job I knew and started a new job at Salesforce.

Every day, I was convinced someone would realize they had hired the wrong person.

What I discovered instead changed far more than my career.

It changed what I believed about myself.

If you've ever wondered whether you're too old to learn something new, start over, or become a beginner again, I hope this story encourages you.

Because our Third Act isn't about becoming who we used to be.

It's about becoming someone we haven't met yet.

If you're building your own Third Act, I'd love to have you join me on the journey.

3rd Act by Design

Learning from the Past. Creating the Best Future.

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Centennial, CO
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